Updated 6/14/17
SCPR 11U Flag Football
Purpose: Continue teaching football skills to young players in a non-contact environment, as well as
teaching teamwork and sportsmanship.
Parents: Coaches are not responsible for your child prior or after practices or games. One
parent/guardian must remain at each practice and game. Travel within the community is required when
you enroll in our programs. You should provide your child with water and any other necessities for
practices and games. Please assist the coaches with any pertinent information concerning practices,
games, contact info, and health conditions prior to the first game. All players should be at the game site
at least 15 minutes prior if not more determined by the coach.
Games: Game locations are determined after registrations are complete. SCPR reserves the right to
combine leagues or individuals to make teams as equal as possible. Games are played on weeknights
within SCPR park boundaries.
Teams: Play is 6-on-6. Co-rec teams are determined by registering as individuals and may not have
equal representation per the number enrolled. Parents are responsible for getting their child enrolled in
the correct league. No scores or standings are kept for this league.
Coaches: Coaches have volunteered their services so respect their decisions and ideals. Practice times
are determined by the coaches but may not exceed 3 hours per week for this league. Practices may
occur at any safe environment but must occur prior to 8pm on school nights. Only coaches are allowed
to speak with officials during the game. Only one coach per team is allowed on the field during offense
or defense.
Uniforms: A team t-shirt and mouthpiece is provided for each player. The player is responsible for his or
her shirt and mouthpiece the entire season. Plastic cleats (no metal) are allowed.
Field Dimensions: 60 yards long, 30 yards wide
Game Time: The game consists of two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime period and a 35second play clock between downs. Only one timeout per half is allowed. Officials may stop the clock at
their discretion.
Substitutions: Players substitute at the beginning of each quarter. The coach is responsible for getting
players on/off the field in a timely matter prior to the snap of the ball. No deceiving of players is
allowed. All youth must get equal playing time at this level regardless of practice time, skill level,
abilities, etc. unless unforeseen circumstances will not allow.
Offensive Rules:
 All participants signed up shall receive equal playing time.
 Two captains will meet at midfield 10 minutes prior to game time to decide the coin flip and flag
colors. Captains will determine offense or defense first. Teams automatically rotate after
halftime.
 The ball must be “hiked” between the legs from the center to another player. The player
receiving the ball may run the ball, exchange it with another player, or pass the ball.
 Any running or passing plays are allowed. All offensive players are eligible to catch a pass. Any
player may run the ball. Handoffs must occur behind the LOS.
 Each offense will begin on own 15-yard line to start the game, quarter or after opponent scores.
 If a player’s flag falls off and they receive the ball, it is a dead ball immediately.
 A player may not dive or hurdle but a player may spin away from a defender.
 No flag guarding. Play is whistled dead immediately and the down concludes with a loss of 5
yards.
 Only one player in motion at a time. Players only need one foot inbounds for a reception.
 No holding or use of hands upon a defensive player is allowed.
Blocking: Players attempting to block a defender must keep their hands near their own chest not
extending their arms at all.
Dead Balls: The ball is ruled dead when it hits the ground for any reason by the offense or special teams
(exception: see Punts below). No ball may be fumbled forward; it is spotted at the point of the drop.
Any pass or handoff in which the ball is dropped results in a dead ball. Any ball is carried out of bounds,
a touchdown or PAT is scored, a player’s knee or arm/elbow touches the ground, or a flag falls off the
belt.
Punts: The punting team must announce to the officials their request. No fake punts allowed. Offensive
players must not cross the LOS until the ball is punted across the LOS. If a punt does not cross the LOS
the opposing team takes over at the original LOS. Five (5) defensive players must remain on the LOS
until the ball is punted and cannot rush the punter. A player may field the punt off the ground if no
other player has touched the ball. The ball is dead if the player receiving the punt muffs or drops it.
Defensive Rules:
 At the snap of the ball, any defensive player is allowed to rush the opponent.
 A player is whistled down when any portion of the flag is removed from the belt. Defenders
should hold the flag high in the air to assist officials with ball placement.
 No pulling of flags is allowed when the opponent does not have the ball.
 No tackling, diving, elbowing, tripping, or holding up the ball carrier in order to pull the flag is
allowed.
 Interceptions are “live” until whistled dead.
First Downs: Each team has four downs to cross the next line to gain for a first down or touchdown. If a
team crosses the line to gain at any point it is a first down regardless of yards from the next line to gain
or goal line.
Touchdown: A touchdown is awarded to the offensive team if the player has control of the ball while he
or she crosses the goal line. A point after touchdown (PAT) is tried from the three (3) yard line after
each touchdown.
Penalties: Every penalty with the exception of unsportsmanlike conduct is a five (5) yard infraction. Any
infraction shall be accepted or rejected by the opposing team’s coach only. Any language considered
offensive in the sports environment results is a penalty and possibly unsportsmanlike conduct. Basic
penalties are called such as in the game of high school football.
Flag guarding is a penalty and the down counts with a loss of 5 yards from the spot of the infraction.
Examples: Holding, tackling, and passing the ball from beyond the line of scrimmage, as well as pass
interference are all penalties enforced from the LOS. Illegally downfield is not a penalty as all players are
eligible on offense.
Officials and administration determine unsportsmanlike behavior.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Unsportsmanlike conduct results in a 10-yard penalty and the player being
issued a subsequent quarter penalty. That means a player must sit for a full quarter and the coach
disregards any equal playing time for that game (subsequent game if it occurs in the last quarter of a
prior game).