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5v5FlagFootballRulesandRegulationsPURPOSE:ThisYouthFlagFootballprogramistoteachyoungchildrentheproperfundamentalsoffootballinafun-filledatmosphere,freefromthepressuresofahighlycompetitivesport.Thisisalearningleague.HAVINGFUNisthenumberonegoal.Inaddition;teamwork,sportsmanship,dedicationandconfidencearereinforced.

TheGame

1. Atthestartofeachgame,captainsfrombothteamsshallmeetatmidfieldforthecointosstodeterminewhoshallstartwiththeball.Thevisitingteamshallcallthecointoss.

2. Thewinnerofthecointosshasthechoiceofoffenseordefense.Theloserofthecointosshasthechoiceofdirection.Possessionchangestostartthesecondhalftotheteamthatstartedthegameondefense.

3. Theoffensiveteamtakespossessionoftheballatits5-yardlineandhasfour(4)playstocrossmidfield.Onceateamcrossesmidfieldithasfour(4)playstoscoreatouchdown.

4. Iftheoffensefailstoscore,theballchangespossessionandthenewoffensiveteamtakesoveronitsown5-yardline.

5. Iftheoffensiveteamfailstocrossmidfield,possessionoftheballchangesandtheopponentstartstheballonfromits5-yardline.

6. Allpossessionchanges.Exceptinterceptions,startontheoffense’s5-yardline.7. Teamchangessidesafterthefirsthalf.Possessionchangestotheloserofthecointoss.

Equipment

1. Eachplayermusthavetheirownflagbeltswhenonthefield.2. allplayerswearprotectivemouthpiece3. Teamsmustprovidetheirownballforusewhenonoffenseorbothteamscanagreeon

aballtobeusedthroughoutthegame.4. Playersmustwearshoes.Cleatsareallowed,howevercleatswithexposedmetalarenot

allowedandmustberemoved.5. Playersmustremoveallwatches,earringsandanyotherjewelrythattheofficialsdeem

hazardous.6. Jewelryshallnotbeworn.Religiousandmedicalalertmedalsarenotconsidered

jewelry.Areligiousmedalmustbetapedandwornundertheuniform.Amedicalalertmedalmustbetapedandmaybevisible

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7. Player’sjerseysmustbetuckedintotheshortsorpantsiftheyhangbelowthebeltline.8. Pantsorshortswithbeltloopsorpocketsmustbetaped.9. Ballsizesareasfollowed:Mini,Pee-Wee;Minor,Junior;Major,JuniororYouthsizeball

oritsequivalents.Field

1. Thefieldshallmeasure30yardswideand50yardslongplus10-yardendzones2. No-runzonesareinplacetopreventteamsfromconductingpowerrunplays.Whilein

theno-runzones(a5-yardimaginaryzonebeforemidfieldandbeforetheendzone),teamscannotruntheballinanyfashion.Allplaysmustbepassplays,evenwithahandoff.

3. Steppingontheboundarylineisconsideredoutofbounds.4. EachoffensiveteamapproachesonlyTWOno-runzonesineachdrive(onezone5yards

frommidfieldtogainthefirstdown,andonezone5yardsfromthegoallinetoscoreaTD).

Roster

1. Hometeamswearlight(white)colorjerseys.Visitingteamswearthedark(green)colorjerseys.

2. Teamsmuststartgameswithaminimumoffourplayers.Intheeventofaninjury,ateamwithinsufficientsubstituteplayersmayplaywithfourplayersonthefieldbutnofewerthanfour.

3. Onlyplayersonateam’srosterareeligibletoparticipateintheleague.Useofnon-rosterplayersareanautomaticforfeit.

TimingandOvertime

1. Gamesareplayedonatwotwenty(20)minutesrunninghalves.2. Half-timeisfive(5)minuteslong.3. Eachtimetheballisspotted,ateamhas30-secondstosnaptheball.Teamswillreceive

oneperhalfwarningbeforeadelay-of-gamepenaltyisenforced.4. Eachteamhastwo(2)60-secondtimeoutperhalfandone(1)foreachadditionalOver

