SPRINGVILLE RECREATION
Flag Football Rules
th th
5 -6 Grade League and 7th-8th-9th Grade League
2016
Rule 1.
The game, field player and equipment
Section 1.
The Field
Article 1. The dimension of the playing field shall be 40 x 80 yards
Article 2. The field shall be divided into four equal zones with an additional ten yard
zone at each end of the field.
The Players
Article 1. Eight players shall constitute a team. A team must have a minimum of six
players to play or continue a game.
Article 2. Five on the offensive line is required (three interior linemen; center, right
guard, left guard). Guards must line up foot to foot, or shoulder to shoulder with center.
Section 2.
Article 3. Defensive line must have a minimum of three players (nose guard and two tackles)
Tackles must line up no wider than outside shoulder of opposing offensive guard. If the
Quarterback stays in the “pocket” the rush can only come from the three defensive linemen and
one linebacker (4 total). If the quarterback leaves the “pocket” or exchanges the ball, rush can
come from anywhere and is unlimited.
Penalty- 10 yds. Auto first down-or result of play.
Section 3.
The Equipment
Article 1. ALL PLAYERS MUST WEAR SHOES. No metal cleats are allowed. Hard
plastic or screw-in cleats are to be worn. Jogging and turf shoes are
acceptable.
Article 2. Each player shall wear belt with flags attached.
Article 3. There shall be no shirts outside the belt; they must be tucked in.
Section 4.
The Game
Article 1. Each game consists of two (2) halves, each half will be 20 minutes long. Half
time will be five (5) minutes. Each team will receive two time-outs per half.
Lasting one minute. (TIME OUTS DO NOT CARRY OVER!) During overtime
games, each team one will be given (1) additional time-out. 5th &6th grade will
play with a 35 second play clock. Clock will start when the referee places the ball
following the end of the previous play.
Article 2. The clock, is a running clock and will stop the last minute of the first half, and
the last two minutes of the second half, on all time-outs, incomplete passes, out
of bounds, etc.
Article 4. Game time is forfeit time.
Article 5.
Games shall end in a tie until post season. During the tournament, in the
event of a tie, the following procedure shall be followed: A coin flip shall
determine which team will gain first possession. The ball will be placed on the
20 yard line. Teams will alternate possession of the ball until each team
has completed four plays or until a team scores, whichever comes first.
Each team will have their offensive turn.
Article 6. A touchdown shall count as six points; safety shall count as two points;
5 yards out one point conversion attempt; 10 yards out two point
conversion attempt.
Article 7. Each team will have four downs to reach the next first down line. The field
will be divided into equal quarters with first downs every 20 yards.
Article 8. A down shall be declared and the ball dead after the player in possession of
the ball is “tackled” (when his flag is pulled).
Rule 2.
The Kick-Off
Ball will be kicked from the 30 yard line. Return team lines up 20 yards
from the line of scrimmage. The ball must travel at least 20 yards and be kicked inbounds.
One re-kick is allowed if the ball does not travel 20 yards or goes out of bounds. If the second
attempt does not travel 20 yards, the receiving team will take possession where the ball
stops. No onside kicks will be allowed. Muff rules apply. No players can move until the ball
is kicked (except the kicker). Receiving team must have 5 players on the line, three can be
back to receive.
If a team leads by 21 points or more, they will not receive a kickoff. Instead, they will take
possession at their own 20 yard line.
Rule 3.
Rule 4.
Punt
Article 1. Punt has to be declared. No rushing the punter.
Article 2. Deep snapping is encouraged; the play is not dead if the ball hits the ground
On the snap, punter can pick the ball up and kick it. No player can leave the
line of scrimmage until the ball is punted (offense or defense).
Article 3. Receiving team can have (2) players deep to catch the punt, all other
defenders must be in a defensive position along the line of scrimmage.
Article 4. The last two minutes of the game the Clock will not run during a punt.
Passing
Article 1. Any number of passes may be thrown and caught as long as they
originate behind the line of scrimmage. Backwards laterals are legal all down the
field.
Article 2. All players are eligible pass receivers.
Rule 5.
Muffs and Fumbles
Article 1. A muff is the unsuccessful attempt of a player to secure possession of the
ball.
Article 2. A fumble is the loss of the ball after having possession other than by kicking
or passing. All fumbles are dead at the spot where the ball touches
the ground. If the ball is fumbled and is recovered (caught) by an opponent
before the ball touches the ground, possession of the ball belongs to the
player who recovered (caught) the fumble. The ball may not be fumbled
forward.
Article 3. You may muff the ball on the snap and recover it and continue play.
Rule 6.
