OSKIE FLAG FOOTBALL RULE BOOK

• This rule book follows the USA travel flag 5’s non contact rule book with modifications to time, equipment/attire, and penalty yardage (simplified). There are clarifications of rules, and our personal league/roster rules added as well but nothing that changes the USA flag rules. All modifications, clarifications, or league specific rules are highlighted. 

OVERVIEW

REQUIRED PERSONAL CONDUCT

Article 1. Players, coaches and spectators must keep their comments profanity free. Disrespectful language, racist, sexist, homophobic remarks, obscene gestures/behavior, and bullying are prohibited.

Article 2. Foul play will not be tolerated. Any staff member that hears or sees anything that leads them to believe an infraction of the required personal conduct outline has been committed the person responsible may be dismissed for the rest of the League/tournament.

Article 3. Fighting will lead to an immediate ejection for the remainder of the tournament, possible suspension or even a lifetime exclusion.

Article 4. Alcohol, other intoxicants, & weapons are prohibited on our permitted fields. When Playing on Turf seeds and other foods that ruin turf are prohibited

REQUIRED TEAM CONDUCT

Article 1. For the safety of our officials and their ability to administer the game all team personnel must remain at least two yards off the sidelines and inside the designated team boxes 5 yard lines of goal line 4v4, 5v5, 6v6 or 20 yard lines of goal line 7v7 or 8v8)

Article 2. Coaches may signal or call-in plays during the play clock but must be out-of-bounds before the snap. Coaches on the field-of-play during game play will be assessed a timeout.

Article 3. After all touchdowns and successful PAT attempts, the ball carrier must report to an official who will ensure the flag was not tampered with by pulling the flag from the ball carrier. (Our league only - The ref is able to request if they suspect issues. This is not to be done every score)

Article 4. If teams cannot agree on a sideline to occupy the Referee will conduct a coin toss and assign sidelines.

Article 5. Teams are required to clean up their garbage after contests

THE FIELD

Article 1. Standard dimensions of the field are 64 yards long by 25 yards wide with 7 yard endzones. Approved field sizes may fluctuate from 53-64 yards long when necessary, or 23-30 yards wide. Endzones should not be shorter than 5 yards. (Indoor sessions will be 52 yards long with 5 yard long endzones. Still 25 yards wide) 

THE GAME

Article 1. Game Time is FORFEIT TIME 

Article 2. Minimum 3 players to start a game. May only have up to 5 players on the field at any one time.

Article 3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has three plays to cross mid-field. Once a team crosses mid-field they have three plays to score. If the offensive team fails to cross mid-field, the ball changes possession. If the offense does not score, the ball changes possession. All drives start from the 5-yard line with the exception of an interception.

Article 4. No blocking is allowed. No intentional contact is allowed.

ATTIRE/Equipment

Article 1. Teams also must have the same color shirts and have an alternative color (one dark color/one light color). They do not have to be official uniforms. If both teams are wearing the same color, Home team gets to keep their color, and the away team will need to change into a different color. Failure to provide a secondary uniform or unwillingness to change will result in a forfeit.

Article 2. Flag color must be different from the color of the shorts where the flags are. If the shorts are solid just have a different color. If there is a stripe on the shorts where they flags should be then the flags need to be different from that stripe. 

Article 3. Equipment - No metal cleats are allowed. The league will provide flags but teams are allowed to use their own. Teams must provide their own cleats, football, and uniforms. League will provide all other equipment needed for the games to run. 

Article 4. Pockets - We allow shorts with pockets, BUT strongly advise against it. If you are wearing shorts or pants with open pockets it is at your own risk. Meaning if defensive players get their hands stuck or grab your pocket refs will not call holding. If it is intentional they will determine that, but you will be less likely to get holding calls and more likely for your pants/shorts to rip

Article 5. Flag Belt - If you tuck any item in the flag belt and it is visible or not tucked into your shorts it will be considered an extra flag. 

Article 6. Players may not wear hard, unyielding, or stiff material items that in the view of the officiating crew may present a hazard to other players.

