Flag-Football-Rules.pdf

FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

Intramural Flag Football shall be governed by the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association

(NIRSA) Flag and Touch Football rules, with the following exceptions.

Participants must present a physical copy of their UGA ID card, a picture of their UGA ID card (front and back), or

their Digital Student Profile from Athena before every game... NO EXCEPTIONS!

A. THE FIELD

a. Forty (40) yards wide and eighty (80) yards long, one hundred yards including the end zones.

b. Two ball spotters will be used.

i. The orange ball spotter will mark the forward most point of the football.

ii. The yellow ball spotter will mark the defensive scrimmage line.

iii. The ball spotters will always be one yard apart.

B. UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

a. Jerseys must be long enough so they remain tucked in the pants during the entire down or short

enough so there is a minimum of 4" from the bottom of the jersey to the player's waistline.

b. Each player must wear shorts/pants, which do not have belt loops, pockets, belts, or exposed

drawstrings. The pants must be a different color than the flags.

c. Players of opposing teams must wear contrasting colored shirts without pockets (home = light

and away = dark as noted on schedules).

d. No jewelry, hats, bandanas, casts, or other equipment that may be dangerous to another

participant will be permitted!

i. Exception: knit or stocking caps are acceptable (even with soft ball on top)

e. Penalty for improper dress: the player cannot play.

C. THE GAME AND PLAYERS

a. Flag football is a non-contact sport with contact.

b. Men’s and Women’s games shall be played between two teams of seven players each. Four

players are required to avoid a default.

i. Co-Rec Games will be played between two teams of eight players each. Five players

are required to avoid a default (See Co-Rec)

c. A designated captain will be the only player to confer with the referees. The team will identify

this player before the game.

a. The captain who wins the toss will have the first choice of options for the first

half or defer their option to the second half. The options for each half shall be as

follows:

i. To choose whether their team will start on offense or defense, or

ii. To choose the goal their team will defend.

i. Overtime coin toss - the winner has choice of ball, defense, or goal to defend.

ii. In additional overtime periods during the tournament, choice is made

alternately by teams. Example: Red won the first overtime option and a

second overtime period is necessary, blue has choice, etc.

D. GAME TIME

Playing time shall be 40 minutes, divided into four quarters of ten (10) minutes each. The intermission

between halves shall be no more than five (5) minutes. When overtime is used there will be a three (3)

minute intermission. Each team will have three (3) timeouts of one (1) minute in length per game.

a. The clock will start when the ball is legally snapped. It will run continuously in the 1

and 3

quarters. During the 2

and 4

quarter, the clock will run continuously for the first eight (9)

minutes unless it is stopped for a:

i. Team time-out -- starts on the snap.

ii. Referee's time-out -- starts based upon referee's discretion.

b. Approximately one (1) minute before the end of the 2

and 4

quarter the referee shall stop

the clock and inform both captains of the playing time remaining in that quarter. The clock will

start again on the snap. The back judge will announce the remaining time to both teams after

each play in the last one (1) minute.

c. During the final (1) minute of the 2

and 4

quarter, the clock will stop for a(n):

i. Incomplete pass -- starts on the snap.

ii. Out-of-bounds -- starts on the snap.

iii. Score (touchdown or safety) -- starts on the snap at the 15-yard line.

iv. Team time-out -- starts on the snap.

v. First down -- dependent on the previous play inbounds/out of bounds.

i. Penalty and administration - dependent on the previous play.

(Exception: delay of game -- starts on the snap).

vi. Referee's time-out -- starts at his/her discretion or previous play.

vii. Touchback -- starts on the snap.

viii. Change of possession – starts on the snap.

ix. Team attempting to conserve time illegally -- starts on the snap.

E. STARTING THE GAME

a. All games opening series will start at the 14-yard line.

b. After every touchdown the opponents next series of downs will start on the 14-yard line

unless moved by penalty.

c. After a safety the team who scored will next put the ball in play at their own 30-yard line

unless moved by penalty.

F. SERIES OF DOWNS

a. The team on offense is responsible to get the ball at the end of every down. The center will bring

the ball from the huddle to the scrimmage line.

b. Zone-line-to-gain: getting the ball to or into the next zone results a first down.

i. Exception – first down because of penalty that results in automatic first down. It could

be the first and near twenty or first and less than one depending on where the next

zone-line-to-game is.

ii. Loss on the play or due to a penalty a team may need more than twenty yards for a

first down.