Blocking
Article 1. Blocking shall consist of “checking” with the hands above the belt in a
standing position or a semi-crouching position. In all instances the blocker
must be on his feet, and his head and shoulders cannot be lower than the
defensive player’s chest when contact with the belt or waist band in front of
the body. Hands of blockers must remain parallel with the frame of his body,
If his hands go outside of the frame it is holding.
Article 2. A blocker contacting a non-ball carrying member of the opposing team from
behind and above the waist is a block in the back. 10 Yd. penalty from LOS.
Rule 7.
Rushing
Article 1. The defensive player is restricted to the use of hands to the side of his
opponent (not the head). Defensive man must go around blocker. He cannot grab,
bull rush, or head slap, but may push his opponent to the side in order to make a play
on the ball carrier or passer.
Article 2. Behind the line of scrimmage, defensive players cannot make any contact with
the quarterback above the waist. Play will continue until ball is dead. Roughing
the passer will be a 10 yard penalty from line of scrimmage; automatic first down.
Rule 8.
Ball Carrier or Runner
Article 1. The ball carrier may not run through the defensive man. He must at all
times attempt to evade the tackler. It is illegal for a ball carrier to
stiff-arm, or swat the hands of the defensive player away from
their flags. The tackler must not hold or run through a ball carrier but must
play the flag rather than the man.
Article 2. If the ball carrier is held or tackled or pushed out-of bounds within 10 yards of
the goal line at any time during the game, the offensive team will be awarded
an automatic touchdown.
Article 3. In order for the man to go in motion he must run (1) yard off the line of
scrimmage and parallel to it. A man in motion does not count as one of the five on the
line of scrimmage. Only one man can be in motion at a time.
Article 4. The ball carrier may not advance the football past the line of scrimmage until
a player in the backfield takes possession of the football.
Rule 9.
Tackling
Article 1. Each player shall wear flags positioned on belts and worn on the waist, with
one (1) flag at each side. A man is considered tackled when his flag is pulled
off by an opponent, or when his knee touches the ground. The ball shall be
placed on the ground directly beneath the position of the ball when the flag
was pulled. IF A FLAG IS PULLED BEFORE A RECEIVER CATCHES THE
PASS, OR THE FLAG IS INADVERTENTLY LOST, A MAN SHALL BE
CONSIDERED TACKLED BY A TWO HAND TOUCH WITH BOTH HANDS
SIMULTANEOUSLY BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS AND KNEES OF THE
RUNNER.
Article 2. Body tackling or tripping is illegal.
Rule 10.
Officials
Article 1. The officials shall have the authority to rule on any point not specifically
covered by the rules.
Article 2. Judgment calls are not to be questioned or protested.
Article 3. The officials shall have the authority to eject any player, coach or fan for
unsportsmanlike conduct.
Article 4. If the whistle is inadvertently blown during a play, the offensive
team has the option to take the down over with no loss of down, or to take the
ball at the spot it was in at the time the whistle was blown.
Article 5. If a player receives an unsportsmanlike conduct call, he is automatically
ejected from the game and must meet with the Program Director before he may
be reinstated in the program. If there are two unsportsmanlike conduct
penalties called on a team, they automatically lose. Unsportsmanlike conduct
may be called on participants, coaches, players on the sidelines, or fans.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT:
1. Flagrant foul
2. Abusive language
3. Threatening officials or other players
4. Fighting
5. Taunting
Rule 11.
Penalties
Article 1. The following are five (5) yard penalties:
1. Off sides
2. False start
3. Delay of game
4. Illegal shift or motion (not enough on line of scrimmage)
5. Extra time-outs
6. Illegal forward pass (loss of down)
7. Intentional grounding (loss of down)
Article 2. The following are ten (10) yard penalties:
1.
Runner illegally wearing flags, i.e. tying them in, (loss of down)
2.
Roughing the Passer (Auto 1st Down )
3.
Flag Guarding or Stiff Arming ( Loss of down )
4.
Illegal Tackling the Runner ( Auto 1st Down )
5.
Offensive Holding( if in backfield, from LOS; if downfield from spot
of foul )
6.
Excessive Yelling or Screaming (Auto 1st Down )
7.
Block in the back (from line of scrimmage )
Article 3. The following are fifteen (15) yard penalties:
Unsportsmanlike conduct: fighting, flagrant or abusive language, arguing,
etc.
Article 4. Yelling, screaming or shouting by either team towards the other team during
a play on either offense or defense will be a 10 yard penalty and 1 st down.
Article 5. For defensive pass interference, it will be a 15 yard penalty and an automatic
first down for the offense. In the end zone, first down 1 yard line.