Timeperiod.Timeoutsarenotcumulative.Usethemorlosethem.5. Officialswillstopthegameclockeveryfive(5)minutesforsubstitutions.6. Officialswillstopthegameclockattheone(1)minutemarkonalldeadballsonthefirst

andsecondhalfifthescoresdifferentialare30orlesspoints.7. Officialscanstoptheclockattheirdiscretion.8. Intheeventofaninjurytheclockwillstopandthenrestartwhentheinjuredplayeris

removedfromthefieldofplay.9. Ifthescoreistiedattheendof40minutes,thegameshouldbedeterminedatie.10. Inpost-tournamentorplayoffsituations,anOvertime(OT)Periodwillbeusedto

determineawinner.OTformatisasfollows:a)Eachteamgetsoneseriesoffourplays

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startingfromtheiropponent’sfive(5)yardline;b)ThewinneroftheOTcointosscanelecttogoonoffenseorpickanend-zonetodefend,andc)ifstilltied,wecontinuethisOTprocedureuntilawinnerisdetermined.

PlayingTime

1. Everyplayerisrequiredtoplayatleast50%ofthegame.Thisisarecreational,participatoryleague,meaningeveryoneplaysandgetstoplayhalfofthegameregardlessofabilities,physicalsizesorscores.

2. It’sthecoaches’responsibilitytogettheirplayersintothegame.3. Playersshouldbeeitherstartingonoffenseordefenseeachhalf.

Scoring

1. Touchdown:6Points2. PAT(pointaftertouchdown)1Point(5yardline)or2points(10yardline).3. Safety:2pointsa.Asafetyoccurswhenthebalcarrierisdeclareddowninhis/herown

endzone.Theycanbecalleddownwhentheirflagsarepulledbyadefensiveplayer,theirflagfallsout,theystepoutofboundsortheyhitthegroundwiththeirkneesofarm.

4. Ateamthatscoresatouchdownmustdeclarewhethertheywishtoattempta1-pt.conversion(fromthe5-yardline)ora2-pt.conversion(fromthe10-yardline).Anychange,onceadecisionhasbeenmadetotryfortheextrapoint,requiresachargedtimeout.ThePATcannotbechangedafterapenalty.

5. MercyRule:Afteroneteamiswinningby30ormorepoints,thewinningteamwillonlybeallowedthree(3)downstoreachmid-fieldorscoreaftergettingafirstdown.Additionally,thetrailingteamwillstartanynewpossessionatmid-fieldinsteadoftheirown5-yard.

6. Forfeitsarescored28-0forthewinningteam.Ifaforfeittakesplaceduringagame,thewinningscorewillbethefinalscore,andintheeventthetrailingteamisthenon-offendingteam,itshallberecordedasa2-0win.

Coaches

1. CoachesareexpectedtoadheretoN2Sportsphilosophies,coachingguidelinesandcodeofconduct.

2. Coachesareallowedonthefieldtodirectplayersaccordingtoneedanddivision.Coachesmustmovetothesidelinesbeforethesnapoftheball.

3. Onlyonecoachperteamisallowedonthefieldatanygiventime.4. Allcoachesmustberegisteredwiththeleagueandhavepassedtheirbackground

checks.

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LiveBall/DeadBall

1. Theballisliveatthesnapoftheballandremainsliveuntiltheofficialwhistlestheballdead.

2. Theofficialwillindicatetheneutralzoneandlineofscrimmage.Itisanautomaticdeadballfoulifanyplayerondefenseoroffenseenterstheneutralzone.Inregardtotheneutralzone,theofficialmaygivebothteamsa“courtesy”neutralzonenotificationtoallowtheirplayerstomovebackbehindthelineofscrimmage.

3. Aplayerwhogainspossessionintheairisconsideredinboundsaslongasonefootcomesdowninthefieldofplay.

4. Thedefensemaynotmimictheoffensiveteamsignalsbytryingtoconfusetheoffensiveplayers,whilethequarterbackiscallingoutsignalstostarttheplay.Thiswillresultinanunsportsmanlikeconductpenalty.

