Flag Football - Men’s

( updated 10/2021)

ANYONE HANGING, DUNKING, SLAPPING, ETC OF THE GOAL POSTS WILL BE PUNISHED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LEAGUE COORDINATOR. NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS OR GUM ON THE FIELD. NO SMOKING ON THE PREMISES.

REMEMBER 2 THINGS:

1)     ENJOY YOURSELF

2)     NO ARGUING  

It is important that every player understands that this league is for fun.  The mission of Club Sport is to promote competition and athleticism through sportsmanship and fair play. Our leagues/events should be played with good sportsmanship. Although competition may become intense, we expect our participants to maintain good sportsmanship up to and after the final whistle.  No arguing will be tolerated. Whether it be with the umpire, the opposing team, or your own teammates, it’s unacceptable. We realize our umpires/referees/officials will make a bad call from time-to-time (bad calls happen at the highest levels, they are certainly going to happen in an adult social league).  Rest assured they are trying their absolute best to make the correct calls.   If you can’t win or lose with grace, keep it to yourself.

1. EQUIPMENT

1. No shorts or pants with belt loops will be allowed after the first game of the season.  POCKETED SHORTS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED, BUT IT IS OK TO PLAY IN THEM.
2. Only NFL or NCAA official size footballs
3. Cleats are allowed however, NO METAL SPIKES OR CAPS ARE ALLOWED

2. PLAYER CONDUCT

1. Only the captain is allowed to dispute calls with the referee.  Any excessive arguing or abuse of the umpire can result in the ejection of the player.
2. Players ejected from any game may be required to serve a one or more game suspension pending league review.

1. Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from league altogether.  
2. Verbal abuse of the officials or players, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.
3. Any player or fan ejected from a game will be asked to leave the park

3. Any player or fan is encouraged to root for their own team, but rooting against or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissals of fans.  

1. Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff.  
2. Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.

3. ROSTER/ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

1. All players must be at least 18 old or older.
2. Women are allowed to play in men’s leagues.  No special coed rules will apply.
3. All players, including added players, must sign the roster (waiver) BEFORE they play in a game in order to be eligible to play.

1. Once a player has signed the team’s roster they CANNOT be replaced or removed
2. Only players that have signed the roster/waiver are allowed in playoffs.  
3. Playing with ineligible players in the playoffs may result in a forfeit.  This call is made by Club Sport staff.

4. Teams may add players to their roster up until the start of their last regular season game.

1. Teams that made team payments are covered up to a 12 players

1. If a team wants to add more than 12 players it is an additional $10 per player added.

2. Individual teams will be capped at 12 players and can only add players with League Office approval once all roster spots are taken.

5. Play consist of 7 players per side.  Minimum of 5 players to include 4 players from your roster are needed to be to be considered a legal game.
6. If a team has less than 7 players, the team may pick up players to field the maximum number of players allowed on the field.  

1. The player or players picked up must be on a Club Sport roster (waiver) for another team on that night and at that location.
2. First pick up is free
3. Each additional pick up the opposing team is awarded 2 points per player
4. If players from your team show up, you must drop the pick up players.

1.  At no time may you have any of your roster players sitting on the bench while pick up players are playing

5. Pickup players are not allowed during playoffs.

7. Players have the right to ask for a roster check of the opposing team after the start of the game, but before the end of the game.  

1. These requests must be made with the coordinator during game play.
2. If it is found that the opposing team is playing with an “illegal player” (i.e not not on that team's roster or not signed in) then the staff reserves the right to remove the player and/or forfeit the game.  
3. Roster checks may not be made once the game is final.
4. Club Sport staff decisions are final and

4. GAME PLAY

1. Game time is forfeit time.  Referee and coordinators call game time

1. If a team forfeits a game, their opponent will be awarded at 2-0 win
2. If a team forfeits twice within the season they may not be allowed to play in playoffs
3. If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call our office so we can inform your opponents.