Article 7. It is strongly suggested, but not required that all players wear a protective mouthpiece while on the field-of-play.

Article 8. Players may wear knit or stocking-style caps. Hard-billed caps must be removed or turned around backward. Players may wear a headband made of non-abrasive material. Rubber or elastic bands may be used in hair. Soft-shelled headgear designed for flag football players may be worn.

MISCELLANEOUS UNIFORM AND GEAR ISSUES

Article 1. Some type of team jersey is required; the minimal standard is similar-colored shirts. Teams must carry two colored shirts, a dark color and a light color. They do not have to be official uniforms, the light colored one can be a white T-shirt. If both teams are wearing the same color, there will be a coin toss, and the losing team will need to change into a different color. Failure to have 2 differing jerseys can result in a forfeit.

Article 2. Players must ensure their jerseys are long enough to remain tucked in during the entire play or short enough so there is a minimum of 4” from the bottom of the jersey to the player’s waistline. (Jerseys should never cover the flag belt).

Article 3. When a shirt is untucked at the snap a hold will not be called on the defender that is making a fair and legal attempt at the ball carrier’s flag. It is the player’s responsibility to check their equipment before each snap.

Article 4. Footballs must be pebble grained leather or rubber covered and meet the recommendations of size and shape for a regulation football. Adult men’s teams must use a regulation size ball. Adult women’s and Coed teams may use a regulation or intermediate sized ball.

Article 5. Players must wear close-toed shoes. Cleats with exposed metal are never allowed.

Article 6. Players may wear eye protection to include prescription glasses or flexible sunglasses.

Article 7. Players may wear a face shield molded to the face with no protrusions to protect against facial injury.

Article 8. Jewelry that in the judgment of a game official might endanger other players must be removed before play.

Article 9. Player’s finger nails must be trimmed or taped over to protect opponents. Alternatively, players may wear gloves to protect their opponents.

Article 10. Players may tape forearms, hands and fingers. Players may wear soft gloves, elbow pads, shin guards, and knee pads. Unyielding items such as braces, casts, or anything with exposed metal are not allowed.

Article 11. Officials will endeavor to identify missing, incomplete or improperly worn flag belts prior to the snap and announce for example “number X, down on possession”. The player with the missing flag violation must fix the issue during the next dead ball situation or leave the field until they have done so.

Article 12. Go Pro or other camera devices are not permitted on the chest or head. Always confirm with a director before wearing.

RULE CHALLENGES

Article 1. Only the team captain or head coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Generally, officials are happy to answer quick response and general questions during the game if they do not impede the game. The priority is to spot the ball then address questions without impeding the play clock.

Article 2. If a captain or head coach believes an official has made a procedural error they may call for a timeout. If an official tournament director and the head official agrees that there has been a procedural error (e.g., wrong down, incorrect penalty yardage, etc.) the procedural error will be addressed and the timeout will not be charged. The challenge must be made to an official before the next snap.

Article 3. If a team loses a challenge they lose all timeouts for the remained for the game. In the event the captain or head coach loses a procedural challenge and the captain’s team did not possess a legal team timeout a fifteen-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be assessed.

Article 4. Only procedural issues may be addressed, not an official’s judgment call or no-call.

Article 5. If the protesting team is unsatisfied with the ruling of the challenge on the field and would like to elevate the challenge to a league director / head of officials, they may do so. If you lose this ruling you will start the next game down 6/8/12 points pending on time format. 

GAME CLOCK FORMAT

Article 1. The League has 3 different time formats. Check the bottom for the differences

Article 2. Each team has two 30 second timeouts PER GAME. If a time out is called after a TD the clock will not run until the change of possession and the offense snaps their ball.

Article 3. The play clock is 25 seconds from the end of the previous play.

SECTION 5. FIRST HALF CLOCK

Article 1. The clock will run continuously during the 12/15/20 (check bottom for session specifics) minutes of the first half unless a team timeout is used or play is stopped by an official (e.g. deal with an injury, challenge, referee conference, game management purposes, etc.)