5. Substitutionsmaybemadeonanydeadball.It’srecommendedthatsubstitutionshouldbemadeduringchangeofpossession.

6. Anyofficialcanwhistletheplaydead.7. Playisruled“dead”when:

a.Theballhitstheground.Iftheballhitsthegroundasaresultofabadsnap,theballisthenplacedwheretheballhittheground.b.Theball-carrier’sflagispulled.c.Theball-carrierstepsoutofbounds.d.Atouchdown,PATorsafetyisscored.e.Theball-carrier’skneeorarmhitstheground.f.Theball-carrier’sflagfallsout.g.Thereceivercatchestheballwhileinpossessionofoneornoflag(s).h.The7secondpassclockexpires.i.InadvertentwhistleNOTE:Therearenofumbles.Theballisspottedwheretheball-carrier’sfeetwereatthetimeofthefumble.

8. Inthecaseofaninadvertentwhistle,theoffensehastwooptions:a.Taketheballwhereitwaswhenthewhistleblew,andthedownisconsumed.b.Replaythedownfromtheoriginallineofscrimmage.

9. Ateamisallowedtouseatimeouttoquestionanofficial’sruleinterpretation.Iftheofficial’srulingiscorrect,theteamwillbechargedatimeout.Iftheruleisinterpretedincorrectly,thetimeoutwillnotbechargedandtheproperrulingwillbeenforced.Officialsshouldallagreeuponanycontroversialcallinordertogiveeachteamthefullbenefitofeachcall.

Running

1. Theballisspottedwheretherunner’sfeetarewhentheflagispulled,notwheretheballcarrierhastheball.Forwardprogresswillbemeasuredbytheplayer’sfrontfoot.

2. Thequarterbackcannotdirectlyrunwiththeball.Thequarterbackistheoffensiveplayerwhoreceivesthesnap.

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3. Onlydirecthandoffsbehindthelineofscrimmagearepermitted.Handoffsmaybeinfront,behindortothesideoftheoffensiveplayerbutmustbebehindthelineofscrimmage.Theoffensemayusemultiplehandoffs.

a. “Centersneak”playisnolongerallowed.TheQBisnotallowedtohandofftothecenteronthefirsthandoffoftheplay.

4. AbsolutelyNOlateralsofanykind5. No-runZonesarelocated5yardsbeforeeachendzoneand5yardsoneithersideof

midfieldaredesignedtoavoidshort-yardagepower-runningsituations.TeamsarenotallowedtoruninthesezonesifthesubsequentlineisLIVE.(Reminder:EachoffensiveteamapproachesonlyTWOno-runzonesineachdrive–one5yardsfrommidfieldtogainthefirstdownandone5yardsfromthegoallinetoscoreaTD).

6. Anyplayerwhoreceivesahandoffcanthrowtheballfrombehindthelineofscrimmage.

7. Oncetheballhasbeenhandedoffinfront,behindortothesideofthequarterback,alldefensiveplayersareeligibletorush.

8. Runnersmaynotleavetheirfeettoadvancetheball.Diving,leapingorjumpingtoavoidaflagpullisconsideredflagguarding.

9. Spinningisallowed,butplayerscannotleavetheirfeettoavoidaflagpull.a. Playersspinningoutofcontrolwillbecalledforflagguarding.

10. Runnersmayleavetheirfeetifthereisaclearindicationthathe/shehasdonesotoavoidcollisionwithanotherplayerwithoutaflagguardingpenaltyenforced.

11. Noblockingor“screening”isallowedatanytime.12. Offensiveplayerswithouttheballmuststoptheirmotiononcetheballhascrossedthe

lineofscrimmage.Norunningwiththeball-carrier.13. Flagobstruction–AlljerseysMUSTbetuckedinbeforeplaybegins.Theflagsmustbe

ontheplayer’shipsandfreefromobstructionDeliberatelyobstructedflagswillbeconsideredflagguarding.

Passing1. Allplayersareeligibletoreceivepasses(includingthequarterbackiftheballhasbeen

handedoffbehindthelineofscrimmage).2. Onlyoneplayerisallowedinmotionatatime.Allmotionmustbeparalleltothelineof

scrimmageandnomotionispermittedtowardthelineofscrimmage3. Aplayermusthaveatleastonefootinboundswhenmakingareception.4. Inthecaseofsimultaneouspossessionbybothanoffensiveanddefensiveplayer,

possessionisawardedtotheoffense.5. Interceptionschangethepossessionoftheballatthepointofinterception.

