FLAG FOOTBALL RULES & REGULATIONS
Revised October 7, 2021
The following will serve to outline rules, regulations and guidelines.
- The field will be 70 yards long and 30 yards wide.
- The playing field will be 50 yards long and the end zones 10 yards. (“50 yard line”, or mid field will be 25 yards).
- The flag must be worn on your hips and all shirts must be tucked in.
- One coach from each team is permitted on the field during play (3/4 and 5/6).
- There is no minimum number of players required on the line of scrimmage for defense and one (center) is required for offense.
- There is a 40 second maximum play huddle – each team will receive one warning before a 5-yard penalty and stoppage of play clock will be levied.
- Mouth guards are optional.
- All Grades: The game will consist of two, 25-minute halves. There will be 2 timeouts per half, no carryovers. There will be a 5-minute break during halftime. During the last two minutes of the 2nd half, the clock will stop for touchdowns, extra points and 1st offensive play. The clock will not stop on incomplete pass or player out of bounce. The clock will not stop in the first half except on time outs. The referee can stop the clock at their discretion for an injury, rule review, or ball spot.
- An inadvertent whistle by the referee - the play is dead at the spot of the whistle or the team can elect to play the down over (if the ball is in the air (pass) the play is dead and will be replayed)
- The commissioner will schedule make-up games. The commissioner or the referee at the time of the game may only cancel a game.
- Teams should show up 20 minutes before game time.
- There may only be 5 players on the field unless otherwise specified.
- Overtime will be according to the WPIAL playoff rule system (10 yards 1st possession and 5 yards thereafter, four chances for score plus extra points). Each team gets fair chances; it’s not first to score. A coin toss will determine choice of offense or defense.
- All penalties are 5 yards.
- Profanity, trash talking, taunting, complaining about the calls and unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated (personal foul).
- A player or coach may be thrown out of the game on the first personal foul violation.
- Spiking the ball is prohibited and will result in a 5-yard penalty. If the spiking occurs after a TD, the scoring team is forced to go for 2pts and a 5-yard penalty will be enforced.
- No blocking, No stiff arms, no tackling, no pushing (out of bounds), and no tripping. An offensive penalty will result in a 5-yard penalty and loss of down. A defensive penalty will result in a 5-yard penalty and an automatic 1st down.
- Any holding of the ball carrier will result in a 5-yard penalty and an automatic 1st down from the end of the play.
- There are no kickoffs or punting.
- All possessions changes EXCEPT for interceptions will take place on the 5-yard line.
- No physical contact blocking at any time. Offensive players without the ball may not run with ball carrier in any way that impedes defender attempts to pull ball carrier's flag. 5 yard and repeat down. The decision of the field crew is final!
- The offense will start on its own 5-yard line for beginning of the game, second half and on a possession change excluding interceptions. The ball will be placed where the player’s flag is pulled on interceptions.
- 1st downs are at Mid- Field (25 yard line). The offensive team has four (4) downs for 3/4 grades to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four (4) downs for 3/4 to score a touchdown.
- All offensive plays will begin with a QB/center exchange. The QB may be either under center or in shotgun formation. In the shotgun formation, the player first touching and possessing the ball is considered the QB.
- Intentional grounding is not permitted in order to save lost yardage. The ball must be thrown in the vicinity of the receiver. The decision of the field crew is final! Penalty – loss of down and the ball is spotted at the location of the infraction.
- The QB is not permitted to advance the ball across the line of scrimmage. The QB is allowed to roll out or scramble behind the line of scrimmage. If the QB advances the ball across the line of scrimmage, the ref will call the play dead and the play will result in loss of down. QB sneaks are not permitted.
- All players are eligible for a pass. A QA (the player receiving the snap) can catch a pass, however the reception has to be past the line of scrimmage.
- If the QB fumbles the snap or any fumble, dead ball at the place of the drop. Loss of down. Whistle immediately.
- All players must be on side before the ball is snapped. All off side penalties will result in a 5-yard penalty.
- Motion is allowed for one player only.
- Pass receptions require only one foot in bounds.
- The play is whistled dead when the knee or elbow of the player with the ball touches the ground.
- No flag guarding. No leaving your feet and no jumping will be permitted to avoid having your flag pulled. Spinning is permitted as long as the player does not leave their feet. The play will be called dead at the spot of the foul.
- Extra Points 1 & 2-point conversions: 1-point conversions are from 5 yards out (pass only play) and 2-point conversions are from 10 yards out (pass or run play). The Defense cannot score on an extra point.
