Rules

The Game:

A coin toss will determine the team that starts with possession. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has four downs to cross the mid-field line in order to achieve a first down. A team then receives four more downs in order to try and score a touchdown. If the offense fails to complete a first down or score, the ball changes possession and the opposing team takes over. There are no punts.

Game Length:

The game will consist of two (2), 25-minute halves running time. There will be a stoppage at the 2 minute warning mark of the second half. In the last two minutes the clock will stop on incomplete passes, dead balls, penalties, out of bounds, etc. Halftime will be about five (5) minutes in length. Once the ball is spotted the offensive team will have 30 seconds to snap the ball.

Roster and Team:

Teams will consist of up to twelve (12) players, with a minimum of five (5) players needed to have a team. Each team will have a designated captain that will discuss play with the referee. Roster infringement will result in a team suspension. Details of the suspension will be decided by league. Each player must play in at least 3 regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs.

All teams must field at least four (4) players at the start of the game. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit. Teams that do not field a team within fifteen (15) minutes of the start time will forfeit the game. A forfeit will result in a 14-0 win for the team that is present.

Attire and Flag Belt:

Players on the same team should wear the same color shirts.

Flags must be visible at all times, with one flag on each side of the player's body. Shirts are not permitted to hang over the flag belt. In the event that a player lose their flag belt legally or illegally during a down and then gain possession of a live ball, that player will be considered down where he is touched by an opposing player.

Players must have possession of the ball before they can legally be deflagged. It is illegal for a defensive player to intentionally pull a flag from an offensive player who is not in possession of the ball. In cases where a flag belt is removed illegally, play will continue with the option of a penalty (penalty: personal foul, 10 yards).

Guarding the Flag Belt:

Runners shall not flag guard by using any part of the body or ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove a flag. Flag guarding includes, but is not limited to:

• Swinging the hang or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging
• Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging
• Lowering the shoulders in such a manner that flag guards

Officials reserve the right to declare penalties for anything they believe to be flag guarding.

Scoring:

• Touchdown = six (6) points
• Extra point = one (1) point if successful from the 5 yard line.
• Extra point = two (2) points if successful from the 10 yard line.
• Safety = two (2) points
• Defensive conversion on an extra point attempt = two (2) points

A safety is denoted as a player that is deflagged or fumbles the ball in his or her own endzone. A team recording a safety will be awarded two (2) points and possession of the ball on their five (5) yard line.

Time Outs:

Each team has three (3), 60-second time outs, and can use only 2 per half.

Rushing the QB:

Any defensive player can rush the quarterback that is lined up 7 yards back and off the center. Any offensive player that touches or obstructs a rusher will be penalized (5 yards) obstructing the rusher. The only player that can get in the way of a rusher is the center, as long as he doesn’t move his feet after the snap, and cannot use his hands or arms.

Running:

The quarterback cannot run the ball when the defensive team crosses the line of scrimmage. There is a no-run zone that consists of the five (5) yards before and after the mid-field line, and also the five (5) yards before the endzone in each half.
Handoffs are allowed behind the line of scrimmage and so are laterals. Laterals are not allowed beyond the line of scrimmage. A play who receives a handoff or lateral behind the line of scrimmage has the option to pass as long as they do not cross the line of scrimmage.

The ball if spotted at the position on the field where the carrier's flag was pulled. A player's hips must break the plane for a first down and touchdown or 2-point conversion. It is your hip position that determines where the ball is placed, not the ball itself. Any ball that is fumbled during a down will be dead by rule once it has touched the ground. A player may not intentionally fumble the ball out of bounds to conserve time, to avoid being downed, or to advance the play (penalty: illegal pass, 5 yards). A player may not leap forward over the goal line or mid-field line to advance the ball.

Stiff-arming or "plowing" is not allowed. Plowing is designated when a player with the ball makes no attempt to run around a defending player and in turn tries to run "through" them. A player running with the ball must attempt to make a "football-move" when encountering a defender. A personal foul will be called for stiff-arming and plowing (penalty: personal foul, 10 yards). If warranted, an unsportsmanlike conduct or ejection may result.

A defensive player shall not hold, grasp, or obstruct the forward progress of the runner when attempting to remove the flag belt. Tackling is prohibited. Anything deemed as tackling by the official will result in a personal foul (penalty: personal foul, 10 yards).
Running follows the standard college rule that a player is ruled down once his knee, elbow, or any other part of his body other than his feet and hands/forearms touch the ground. A player does not need to be downed by an opposing player to be considered down.

Diving, sliding, or jumping to advance the ball is not allowed and the ball will be downed at the spot of the infringement.

Passing and Receiving:

The ball must be snapped from the ground to the quarterback by a fellow offensive player between his legs. If the snap is fumbled, the play will be ruled dead and the offense will lose a down. In the case that the snapper picks the ball back up after a fumbled snap, the play is dead and a down is lost.