Interceptionsaretheonlychangesofpossessionthatdonotstartonthe5-yardline.6. Interceptionsarereturnablebutnotonconversionsaftertouchdowns.

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RushingthePasser1. Allplayerswhorushthepassermustbeaminimumofsevenyardsfromthelineof

scrimmagewhentheballissnapped.Anynumberofplayerscanrushthequarterback.Playersnotrushingthequarterbackcandefendonthelineofscrimmage.Exception:WhenintheMercyRulethewinningteamcan’trushthequarterback.PenaltyisaUnsportsmanlikeConduct(15yards).

2. Oncetheballishandedoff,theseven-yardrulenolongerisineffectandalldefendersmaygobehindthelineofscrimmage.

3. Aspecialmarker,orthereferee,willdesignatea“rushline”sevenyardsfromthelineofscrimmage.Defensiveplayersshouldverifytheyareinthecorrectpositionwiththeofficialoneveryplay.a)Alegalrushis:

i.Anyrushfromapoint7yardsfromthedefensivelineofscrimmage.ii.ArushfromanywhereonthefieldAFTERtheballhasbeenhandedoffbythequarterback.iii.Ifarusherleavestherushlineearly(breaksthe7yardarea),theymayreturntotherushline,resetandthenlegallyrushthequarterback.iv.Ifarusherleavestherushlineearlyandtheballishandedoffbeforehe/shecrossesthelineofscrimmage,he/shemaylegallyrushthequarterback.

b.Apenaltymaybecalledif:i.Therusherleavestherushlinebeforethesnapcrossesthelineofscrimmagebeforeahandofforpass–illegalrush(5yards).ii.Anydefensiveplayercrossesthelineofscrimmagebeforetheballissnapped–encroachment(5yardsfromlineofscrimmageandreplayofdown).iii.Anydefensiveplayernotlinedupattherushlinecrossesthelineofscrimmagebeforetheballispassedorhandedoff–illegalrush(5yards).

c.Specialcircumstances:i.Teamsarenotrequiredtorushthequarterbackwiththesevensecondclockineffect.ii.Teamsarenotrequiredtoidentifytheirrusherbeforetheplay.

4. Playersrushingthequarterbackmayattempttoblockapass;however,NOcontactcanbemadewiththequarterbackinanyway.Blockingthepassorattemptingtoblockthepassandthenmakingcontactwiththepasserwillresultinaroughingthepasserpenalty.

5. Theoffensecannotimpedetherusherinanyway.Therusherhastherighttoaclearpathtothequarterback,regardlessofwheretheylineuppriortothesnap.Ifthe“pathorline”isoccupiedbyamovingoffensiveplayer,thenitistheoffense’sresponsibilitytoavoidtherusher.Anydisruptiontotherusher’spathand/orcontactwillresultinanimpedingtherusherpenalty.Iftheoffensiveplayerdoesnotmoveafterthesnap,thenitistherusher’sresponsibilitytogoaroundtheoffensiveplayerandtoavoidcontact.

6. Asackoccursifthequarterback’sflagsarepulledbehindthelineofscrimmage.Theballisplacedwherethequarterback’sfeetarewhenflagispulled.

a. Asafetyisawardedifthesacktakesplaceintheoffensiveteam’sendzone

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FlagPulling

1. Alegalflagpulltakesplacewhentheball-carrierisinfullpossessionoftheball.2. Defenderscandivetopullflagsbutcannottackle,holdorrunthroughtheball-carrier

whenpullingflags.3. Itisillegaltoattempttostriporpulltheballfromtheball-carrier’spossessionatany

time.4. Ifaplayer’sflaginadvertentlyfallsoffduringtheplay,theplayerisdownimmediately

uponpossessionoftheballandtheplayends.Theballisplacedwheretheflaglands.5. Adefensiveplayermaynotintentionallypulltheflagsoffofaplayerwhoisnotin

possessionoftheball.6. Flagguardingisanattemptbytheball-carriertoobstructthedefender’saccesstothe

flagsbystiffarming,droppingthehead,hand,armorshoulderorintentionallycoveringtheflagswiththefootballjersey

Formations

1. Offensesmusthaveaminimumofoneplayeronthelineofscrimmage(thecenter)anduptofourplayersonthelineofscrimmage.Thequarterbackmustbeoffthelineofscrimmage.a.Oneplayeratatimemaygoinmotion1-yardbehindandparalleltothelineofscrimmage.b.Nomotionisallowedtowardthelineofscrimmage.

