PORTAGE YOUTH
FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
Table of Contents
Flag Football Rules…………………………………………………. Pages 1-7
Rule I:
General Playing Rules
Rule II:
Definitions
Rule III:
Running
Rule IV:
Blocking
Rule V:
Receiving
Rule VI:
Dead Balls
Rule VII:
Rushing the Quarterback
Rule VIII:
Conduct of Players and Others
Rule IX:
Penalties
Rule X:
Miscellaneous Rules and Procedures
Inclement Weather
FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
PHILOSOPHY OF FLAG FOOTBALL
Flag football is not tackle football; it is not power football. It is a different concept from power football in that the
offense and defense strive by speed, quickness, deception, and agility to defeat the opponent.
A basic concept of flag football is for the ball carrier to avoid bodily contact with the defense and for the defense to avoid
bodily contact with the ball carrier.
TERMINOLOGY:
Throughout this rule book, reference is made to teams A, B, K and R. Team A refers to the offense; B is defense; K is
kicking team; R is receiving team.
RULE I:
GENERAL PLAYING RULES
A. Players: Teams must field a minimum of five players at all times, a full team is 7 players. Leagues are consisted of
1st & 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 5th – 7th grade.
B. Playing Field:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A goal line is the vertical plane which separates the field of play from the end zone. When related to a live ball in a
runner’s possession while the ball is over the out-of-bounds area, the goal line includes the extension beyond the
side-lines.
A ball touching the goal line when it becomes dead is in the end zone, even though it was moving away from the
nearer endline and has its foremost point in the field of play.
A team’s own goal line is the one it is defending.
A five-yard area extending from the sideline on all sides of the field shall be clear of obstructions.
The one-point conversion line is the five-yard line; the two-point conversion line is the twelve-yard line.
C. Equipment:
1. Illegal equipment shall not be worn by any player. This applies to any equipment which, in the opinion of the
officials, is dangerous or confusing.
2. It is illegal to apply any unnatural foreign substance to the ball, flags, belts, any game equipment, player, etc., for
the purpose of gaining an advantage.
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3.
Players must wear soft-soled shoes and are prohibited from wearing football shoes with metal cleats, or any cleat
which protrudes from the sole more than 3/8 of an inch. NOTE: SOFT-SOLED SHOES MUST BE WORN.
4. Special protection devices such as eyeglass guards, cloth or elastic bandages may be worn. Helmets and shoulder
pads are prohibited.
5. T-shirts will be the official uniform, and no other uniforms or parts of uniforms will be allowed.
6. Pee Wee, Junior and Intermediate footballs will be used depending on the league.
7. Players will be provided with a flag/belt set. The flag/belt set will be a one-piece unit. All flag belts used must be
issued from the park site. All flags should be the same size. Any belts containing flags which differ in length from
the other belt sets should be removed and replaced with a matching set. NOTE: The belt should fit the player
and be worn at the hips in such a way as to result in the flags being positioned one in the middle below the
player’s back and one at each side, opposite each other. The officials may require the player change belts to
conform to this standard.
8. All players must have their shirts tucked inside their pants or hang not lower than the belt line.
9. No baseball caps or hats with brims may be worn. Stocking caps and head bands are permitted.
10. No jewelry or watched may be worn.
11. Open belt loops and pockets on player’s pants could create a hazard and should be closed. Exposed belt loops and
pockets must be closed, removed, or covered by the flag belt set.
D. Time:
1.
2.
3.
Games are two 20 minute running clock halves with a 5 minute intermission. If the score is tied at the end of two
halves, teams move directly into overtime. The first team to score wins.
Starting and stopping the clock:
a. Once started the clock runs continuously. Officials can stop the clock at their discretion or is there is an
injury during the game.
b. Change of possession the clock will stop last 2 minutes of second half.
Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a
delay-of-game penalty is enforced.
E. Time-Outs:
1.
2.
Each team shall be allowed one 60-second and one 30-second time-out per half.
The referee shall notify the teams 10 seconds before a charged time-out expires and shall declare the ball
ready for play when time-out expires.
F. Scoring:
Touchdown………………………………………………………………………. 6 points
Safety……………………………………………………………………………… 2 points
Try-For-Point…………………………………………………………………. 2 points from twelve yard line; 1 point from five yard line
1.
2.
3.
4.
During a try-for-point, Team A may score with what would ordinarily be a touchdown. If team B gains
possession, the ball is dead and no point(s) is scored.
If a loss-of-down foul by A occurs during a try-for-point, no point is scored, and there is no replay. If there is
any foul by B and the try is successful, measurement is assessed from B’s own 20 yard-line (succeeding spot)
for the resumption of play.
When a runner advances from the field of play so that the ball penetrates the vertical plane of the opponent’s
goal line, it is a touchdown.
A safety is when a runner carries the ball from the field of play to or across his own goal line and it becomes
dead there in his team’s possession.