In case of the offensive breaking the line of scrimmage prior to the ball being snapped, the play will be stopped dead and a penalty will be assessed (penalty: false start, 5 yards and loss of down). If the defense crosses the line of scrimmage and fails to get back onside before the ball is snapped, the offense will have the option of accepting a penalty (penalty: offsides, 5 yards and repeat down). If the defender crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped and contacts an opponent, the play is dead and an offsides foul will be assessed. If a defensive player jumps offside, but retreats to an onside position before the ball is snapped and doesn't cause the offense to false start or come in contact with an offensive player, the play may be run.

Shovel passes are allowed. Players must be behind the line of scrimmage in order to attempt a pass.

The quarterback has a seven (7) second pass clock. If the quarterback fails to get the pass off before the pass clock ends, the play is declared dead and the down is lost. Once the ball is handed off, lateralled, the pass clock is no longer in effect.
Interceptions can be returned even in the endzone.

Any ball that is fumbled during a down will be dead by rule once it has touched the ground. A player may not intentionally throw a backward pass out of bounds to conserve time or to avoid being downed (penalty: illegal pass, 5 yards).

If a player is in the air attempting to catch the ball, that player must contact the ground with at least one (1) foot in-bounds with the ball in their possession in order to be considered a completed pass, unless contact by an opponent causes the player to first touch out-of-bounds. If possession of the ball is lost simultaneously when a player hits the ground, it is not a catch. If a forward pass is caught simultaneously by members of opposing teams, the ball is dead at that spot and belongs to the team that had previous possession of the ball. A player that makes a diving, sliding, jumping, or otherwise acrobatic catch, is downed once any part of his body besides hands/forearms or feet touch the ground (college rules).

All players are eligible to receive passes, including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off or lateralled behind the line of scrimmage.

Dead Balls:

The ball must be snapped to the quarterback to start a play. The play may be ruled dead when one of the following occurs:

• Offensive player's flag is pulled
• Ball carrier steps out-of-bounds
• Ball is fumbled or an incomplete pass occurs
• Penalty occurs prior to the snap

Officials reserve the right to declare a play dead whenever they feel it is warranted.

Blocking:

There is absolutely no contact when the ball is in play. Any offensive player without the ball CANNOT run downfield to block, once the ball is caught all other teammates of the ball carrier must stop where they are. Any players running downfield with their teammates will be penalized 5 yards from the original line of scrimmage. The blocker shall have their hands and arms at the sides, on their chest, or behind their back. A blocker must use a "pick" to block opponents (as in basketball). A screen blocker cannot use their hands, arms, elbows, or legs to initiate contact. Illegal contact while blocking will results in a penalty (penalty: illegal blocking, 5 yards).

Penalties:

Penalties will be called by and are under the discretion of the officials.

Defensive penalties:

• Offsides = five (5) yards, repeat down
• Illegal rush = five (5) yards, repeat down
• Pass interference = ball placed at spot of foul, automatic first down
o Defensive pass interference can be defined as any contact that, in the view of the official, interferes with the offensive player's attempt to catch a pass. It is also pass interference if an eligible receiver is deflagged or touched prior to touching the ball on a pass thrown beyond the offense's line of scrimmage. If the pass interference by the defensive player is intentional and/or unsportsmanlike, the defense may be penalized an additional penalty (penalty: personal foul, 10 yards).

• Tacking/illegal contact (physical penalties) = ten (10) yards, automatic first down.
• Break-away penalty
o If an offensive player is in the clear, no defensive player may prevent the player from scoring by tackling, holding, pushing the player out of bounds, or interfering with the scoring opportunity in any other manner than deflagging. If this occurs, a "break-away penalty" will be called. The offensive team will be awarded the ball, with first and goal from the opposition's 5-yard line. This is a judgment call made by the referee and must be a clear scoring chance.

Offensive penalties:

• Illegal blocking = five (5) yards, repeat down
• Illegal forward pass = five (5) yards, repeat down
• Diving to advance the ball = ball downed at start of dive
• Delay of game = five (5) yards, repeat down
• Pass clock violation = loss of down
• Quarterback over the line of scrimmage = loss of down
• False start = five (5) yards, repeat down
• Flag guarding = ten (10) yards from spot of foul
• Offensive pass interference = ten (10) yards, loss of down
• Illegal contact (physical penalties) = ten (10) yards, loss of down
• Running downfield with ball carrier = five (5) yards, loss of down

Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
If the referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, or any other form of unsportsmanlike conduct, that player may be ejected from the game. This is under the discretion of the officials. Foul play will not be tolerated and will result in a suspension or possible termination from the league.

Only team captains may question the officials in reference to calls or in asking for an explanation or comments.

Overtime:

If the score at the end of regulation, there will be an overtime period with "college rules": each team getting a possession starting at midfield. Failure of one team to match the opponent's score during an overtime possession results in a loss. Overtime periods will continue until there is a winner. A coin toss till determine the opening possession.

Standings/Tie-Breakers:

In case of a tie between teams in the standings, a tie-breaking system wil come into effect in order to determine the final standing. The tie-breaking formula will be as follows:

• Head-to-head record
• Point differential (points for minus points against)

In case of a tie after all the tie-breakers have been used, a playoff game may be needed in order to determine whether or not a team makes the post-season.