These are rules from the flag football league I used to play in, just modified slightly.
At the start of each game, the winner of the coin toss will choose one of two options:
The team that won the coin toss may not defer its decision to the second half.
There are no kick-offs; play starts on the 20-yard line.
To begin the second half, teams will flip goals and the team that started the game on offense will start on defense.
Each game consists of two twenty-two minute halves.
For the entire game, the offensive team has 30 seconds to snap the ball, once the ball
has been spotted. If the referee feels that this is being taken advantage of (delay of game),
they can:
On the first offense - Warn the team
On subsequent offenses - Penalize the offense 5 yards
A two-minute warning is given in the first and second halves.
There will continue to be a running clock in the final 2 minutes of the first half. The only
things that will stop the clock are time-outs, change of possession and penalties.
During the final 2 minutes of the second half, the referee will stop the clock if:
An incomplete pass is thrown
A player ends play by going out of bounds
Either team scores (the clock remains stopped until the opposing team snaps the ball after the
PAT attempt; the clock does not run during extra points)
A penalty which must be marked off occurs
A team calls a time out
***THE CLOCK DOES NOT STOP ON FIRST DOWNS OR FUMBLES.
If a team is up by 18 points or more within the final two minutes of the game the game shall be
stopped and the winning team will be declared the winner.
Each team is allowed two time-outs per half.
A team will not be allowed to play if they do not have a minimum of four players. A team may play
with four players and the other team will be allowed to play with five.
Each team will be allowed up to 10 players on its roster. Players may be dropped or added to the
roster within the first five weeks of the season with approval from the league. No roster transactions
will be allowed after the fifth week of play unless there are extenuating circumstances that have been
addressed to the league. If a team is caught using a non-roster player they will be subject to
forfeiture of all games in which that player has participated.
It is each player's responsibility to have his or her flags positioned squarely over each hip. If a
player begins a play without flags, and that player takes possession of the ball (i.e. a hand-off,
reception, interception) that player is considered "tackled" as soon as he is touched by an opposing player.
All players must tuck in their shirts/jerseys so as to not interfere with an opposing players attempt to pull
his/her flags.
The offense must "hike" the ball from the center to the QB. The center must hike the ball between their legs
similar to an NFL snap. Long snaps are allowed.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of both the defensive pass rusher & center to avoid collisions. A 5yd penalty
will be marked against the guilty party. This will be a judgement call by the official.
A lateral is an underhand or overhand pitch/throw of the ball to a fellow team member next to you or behind you.
Laterals are legal at any point in the game and anywhere on the field. Once the ball is lateraled, the player
who formerly had possession of the ball must hold his/her position on the field, or be called for blocking.
Laterals can be intercepted and be returned for touchdowns. In the event that a lateral is dropped it is
considered a fumble and the ball is marked where it first touched the ground.
A legal pass reception requires that the receiver have BOTH feet in bounds at the time control is achieved. No
part of the body may be touching an area out of bounds
Stripping of the ball is not allowed, any attempt to strip the ball carrier of the ball will result in a 5yd
penalty assessed at the end of the play.
Motion is allowed; NFL rules apply the same. Basically, motion is allowed so long as the player is moving
parallel or away from the line of scrimmage. If a team commits an infraction of this rule than the defense
shall be given the option of penalizing the offensive team 5 yards.
Blocking is considered the movement, whether deliberate or unintentional, that impedes a defensive player's
pursuit of the ball carrier, unless movement is to avoid personal injury (as interpreted by the referee). This
also includes the deliberate or unintentional movement of limbs by a stationary player. More leeway may be given
to players moving at the time of a reception, but this is up to the referee's discretion.
A violation of this rule will result in the play being called dead and the ball being spotted at the point of the
infraction, or the ball carriers position at the time of the infraction, whichever is in favor of the defensive team.
If the referee considers the blocking incident excessively aggressive, a 15 yard penalty will be assessed from the
spot of the ball (or to the one-yard line if the offense is less than 15 yards from their own goal line). Depending
on the severity of the infraction, the offending player may be ejected from the game and/or league.
There are no picks allowed. However the criteria that will be used by the referees will depend on the head position
of the offending player. If an offensive player is looking back at the QB than any contact will be considered
incidental and play will continue. However, if a player is not looking back at the QB and contact occurs then a dead
ball foul will be called with loss of down.
The defensive team must have at least one player rushing the QB. All players rushing the QB must be at least 5 yards
behind the line of scrimmage. Violation of this rule will be as follows:
First Offense: Verbal warning by referee and repeat of down for offensive team if they so desire.
Second Offense: 5 yard penalty against the defense and repeat of down if offensive team so desires.
It is also the responsibility of the pass rusher to be aware of "roughing the passer" this will be enforced at the
discretion of the referee.
A player is "tackled" by removing a ball carrier's flag belt. If a flag is removed by a defensive player prior to full
possession (as determined by referee), the offense is not considered tackled and play continues with no infraction charged
until another member of the opposing team touches the advancing player.
An offensive player may not avoid a tackle by guarding his/her flag. Flag guarding consists of the following:
pushing an opponent's hand away from the flag;
pushing an opponent or stiff arming;
lowering an arm to shield the flag;
dipping the shoulder;
If a player is called for flag guarding, the play is dead at the point of the infraction and a five-yard penalty
will be assessed against the player’s team from the spot of the foul.
Spinning to avoid a tackle is legal, as long as none of the above listed events occur simultaneously.
A team may earn a first down by carrying the ball over the designated first down markers
(20 YD, MIDFIELD, and 20 YD). The ball will be the determining factor when assessing a first down
call (similar to the NFL).
A team may also earn a first down if there is a defensive penalty that results in the ball being advanced
past one of the designated first down markers.
Once a team has advanced the football at or beyond their opponent's 20-YD marker the team will no longer
be allowed to run with the football past the line of scrimmage. Violation of this rule will result in a
penalty of a 5-YDs and loss of down.
At each fourth down, the offensive team must state whether it plans to punt or not
If the team elects to punt, the ball is then spotted at the defensive team's own 20 YD line. No Kicking
of any kind is allowed.
If a player fumbles the ball, the play is dead at the spot where the ball first touched the ground. If
a player on either team takes possession of the ball, prior to the ball hitting the ground, possession
goes to that team and that player may attempt to advance the ball towards his/her own end zone. There
is no stripping of the ball.
Interceptions of forward passes or laterals may be advanced. If defensive and offensive players appear
to both have possession or are struggling for possession, the reception is granted to the offense.
After a touch down is scored, each team is allowed a PAT for either 1 or 2 points. If a team chooses to
try for 1 point, the ball will be placed 5 yards from the goal line. If a team chooses to try for 2 points,
the ball will be placed 10 yards from the goal line.
The clock does not stop during a PAT, except within the last two minutes of a game when the clock is
stopping. A PAT is allowed if the touchdown was scored as time ran out to end either half.
If a turnover occurs during a PAT, the defensive team may run back the ball for 2 points.
Only the ball is required to cross the goal line in order for it to count as a touchdown or extra point.
NO DIVING TO ADVANCE THE BALL IS ALLOWED. A five-yard penalty will be assessed in the event that there is
a player in violation of this rule.
During regular season play and playoffs, all ties go to a 10 minute sudden death overtime format.
A coin toss will determine who will receive the ball or field position.