Exception: When a B player intercepts a forward pass, fumble, backward pass or catches a scrimmage
kick or free kick between his 5-yard line and the goal line, and his original momentum carries him into
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the end zone where the ball is declared dead in his team’s possession or it goes out of bounds in the
end zone, the ball belongs to B at the spot where the pass or fumble was intercepted or the kick was
caught.
5.
a.
A player (who is either in the field of play or in his end zone) forces a loose ball from the field of play
to or across his goal line by his kick, pass, fumble, or muss and provided the ball becomes dead there in
his team’s possession (including when the ball is dead with no player in possession). This does not apply
to a legal forward pass which becomes incomplete.
b.
A player on offense: commits any foul for which the penalty is accepted and measurement is from his
end zone.
The choice of try-for-point may not be changed once the ball has been made ready for play. This includes after
enforcement of a penalty against either team.
G. Starting The Game:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Home team has option of 1st possession.
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has three plays to cross midfield. Once a
team crosses midfield, it has three plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes
possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.
If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive
from the 5-yard line.
Interceptions may be returned.
Teams change sides after the first 20 minutes. Possession changes to team who started game on defense.
H. Participation:
1. Each player on a team must participate in the game on an equal or as close to basis.
2. Substitution:
a. A substitute becomes a player when he legally enters the field and indicates to a player that he is replaced.
b. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
c. Officials shall not tolerate substitutions that are obviously made to delay the game.
3. Players may be held out of the game for disciplinary reasons but it must first be approved by Dan Kremer, Park
and Rec Director
I.
Protests:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Only protests based on misinterpretation of playing rules or the use of an ineligible player shall be received and
considered. Decisions involving accuracy of judgment on the part of an official may not be protested.
Whenever a matter of protest arises during a game, the coach of the protesting team shall notify the official
of his desire to protest by having his team call time out and request a conference with the officials.
If a dispute between official and coach continues, it is the duty of the official to get the recreation leader on
duty to make a ruling prior to the game resuming. Decisions made by the site supervisor are final.
If a protest is upheld, the game shall be continued with the decision corrected. No time out will be charged.
If a protest is denied, the game resumes with the decision as called. The time out will be charged to the
protesting team. If the team has previously used all allotted time-outs, they will be penalized 5 yards for delay
of game.
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RULE II:
DEFINITIONS
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
A fumble is any loss of player possession other than kicking, passing or handing.
A muff is the touching of a loose ball by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession. This includes an
accidental kick.
Batting is intentionally slapping or striking a loose ball with hand, arm, head, or shoulder or in other than a legal kick,
with the leg or knee.
A catch is the securing of possession of a loose ball in flight by a player who is inbounds. Player needs only to land
with one foot inbounds while possession of the ball.
A ball in team possession is a ball which is in player possession or one which is loose following loss of such player
possession.
The player who puts the ball in play by a snap is the snapper.
Kick begins when the ball is kicked and ends when a player gains possession or the ball becomes dead.
RULE III:
RUNNING
A.
B.
The quarterback cannot run with the ball (he can scramble sideways).
Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple handoffs. (PITCHING
IS ALLOWED BEHIND LINE OF SCRIMMAGE)
C. “No – running zones” located five yards from each end zone and five yards on either side of midfield are designed to
avoid short-yardage, power-running situations.
D. The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
E. Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.
F. Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving).
G. The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
H. Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind are allowed once ball crosses line of scrimmage.
RULE IV:
BLOCKING
A.
B.
Blocking is obstructing an opponent by use of the blocker’s body.
In blocking, teammates of the runner may contact opponents with their arms or hands provided:
1.
Closed or cupped hand technique:
a. The elbows are entirely outside the shoulders;
b. The hands are closed or cupped with the palms not facing the opponent;
c. The forearms are approximately parallel to the ground, in the same horizontal plane and extended no more
than 45 degrees from the body. The blocker’s hands may not be locked nor may he swing, throw or flip his
elbow or fore-arm so it is moving faster than the blocker’s shoulder at the time the elbow, forearm or
shoulder contacts the opponent’s.
2. Open hand technique. The hand shall be:
a. In advance of the elbow.
b. Inside the frame of the blocker’s body and inside the frame of the opponent’s body.
c. Open, when the palms are facing the opponent or when the forearms are extended beyond 45 degrees
from the body.
The blocker may not initiate contact with his arm or hand against an opponent above the opponent’s shoulder but he may
use his hand or arm to break a fall or to retain his balance. Both feet must be in contact with the ground when initial
contact is made, i.e. the blocker may not leave his feet to block.
C.
Blocking by a player either on offense or defense is a legal act provided it is not:
(1) fair catch interference;
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(2) forward pass interference;
(3) personal foul; or
(4) an illegal block.
D.
