Flag Football

1. Flag Football • http://youtu.be/znapWKLWzzo Flag football • http://youtu.be/aRTVgWw5b-gFF w/leBron J • http://youtu.be/ugtHJNhzFiQ

2. The Game • The game shall be played between two teams of 7 players each. • The winner of the coin toss will have the option of offense, defense or the side a team wants to defend. • The team who picked offense will start from their 20 yard line. • At the start of the second half the teams will switch sides and the team playing defense first in the first half will start on offense. • After the end of every extra point the opposing team will start from their 20 yard line. • There are no kickoffs to start the game.

3. Flag Football • A touchdown is worth 6 points • Extra points: From the 3 yard line is worth 1 point, from the 10-yard line is worth 2 points and from the 20-yard line is worth 3 points. • 1 point for passing PAT and 2 points for a running PAT • A safety is worth 2 points. • During an extra point, a defensive player intercepting a ball and running it back for a touchdown will be worth the 2 points. • Once a player scores a touchdown an official shall remove the flag to ensure equipment is legal.

4. Flag Football • Clock will stop after a touchdown and during the extra points. Clock will not restart until the official blows the whistle to put the ball back in play. • The game will be called off if a team is up by 21 points or more at the beginning or during the last 3 minutes of the game. • If a team is up by more than 15 points at the beginning or during the last three minutes of the game the clock will continue to run down. • Games ending in a tie during the regular season will remain a tie.

5. Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds • A player is out of bounds when any part of him/her touches anything, other than another player or a game official who is on or outside the sideline or end line. The player touching the line is out of bounds. The line is out! • When any part of the runner other than a hand or foot touches the ground the ball is dead. (Knee, shoulder, elbow equals a dead ball!) • Only one forward pass is allowed. When a backward pass, fumble, or snap touches the ground the ball is dead and the ball is placed at the spot of the fumble.

6. Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds • When a runner has a flag belt removed legally by a defensive player the ball is dead. • When a runner has a flag belt partially removed and then the flag drops to the ground the play shall be dead and the ball will be taken at the spot where the flag fell. • If a flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one hand touch between the shoulders and the knees constitutes a dead ball. • Diving head first with the ball at any time shall not be allowed. 5 yard penalty at the spot of the foul if there was no contact. 10 yard penalty if the diving player contacted another player. • Diving to catch a ball is legal. A defensive player diving to deflag an opponent is legal.

7. Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds • Hurdling or jumping over another player is illegal. Jumping into an opponent is illegal. 5 yard penalty non-contact at the spot of the foul. 10 yard penalty for illegal contact at the spot of the foul. • Spinning to avoid being flagged is legal. Spinning is legal only if the runner is in control. If contact is made it will be the judgment of the official to decide whether illegal contact was made. Incidental contact will occur. • Jamming another player or setting picks is illegal. 10 yard penalty for illegal contact.

8. Snapping, Handing, and Passing the Ball • The offensive team must have at least 4 players on the line of scrimmage at the snap. The 4 players must have at least one foot on the line of scrimmage. The defensive line of scrimmage is 1 yard off the ball. • 3 point or 4 point stances are not allowed. (Illegal procedure= 5 yds. penalty from the line of scrimmage LOS.) • No direct snaps are allowed. The receiver/QB must be in shot gun formation. • After the ball is ready for play, all offensive players must momentarily be within 15 yards of the ball before the snap. • All players of either team are eligible to touch or catch a pass. • Only one forward pass can be thrown per down. • A player must have at least a foot in bounds on all catches

9. Defense • Defensive players must go around the offensive player's screen block. • The arms and hands may not be used to contact an opponent except when capturing a flag belt or tagging a runner without a belt. • Attempting to steal, punch or strip the ball from a player is illegal. (10 yard penalty, illegal contact) • Wrapping arms around a receiver and holding them to slow their progress is illegal. (10 yard penalty) • Holding or pushing a runner is illegal. (10 yard penalty) • Any player tackling an opponent will be ejected from the game. (10 yard misconduct penalty) • Grabbing the opponent’s shirt while attempting to deflag the player’s flag belt is illegal (10 yard penalty, holding) • The swim maneuver is prohibited and shall be deemed illegal. (10 yard penalty) • Any rough contact made will be deemed illegal contact and the team shall be assessed 10 yards.

10. Offense • Guarding of the flag belts with any part of the body to avoid being flagged is illegal. 10 yards from the spot • A player is not allowed to "stiff arm" a defender to avoid being flagged. 10 yards penalty • A player may not dive, run into an opponent or lower their head and shoulders, causing contact a 10 yards penalty will be given. • An offense player shall not hurdle, take off with both feet, dive head first towards a goal or a defense player(s) who is in front or around defense players to avoid a deflagging. 5 yard penalty no contact, 10 yard penalty with contact.

11. Terms • LOS- Line of scrimmage- Imaginary line from the front tip of ball to both sidelines • PAT- Point after Touchdown 1, and 3 points can be scored.