- There is no run zone 5 yards from midfield and end zone. Only pass plays are allowed in this zone.
- The quarterback has a 10 second “pass clock”. If a pass is not thrown within ten seconds, the play is dead, the down is consumed and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off, the 10-second rule is no longer in effect. If the QB is standing in the end zone when the pass clock expires, the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage. A safety cannot occur on a pass clock violation.
- A fumble is defined as the runner losing the ball for any reason.
- All players must be on side before the ball is snapped. All off side penalties will result in a 5-yard penalty.
- Only the rusher can cross the line of scrimmage prior to a handoff or pass.
- The defense is allowed one pass rusher starting 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. Any player can rush the quarterback and the player does not need to announce he/she is rushing. Players not rushing the quarterback can defend the line of scrimmage. A penalty will be called if a player rushes but did not start 10 yards or more prior to the snap. The penalty will be called when the player crosses the line of scrimmage prior to a handoff or pass.
- Interceptions can be run out of the end zone and run back from anywhere.
- You may NOT push, bump or nudge a player out of bounds to stop the player from advancing. A 5-yard penalty will result from the spot of the foul and an automatic first down (see rule 1 under penalties).
- No physical contact blocking at any time. Offensive players without the ball may not run with ball carrier in any way that impedes defender attempts to pull ball carrier's flag. Five yard penalty and repeat down. The decision of the field crew is final!
- The offense will start on its own 5-yard line for beginning of the game, second half and on a possession change excluding interceptions. The ball will be placed where the player’s flag is pulled on interceptions.
- 1st downs are at Mid- Field (25 yard line). The offensive team has three (3) downs for 5/6 grades to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has three (3) downs for 5/6 grades to score a touchdown.
- All offensive plays will begin with a QB/center exchange. The QB may be either under center or in shotgun formation. In the shotgun formation, the player first touching and possessing the ball is considered the QB.
- Intentional grounding is not permitted in order to save lost yardage. The ball must be thrown in the vicinity of the receiver. The decision of the field crew is final! Penalty – loss of down and the ball is spotted at the location of the infraction.
- The QB is not permitted to advance the ball across the line of scrimmage. The QB is allowed to roll out or scramble behind the line of scrimmage. If the QB advances the ball across the line of scrimmage, the play is dead and will result in loss of down. QB sneaks are not permitted.
- All players are eligible for a pass. A QA (the player receiving the snap) can catch a pass, however the reception has to be past the line of scrimmage.
- If the QB fumbles the snap or any fumble, dead ball at the place of the drop. Loss of down. Whistle immediately.
- All players must be on side before the ball is snapped. All off side penalties will result in a 5-yard.
- Motion is allowed for one player only.
- Pass receptions require only one foot in bounds.
- The play is whistled dead when the knee or elbow of the player with the ball touches the ground.
- No flag guarding. No leaving your feet and no jumping will be permitted to avoid having your flag pulled. Spinning is permitted as long as the player does not leave their feet. The play will be called dead at the spot of the foul.
- Extra Points 1 & 2-point conversions: 1-point conversions are from 5 yards out (pass only play) and 2-point conversions are from 10 yards out (pass or run play). The Defense cannot score on an extra point.
- There is no run zone 5 yards from midfield and end zone. Only pass plays are allowed in this zone.
- The quarterback has a 7 second “pass clock”. If a pass is not thrown within seven seconds, the play is dead, the down is consumed and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off, the 7-second rule is no longer in effect. If the QB is standing in the end zone when the pass clock expires, the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage. A safety cannot occur on a pass clock violation.
- A fumble is defined as a runner losing the ball for any reason.
- All players must be on side before the ball is snapped. All offside penalties will result in a 5-yard penalty.
- Only the rusher can cross the line of scrimmage prior to a handoff or pass.
- The defense is allowed one pass rusher starting 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. Any player can rush the quarterback and the player does not need to announce he/she is rushing. Players not rushing the quarterback can defend the line of scrimmage. A penalty will be called if a player rushes but did not start 10 yards or more prior to the snap. The penalty will be called when the player crosses the line of scrimmage prior to a handoff or pass.
- Interceptions can be run out of the end zone and run back from anywhere.
- You may NOT push, bump or nudge a player out of bounds to stop the player from advancing. A 5-yard penalty will result from the spot of the foul and an automatic first down (see rule 1 under penalties).
- Remember that the main objective of this league is for the players to learn and have fun.