G. THE SNAP

a. Must be one continuous motion

b. To a back at least two yards behind the scrimmage line on scrimmage plays and punts. There

cannot be a hand-to-hand center-back exchange on the snap. This would be an illegal snap.

c. Illegal snap is a dead ball foul.

H. DEFLAGGING/TAGGING

a. Runners must not guard the flags with ball, hands or shoulders.

b. Flags must not be attached to runner in a way that one pull cannot deflag the runner. (Flag

tampering results in a 10-yard penalty and disqualification.)

i. If a runner loses his/her flag belt, a one-hand tag by the opposing team between

knee and shoulder will end the run. Touching the head or below the knee will not

stop the play.

c. Runner scoring a touchdown must raise hands so nearest official can deflag the scorer.

i. If two pulls do not remove the flag, the touchdown does not count. Penalty: Ten

yards from the previous spot and a loss of down.

d. Intentional deflagging of an offensive player without the ball by a defensive player result in a 10-

yard penalty.

i. Basic spot for penalty is based on all-but-one principle.

e. Deflagger may leave feet to deflag runner.

I. RUNNER CANNOT

a. Stiff arm

b. Run over potential deflagger

c. Flag guard in any way

J. DEFENSIVE PLAYER CANNOT

a. Intentionally deflag a player without the ball (personal foul).

b. Hold, push or knock the runner down while attempting to deflag.

K. SCREEN BLOCKING

a. Screen blocking is legally obstructing an opponent without contacting him/her with any part of

the screen blocker's body.

b. Blocker cannot use arms or elbows. Hands must be at side or behind the back.

c. Blocker must get in the moving rusher's direction of movement quick enough for a change of

direction to be made prior to possible contact.

d. Screen block must be made short of contact in defensive player's visual field and one step away

in defensive player's blind area (directly behind player being blocked).

L. FORWARD PASS

a. Only one forward pass can be made per down.

b. Ball can be passed or handed backward to any player at any time.

c. Forward handing can be made at any point during the game and as many times as you want.

d. All players are eligible pass receivers.

e. Illegal forward pass:

i. Two forward passes during a down.

ii. Intentionally throwing ball away; however, ball can be spiked into ground to stop

clock.

iii. Intentionally throwing ball away to save a loss. This includes backward pass out-of-

bounds. Player can spike in ground to stop clock.

iv. If passer is beyond offensive scrimmage line.

v. Pass after possession change.

vi. If passer catches own untouched pass.

f. If a player throws a backward pass to conserve time or fumbles to keep from being

deflagged/tagged, it is an illegal pass. (Penalty is five yards and is a loss of down; and the clock

will be started on ready for play whistle.)

M. BALL TOUCHES GROUND

a. The Ball is dead when it touches the ground at any time, except for on a punt prior to it being

touched by any player.

N. PUNTS

a. Must be announced by referee after asking team captain on fourth down how they want to play

the down: kick or play.

b. There are no quick kicks - illegal kick.

c. Punting formation: Kicking Team must have at least one player on the scrimmage line.

d. Kicker must kick immediately upon receiving the snap. If not, it is illegal procedure (5 yards).

e. Neither kickers nor receivers can cross their scrimmage line until ball is kicked.

f. Punts can be fielded off the ground and then returned.

g. Scrimmage kicks that are not announced are illegal kicks (10-yard penalty).

i. If a time-out is taken by either team, “K” team can change decision concerning a

kick or an announced scrimmage play. Also, decision can be changed if down is

repeated because of penalty.

ii. A “K” player may not kick the ball to himself or any other “K” player. Illegal

Kicking - 10 yards.

O. BASIC PENALTY SPOTS

a. Previous spot is used to administer:

i. Loose ball fouls.

ii. Fouls (including encroachment) that are committed at about snap time.

b. Spot of foul - distance is marked from foul spot.

c. Illegal pass.

d. Fouls by offense behind end of run.

e. All-but-one penalty principle.

i. Used after play gets under way and does not involve a loose ball.

