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Flag Football Rules

Judson University Intramurals

 

Flag Football Purpose

The purpose of flag football is to actually play football without the contact. That is why the rules are as such. There will of course be contact of some sort but the intention of using the flags is to eliminate the unnecessary contact and still make it fun.

 Respect for the people playing, officiating and watching the game will be at the forefront of the Intramural Director's mind as well as that of the officials. Play hard …but if you disrespect the game or the people associated with it, you will lose the privilege to play. Finally, the job of the official is not to penalize, see every infraction or be perfect. They are there to keep the integrity and flow of the game. They are the final say in all matters.

 Finally, have fun! That is the whole idea behind intramurals. CREATE fun and goodwill as you play. Good luck to you and your team!

 

 

 Flag Football Rules

 

Number of Players

- Each team may have a maximum of five (5) players on the field at one time
- A team may begin a game with a minimum of four (4) players. If injuries or ejections occur, a team may continue to play with less than four (4) players as long as it started the game with four (4).
- The team may continue to play with less than the minimum number as long as the official feels they still have a chance to win.

 

Equipment

-No casts are allowed. No pads or braces are allowed above the waist
-Each player must wear shoes
-Shoes that have metal, ceramic, screw-in, sharp points or detachable cleats are illegal
-Each player shall wear a belt with three (3) flags hanging freely from the waist
-Each player must wear pants or shorts which do not have belt loops, pockets or exposed drawstrings (or anything that can be pulled.)
-Light and dark shirts will be used to denote teams. Gray shirts are not allowed. Failure to have an appropriate, contrasting shirt will result in being pulled from the contest.

 

Eligibility

-Team members must be a current student, staff or faculty member. A Judson ID may be asked to be shown. 
-Friends, family or alumni are not eligible to play. This is an issue of insurance purposes.
-Teams may not pick up members of the Judson University Varsity Football team …oh wait, we don't have one …don't worry about that then.
-In order to play in the playoffs, a team member must have played in at least ONE game prior to the playoffs.

 

Periods, Time and Substitutions

-Game time is forfeit time
-The games consist of two (2) 20-minute halves. The clock will run continuously except for time-outs and the last two (2) minutes of the 2nd half. (Change from previous year)
-The team will be notified when there are two (2) minutes left in the half.
-Each team is permitted one (1) time out per half and one (1) time-out during the tiebreaker. Timeouts do not carry over from one period to another.
-Players may substitute freely between downs.
-Each substitute shall be in uniform, ready for play with flags in position at the time of the substitution. Failure to do so will result in a 5-yard penalty.
-A period may be extended by an "un-timed" down when, during the last timed down, a penalty, double-foul or inadvertent whistle happens.

 

Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out-of-Bounds

 Ball in Play

-The offense must snap the ball within 25 seconds after the Official has sounded his/her whistle. Penalty: Delay of Game - 5 yards

 

Ball is declared dead when:

-A forward pass strikes the ground or is caught simultaneously by opposing players.
-A backward pass or fumble by a player strikes the ground.
-A runner has a flag belt removed legally by a defensive player.
-A player catches a ball but their flag was lost prior to catching it
-A snap hits the ground
-The passer is de-flagged before releasing the ball

 

Out-of-bounds

-A player is out-of-bounds when either the ball or any part of the runner touches the ground or anything else, except a player or game official, which is on or outside a boundary ling. If the runner (who is in-bounds) bumps into or is touched by a player or an official on the sidelines out-of-bounds, the ball is still in play.

 

Series of Downs, Number of Downs

-The zone line-to-gain in any series shall be the next zone (next field marker) in advance of the ball, unless distance has been lost due to penalty or failure to gain. In such case, the original zone (next field marker) in advance of the ball at the beginning of the series of downs is the zone line-to gain. The most forward point of the ball, when declared dead between the goal lines shall be the determining factor.
-Each team will be given four (4) downs in which to reach the next zone.
-Failure to reach the next zone will result in a change of possession.

 

 

Kicking the Ball

-There will be no punts. All teams must go for it on 4th down. 
-The ball may be kicked or thrown on the kick-off. 
-If the kick off goes out-of-bounds, the next zone in advance of where the ball went out-of-bounds will be the line of scrimmage
-If a ball goes through the end zone, the ball will be placed on the 15 yard line ...and it will be 1st and 5. (Change from last year.)

 

Snapping, Handling and Passing the Ball

The Scrimmage

-Snapping - the snap does not have to be between the snapper's legs. The player receiving the snap must be at least two (2) yards behind the scrimmage line. 
-During the snap, the offensive team must have at least three (3) players on their line of scrimmage.
-QB is allowed one (1) run every set of four (4) downs.
-Defense cannot rush the QB until the official counts to three (3) and blows the short whistle.
-One (1) blitz is allowed every set of four (4) downs and must be CLEARLY and LOUDLY spoken by the blitzer.
-No sleeper plays will be permitted where a player substitutes just prior to the snap and doesn't allow the defense time to adjust.
-No player of the offensive team shall make a false start. A false start is any movement simulating the start of the play.
-Encroachment - After the snapper has touched the ball, it is the encroachment for any player to break the plane of his/her scrimmage line, except the snapper's right to be over the ball.
-Offensive players are responsible for retrieving the ball and the line-of-scrimmage marker after the play. The snapper will bring the ball from the huddle to the scrimmage and a towel may be used to help keep the ball dry.
-All offensive players must be motionless for one (1) second preceding the snap. After all players are set, a player moving parallel to or away from the scrimmage line is legal.
-An offensive player that moves/shifts (other than going legally in motion) must stop for one (1) full second before the snap.

 

Handling the Ball

-Any player may pass the ball forward or backward.

 

Forward Pass

-All players are eligible to touch or catch a pass. Only one (1) legal forward pass per down is allowed.
-If opposing players catch a pass simultaneously, the ball becomes dead, is considered a completed pass and belongs to the offensive team.
-One foot needs to come down in-bounds for a completed pass.

 

A Forward Pass is illegal if:

-The passer's foot is beyond the scrimmage line when the ball leaves the hand
-Intentionally grounded to save loss of yardage
-A passer catches his/her untouched forward or backward pass
-It is the second (2nd) forward pass that down

 

Scoring Plays and Touchbacks

-Forfeit game - 1 point
-Touchdown - 6 points
-Safety - 2 points
-Try #1 : ball in play from the 5-yard line -1 point
-Try #2 : ball in play from the 10-yard line - 2 points
-Interception : a defensive player may intercept a pass or fumble and run it back for a touchdown - 6 points (Change from previous season)

 

Conduct of Players

-There shall be no personal fouls committed by anyone associated with the game.
-Personal fouls include using fist, hand, forearm, foot, knee or leg to intentionally contact an opponent; Intentionally tackling the ball carrier (Officials judgment and will result in disqualification); unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer (when the defender contacts the arm of the passer).
-Offensive players may protect the runner/QB by screening. Proper screening is done with arms inside the body, elbows down at waist, hands up near neck. Arms that push out away from the body are illegal no matter how benign the movement.
-Illegal contact between the blocker/rusher will be called against the player determined to have initiated contact.
-The ball carrier shall not guard their flags by blocking with arms, hands, or use a stiff-arm block thereby denying an opportunity to pull or remove the flag belt.
-Any mouthing off to an official, player or fan will be subject to immediate dismissal.

 

Penalties

-All "Conduct of Player" fouls are penalized 10-yards from the previous spot.
-All other illegal plays are penalized 5-yards from the previous spot.