2. The game is divided into two 20 minute halves, with a couple of minutes for halftime in between.

1. The clock runs for the first 18 minutes of each half only stopping for timeouts, injury, questions for the referee or referee conferences.
2. During the last 2 minutes of each half the clock will stop for timeouts, incomplete pass, a player goes out of bounds, a team scores, first downs (until cones are placed), QB spiking the ball, and penalties
3. Misuse of consecutive offensive penalties is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.  Under 2 minutes the clock will not stop for offensive penalties
4. If, for any reason, the game is cancelled with the second half already started the game will be considered final.

3. Possession of the ball is determined by coin flip or odd-even.  The team that wins the toss may choose to receive the ball or defer their choice to the second half.
4. Each team will have 2 one-minute timeouts per half
5. The offense has 30 seconds to snap the ball
6. The 1st and 2nd half will start with a kickoff from the 20 yard line. No onside kicks.

1. Touchbacks on kickoffs will be marked at the 20 yard line.
2. If kickoff goes out of bounds, the ball will be spotted 25 yards from the line of scrimmage or where the ball went out of bounds, team captain chooses

5. OFFENSE GAME PLAY

1. Each team has 4 downs to score or earn another first down by crossing the next possible first down marker.

1. On fourth down, the offense the team may choose to punt or go for it.  Offense must notify the ref of this.  After ref is notified, if you would like to change you must take a timeout.
2. When punting the offense must have 4 players on the line of scrimmage, and the ball must be punted no more than 10 seconds after snap.
3. The punting team must give the player fielding the punt a 3 foot halo.

2. If the offense chooses to huddle, then all offensive players must be within 8 yards of the huddle.  No sleeper plays will be permitted.
3. The offense must have 4 stationary players on the line of scrimmage prior to snap
4. A snap  can be received either from under center or shotgun formation

1. In shotgun formation the snap must be at least 2 yards from center
2. The ball must be snapped from in between the “hashes”.  The refs will call where the hashes are.
3. Only the player who signals verbally or nonverbally for the snap may receive the snap.

5. Unlimited forward passes are allowed behind the line of scrimmage

1. unlimited backwards or laterals passes are allowed
2. intentional grounding will be called when a passer facing imminent loss of yardage throws a forward pass without realistic chance of completions
3. within the last two minutes of each half the QB may spike the ball to stop the clock

6. All players must proceed through the neutral zone perpendicular to the line of scrimmage (straight in or straight out).  Only after leaving the neutral zone may a player make a cut or change direction of their rush or route.
7. All players are eligible.
8. The ball is marked where the waist is when the flag is pulled

1. a first down will occur when a player’s waist breaks the plane of the first down line while in possession of the football.  The football must cross the line as well.
2. tying flags to prevent a pull is considered unsportsmanlike
3. if the ball carrier touches the ground with anything except their feet or the hand that is not in possession of the ball, the player is down at that spot
4. diving is not allowed to gain yardage or score a touchdown

9. Fumbles and muffed balls are considered dead.
10. A catch must be completed with first foot inbounds
11. A player may jump to avoid having a flag pulled
12. Spinning is allowed, however if the spinning player crashes into another stationary player this will result in a charging penalty
13. Contact blocking is not allowed

1. blockers must be stationary from the time the rusher gets within 1 yard of them until the rush passes with hands behind the back, close to the hips or down in from clasped
2. any player that does not run a route at the snap will be considered a blocker

14. Shadow blocking is not allowed

1. a player attempting to block downfield must be stationary until the play passes them.

6. DEFENSIVE GAME PLAY

1. The defense will line up 3 yards from the line of scrimmage

1. except when the offense is within 3 yards of a 1st down or the end zone.  In these cases will line up on the first down line or end zone.

2. Any player may rush the QB, but the defense may not enter the neutral zone until the ball is snapped.

1. All players must proceed through the neutral zone perpendicular to the line of scrimmage (straight in or straight out).  Only after leaving the neutral zone may a player make a cut or change direction of their rush or route.