P. PENALTIES THAT RESULT IN A LOSS OF DOWN

a. Illegal forward pass in all cases expect after change of possession – illegal pass

b. Illegally secured flag belt

c. Illegal backward pass

Q. FOULS THAT CREATE AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN

a. Roughing the passer

b. An illegally secured flag belt

R. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Ejection from the game because of flagrant foul(s)/unsportsmanlike conduct (physical or verbal)

will result in disqualification from at least the next scheduled game.

a. Individuals who receive two unsportsmanlike penalties or one major unsportsmanlike penalty

will be ejected from the game and suspended from the next game.

b. When ejected from the game, the offending player(s) will be expected to leave the playing area

within 60 seconds. This means "out of sight and sound."

c. Offending team will enforce the sound and sight rule.

i. Failure of team to maintain control of their players and fans will result in the

forfeit of the game.

d. Two discipline reports filed on an individual and/or the team will result in the team being

dropped from the program.

e. Teams receiving 2 ejections in the season, or the playoffs combined will be removed from the

league.

S. LOCAL RULES

a. Spiking and aggressively throwing the flag after removal will constitute an unsportsmanlike foul.

i. Spinning, spiking, or throwing the ball, and other gestures to taunt opponents or

to draw attention to oneself will be an unsportsmanlike foul.

b. Players are not allowed to wear jewelry.

i. For players who have medical or religious jewelry that cannot be removed can

come to the games with the medical or religious bracelet or necklace taped

down.

T. OTHER

a. Rules decisions are final after the ball is next legally snapped

b. Inadvertent whistle

i. Replay down if ball is loose on pass or kick

ii. Replay down or take play results option to team whose player is in possession at

time of whistle

c. Roughing the Passer

i. If a defensive player trying to block a pass contacts the passer’s arm, it will

constitute roughing the passer. This is the case if the ball is touched or missed

by the defender. Defensive players should go for the flag belt ONLY.

U. TIE GAMES

a. During the regular season, a tie after one (1) over-time period will be recorded as a tie. In

tournament play, over-time periods will continue until a winner is decided.

V. OVERTIME

a. Each team is given a series of downs from the ten (10) yard line.

b. Visiting team will call the toss. Toss is made for:

c. Defense or offense first or:

d. End of field overtime will be played.

e. Choice on other overtime periods is made on an alternate basis. If red won choice on toss, blue

has second overtime choice, etc.

f. If a team scores on first down, then their series of downs is over.

g. If the defense intercepts or gains possession of the ball, then the play is dead, and the series is

over. The overtime period is over if the defense has already played its series in overtime;

otherwise, the defense gets their series of downs.

h. Extra points will be played if the contest has not been decided.

i. One overtime, if necessary, will be used in regular season play. After one overtime a

tie game is recorded. During the post season tournament overtime play will

continue until a winner is decided.

ii. Example: Red is on offense first and throws an interception and does not score. Blue

then scores a touchdown so no extra points are needed to decide the game and

blue is declared the winner.

W. CO-RECREATIONAL RULES

a. The game shall be played between two teams of eight players. No more than four players of any

gender can be on the field at a time when playing with eight or seven people. Five players are

required to avoid a default or a forfeit. No more than three players of any gender can be on the

field at a time when playing with six or five people. When playing with four people, no more

than two of any gender can be on the field at one time, only allow in case of injury.

b. The offensive team must have a minimum of one player on the scrimmage line at the snap for a

punt or a regular scrimmage play. Infraction: Illegal Procedure, five yards from previous spot.

c. An offensive team male player may not advance the ball through the scrimmage line. There are

no restrictions once the ball has been touched by a player beyond the scrimmage line, during a

run by female, if there is a change of possession, and a legal forward pass. Infraction: Illegal

Advancement, five yards from previous spot.

d. In the Co-Rec game, plays will either be “Open” or “Closed”

i. The term “open” means any player can complete a legal forward pass to

any other player. The term “closed” means a player who is a man may

NOT complete a legal forward pass to any other player who is a man.

ii. The 1

down of each half or overtime possession shall be “open”. The 1

down of a new series following a team change of possession shall be

“open”.

iii. The offensive team may not complete two consecutive male to male

passes. This includes extra point attempts. Infraction: Illegal reception,

five yards from previous spot, loss of down. (The next down is “closed”)

iv. If a passer who is a man completes a legal forward pass to a receiver who

is a man during an “open” play the next play is “closed”.

v. To “open” the play, the next legal forward pass completion must involve

either a passer who is a woman or a receiver who is a woman and

positive yards must be gained (There is no penalty for negative yards

gained but the play will remain “closed”).

e. All touchdowns are now worth 6 points regardless of the gender of the thrower or receiver.

The Department of Recreational Sports Email: [email protected]u

A Division of Student Affairs Phone: 706-542-5060

Intramural Sports Website: https://recsports.uga.edu/