2. Movementbyaplayerwhoissetoraplayerwhorunstowardthelineofscrimmagewhileinmotionisconsideredafalsestart.

3. Thecentermustsnaptheballwitharapidandcontinuousmotionbetweenhis/herlegstoaplayerinthebackfield,andtheballmustcompletelyleavehis/herhands.

UnsportsmanslikeConduct

1. Ifthefieldmonitororrefereewitnessesanyactsofintentionaltackling,elbowing,cheapshots,blockingoranyunsportsmanlikeact,thegamewillbestoppedandtheplayerwillbeejectedfromthegame.Thedecisionismadeatthereferee’sdiscretion.Noappealswillbeconsidered.FOULPLAYWILLNOTBETOLERATED!

2. Offensiveorconfrontationallanguageisnotallowed.Officialshavetherighttodetermineoffensivelanguage.Ifoffensiveorconfrontationallanguageoccurs,therefereewillgiveonewarning.Ifitcontinues,theplayerorplayerswillbeejectedfromthegame.

3. Playersmaynotphysicallyorverballyabuseanyopponent,coachorofficial.4. Ball-carriersMUSTmakeanefforttoavoiddefenderswithanestablishedposition.5. Defendersarenotallowedtorunthroughtheball-carrierwhenpullingflags.6. Fansmustalsoadheretogoodsportsmanshipaswell:

a.Yelltocheeronyourplayers,nottoharassofficialsorotherteams.b.Keepcommentscleanandprofanityfree.c.ComplimentALLplayers,notjustonechildorteam.

7. Unsportsmanlikeconductpenalties:a.Defense+15yardsfromlineofscrimmageandautomaticfirstdownb.Offense–15yardsfromlineofscrimmageandlossofdown

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c.AnyplayerorcoachreceivinghissecondUnsportsmanlikeConductwillbeejectedfromthegameplusaone(1)gamesuspension.

Penalties

1. Therefereewillcallallpenalties.Alljudgementcallsarefinal.2.Refereesdetermineincidentalcontactthatmayresultfromnormalrunofplay.3.Allpenaltieswillbeassessedfromthelineofscrimmage,exceptasnoted.4.Onlytheteamcaptainorheadcoachmayasktherefereequestionsaboutruleclarificationandinterpretations.Playersmaynotquestioncalls.5.Gamesmaynotendonadefensivepenaltyunlesstheoffensedeclinesit.6.Penaltiesareassessedliveballthendeadball.Liveballpenaltiesmustbeassessedbeforeplayisconsideredcomplete.7.Penaltieswillbeassessedhalfthedistancetothegoalyardagewhenthepenaltyyardageismorethanhalfthedistancetothegoal.

Defensivepenalties Defensiveunnecesaryroughness 15yardsandautomaticfirstdownDefensiveUnsportsmanlikeconduct 15yardsandautomaticfirstdownDefensivepassinterference 15yardsandautomaticfirstdownRoughingthepasser 15yardsandautomaticfirstdownTaunting 15yardsandautomaticfirstdownHolding 10yardsIllegalflagpull(beforethereceiverhastheball) 10yardsImpedingtherusher 10yardsScreening,blockingorrunningwiththeball 10yardsandlossofdownCharging 10yardsandlossofdown

Illegalrush(startingrushinsidethe7-yardmarker5yards;offensecantakeresultofplayorreplaydown

Encroachment 5yards Offensivepenalties

Offensiveunnecessaryroughness 15yardsandlossofdownOffensiveunsportsmanlikeconduct 15yardsandlossofdownOffensivepassinterference 10yardsandlossofdownEncroachment/falsestart 5yardsIllegalmotion 5yardsIllegalforwardpass(anypassreceivedorlandsbehindlineofscrimmage,LOS,orthrowingapassaftercrossingtheLOS) 5yardsDelayofgame 5yards

FlagguardingPlayisdeadatspotoffoulandlossofdown