A player on defense may use unlocked hand, hands, or arm to ward off an opponent who is blocking or attempting to
block him or push or pull him out of the way in actual attempt to get at the runner or a loose ball. In no other cases
shall he grasp, hold, push, or pull an opponent. When the player on defense uses a hand or arm, the hand must be in
advance of the elbow at the time of contact.
RULE V:
RECEIVING
A.
B.
C.
All players are eligible to receive passes including the quarterback (if the ball has been handed off behind the line
of scrimmage.)
As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
RULE VI:
DEAD BALLS
A.
B.
C.
D.
The ball can be snapped from one knee to the side, or between the legs.
Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
Play is ruled “dead” when:
1. Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
2. Ball carrier steps out of bounds
3. Touchdown or safety is scored
4. Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
5. Ball carrier’s flag falls out
A. Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.
Interceptions may be returned. However, if ball carrier is downed after an interception, the team will still be
spotted at their 5 yard line and begin a normal offensive series
RULE VII:
Rushing the Quarterback
A.
B.
All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is
snapped. Any number of players may rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on
or off the line of scrimmage.
Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule is no longer in effect and all defenders may go behind the line
of scrimmage. The referee will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage.
RULE VIII:
CONDUCT OF PLAYERS AND OTHERS
A.
B.
C.
D.
A disqualified player is a player barred from further participation in a game.
No player or non-player shall hinder play by an obviously unfair act which has no specific rule coverage.
No team shall repeatedly and purposely commit fouls which halves the distance to the goal line.
PENALTY: The game may be forfeited.
No player shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner during either a period or intermission. This includes any act the
officials deem poor sportsmanship. Examples are:
1. Insulting language or gestures or baiting acts or words which engender ill will.
2. Use of disconcerting acts or words prior to the snap in any attempt to interfere with A’s signals or movements.
3. Bluffing contact with any lineman prior to the snap or any attempt to cause a false start.
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E.
F.
4. Intentionally kicking at any player even though no contact is made or at the ball unless it is during legal kick.
5. Leaving the field between downs to gain an advantage unless replaced or unless with permission of the referee.
6. Failure of a team to be ready to start either half.
Unsportsmanlike conduct by a coach, substitute, or other team attendants shall be charged against his team.
Unsportsmanlike conduct includes acts or conduct such as:
1. Attempting to influence a decision by an official; or disrespectfully addressing an official; or indicating
objections to an officials decision; or using artificial aid to coach a direct play.
2. Re-entrance of a disqualified player.
No player shall:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Trip or clip an opponent.
Strike an opponent on the head, neck, or face with the heel, back, or side of the hand, or with the wrist.
Use the open hand on an opponent’s head other than in pushing (not slapping) or warding off.
Swing the foot, shin, or knee into an opponent nor extend a knee to meet a blocker.
Knock the snapper to the ground immediately after the snap.
Make any other contact with an opponent which is deemed unnecessary and which incites roughness,
No player shall guard his flag, with the ball, his hands or his arms.
RULE IX:
PENALTIES
COMMON PENALTIES AND VIOLATIONS
A.
B.
C.
D.
All penalties will be called by the officials.
Defense Penalties:
1. Offsides: Five yards and automatic first down
2. Interference: 10 yards and automatic first down
3. Illegal Contact (Holding, blocking, etc.): 10 yards and automatic first down
4. Illegal FlAG pull (before receiver has ball): 10 yards and automatic first down
5. Illegal rushing (Starting rush from inside 7-yard marker); 10 yards and automatic first down
Offense Penalties:
1. Illegal Motion (more than one person moving, false start, etc.): Five yards and loss of down
2. Illegal forward pass (pass thrown beyond line of scrimmage): Five yards and loss of down
3. Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender): 10 yards and loss of down
4. FLAG Guarding: 10 yards (from line of scrimmage) and loss of down
5. Delay of game: Clock stops, 10 yards and loss of down
Unsportsmanlike conduct (loss of 10 yards) acts such as:
1. Insulting language or gestures.
2. Disconcerting words or acts prior to snap.
3. Deliberate pulling of flag from player not in possession of ball.
4. Illegally kicking or batting loose ball.
RULE X:
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
AND PROCEDURES
TIE GAMES
Tie games will be considered in standings during league games as one-half win and one-half loss. A tie-breaker system will be
used in all playoff games.
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INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURE
The following will apply to all games necessarily suspended after play has begun due to inclement weather or any
circumstance preventing the contest from officially ending:
1.
2.
The game shall resume at the point of suspension and played to completion at a later date determined by the
department.
All details (score, position of the ball on the field, time, etc.) shall be recorded by the officials and reported to the
Site Supervisor for proper use upon resuming the game.
If the score remains tied after each team has been given one series, the procedure shall be repeated until a winner is
determined. First choice of options will be alternated between the teams for as long as additional periods are necessary.
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