3. If a player's flag falls off during play and is not due to the opposing team pulling it, play will continue

1. If the player is the ball carrier, they may be downed by one-hand touch between the shoulders and knees.
2. This rule applies the same for hats, bandanas, towels, and/or playbooks

4. A player may dive to pull a flag
5. Defensive checking is not allowed.

1. A defensive player may not initiate contact with any offensive player.

6.6      An interception downed in the end zone will be brought out to the 15 yard line when the offense takes possession.

7. SCORING

1. A score will occur when a player's waist breaks the plane of the goal line in possession of the ball or catch a legal forward pass while in the endzone.  The football must cross the line as well.
2. A 19  point mercy rule is in effect within the two minute warning of the second half

1. the clock will only stop for timeouts of the trailing team

3. Interceptions in the end zone will be called a touchback if the player does not enter the playing field from the end zone, and a safety if the player runs the ball out of the end zone and is downed upon reentry to the end zone.
4. After a touchdown is scored, the offensive team has the option of attempting their extra point conversion from the 3 yard line the 10 yard line or the 20 yard line.

1. After announcing their intention, this decision can only be changed by using a timeout
2. 2 and 3 point conversions can be returned by the defense for 2 points or 3 points depending on the amount of the try.

5. The next drive will begin on the 15 yard line with 1st and 5 yards to go for a first down.
6. Field Goals will be allowed at Robert Taylor Complex.  The offensive team must announce their intention to kick a field goal before the play begins.  The ball must be snapped to the holder and kicked 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage from the ground (no tee).  If the kick is made they will receive 3 points and the defense will start with the ball on the 15 yard line when they take possession.

7.6.1 The defense is not allowed to block a field goal.  If a field goal is caught by the defense in bounds they have the ability to return the kick and will be down where their flag is pulled.  The return team will take possession of the ball where their flag was pulled.

7.6.2 If a field goal is not returned and missed the ball will be placed at the spot of the kick.

8. PLAYOFFS

1. Playoffs are a single elimination tournament based on regular season standings
2. Playoff seeding will be based on the following criteria: (1) winning percentage, (2) head to head (with two tied teams), (3) fewest points allowed, (4) most points scored, (6) coin toss
3. If a team plays an 8th game during the season due to an odd number of teams this game will count in the standings
4. There will be overtime during the playoffs
5. All players, including added players, must sign their team’s roster/waiver before the their team's last regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament.  If a player is not signed on the roster by then, they are not eligible for  the tournament.  Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by Club Sport staff. It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players on their team are eligible players for all games.

9. OVERTIME (PLAYOFFS ONLY)

1. If there is a tie at the end of regulation in the tournament, the game goes to overtime
2. Winner of the coin toss chooses either offense or defense
3. The ball is placed on the 20 yard line with 20 yards to go to goal
4. All special coed rules apply
5. If the offense throws an interception, they lose the rest of their downs.  Upon receiving an interception defense may attempt to return the interception for touchdown to end the game.  However, if the defense does not score a touchdown, they will receive the ball on the 20 yard line and have their 4 attempts to score.
6. After the first team uses it four plays, the second team gets it’s turn starting at the same 20 yard line as the first team.
7. If the score is still tied after a full over time period (possession for each team), another overtime will be implemented.

1. beginning in the 3rd overtime, all extra point attempts must be from the 10 yard line.

10. MISCELLANEOUS

1. No jewelry can be worn during the games (for safety of all players)
2. No metal spikes are allowed
3. Hats with hard bills must be worn backwards
4. No casts hard or soft are allowed on the field
5. No player with an open wound or blood on any part of his or her body may remain in the game. They must leave the game to cover wound or clean away the blood before returning.
6. No alcohol is allowed at the fields.
7. All teams are responsible for their own trash
8. Club Sport reserves the right to adjust/or insert rules due to game day time restrictions to ensure fair play.
9. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!