Article 2. The head official will give a verbal two-minute warning (for rule specific changes inside 2 minutes)

Article 3. The clock will run during point-after-touchdown attempts (PATs) in the first half unless either team opts to use a team timeout.

SECTION 6. SECOND HALF CLOCK

Article 1. In the second half the clock will run continuously for the first 11/14/19 minutes unless a team timeout or an official’s time out is used.

Article 2. The one-minute warning will stop the clock in the second half if the score difference is 8 points or less.

Article 3. The head official will give a verbal two-minute (for rule specific changes) and one-minute warning as close as possible to the actual marks but will not interrupt a live play.

Article 4. At the one minute warning officials will use a ‘stop’ clock mechanic for the remainder of the contest.

OFFENSE

GENERAL OFFENSE

Article 1. Offensive players must come to a complete stop for one second before the ball is snapped unless they are the only player in motion.

Article 2. The ball must be snapped between the center’s legs.

Article 3. It is a false start if any player on offense enters the neutral zone before the snap.

Article 4. The offense may not act or move in a manner that, in the judgment of the covering official, is clearly intended to cause the defense to encroach. Verbalizing play-calls or snap counts alone are not acts or moves that should be considered unless they are in conjunction with other acts or moves. The speed, abruptness, down and distance and if any player pretends to have the ball or otherwise simulate action at the snap will be considerations.First penalty “illegal procedure”, Second penalty “unsportsmanlike

Article 5. Direct snaps are legal to any player not on the line-of-scrimmage.

Article 6. The ball will be declared dead if any portion of the ball carrier’s body other than their hands and feet (knee, elbow, buttocks, ball-in-hand, etc.) touches the ground.

Article 7. The offense is responsible for retrieving the ball and returning it an official or to the line of scrimmage at the end of each play.

Article 8. The LOS Official must be set before you snap the ball. On change of possessions all refs must be set. If the rush line is not set when the ball is snapped the blitzer may blitz from wherever they are at that time. If you snap before the refs are set this is a "false start dead ball penalty". The refs are able to give a verbal warning but do not have to. 

FUMBLES AND MUFFS

Article 1. Unintentional fumbles and intentional laterals end the play when they hit the ground or go out of bounds and remain with the team that initiated the act. If a lateral, muffed or fumbled ball is intercepted before hitting the ground or going out of bounds it remains live.

Article 2. Forward fumbles that hit the ground will be marked where the ball carrier’s feet were when he/she lost control and not the spot where the ball hit the ground.

Article 3. Muffed snaps will be marked where the ball hit the ground.

Article 4. Fumbles and laterals that hit the ground do not stop the clock. 

RUNNING / JUMPING / DIVING

Article 1. Ball carriers are allowed to leave their feet, jump, and spin as evasive maneuvers in order to advance the ball as long as they do not put another player’s safety at risk. Not every insignificant jump or small hop constitutes a safety issue and player safety risk is at the discretion of each official. Jump cuts or leaping between two defenders is allowed if they do not initiate noteworthy contact with the defender or put another player’s safety at risk.

Article 2. Ball carriers may not hurdle over another player. Ball carriers may not dive, lunge, or fall forward in a perceived intentional manner in order to advance the ball or achieve a line-to-gain. This is a judgment call by the game officials.

Article 3. Ball carriers may extend the ball out in front of them to gain additional yardage.

Article 4. Diving by the defense to capture a ball carrier’s flag is legal.

Article 5. Ball carriers must make every effort to avoid a defender who has established a stationary position.

Article 6. Runners may leave their feet to avoid collision or falling on another player.

Article 7. Passers may jump vertically to throw the ball over a defender.

Article 8. The offense may use multiple backward hand-offs or laterals.

FLAG GUARDING INCLUDING STIFF-ARMING

Article 1. The ball carrier’s flags must be accessible to the defense throughout the play. Flags may not be tucked in pants, tucked under jerseys, worn improperly, looped around the waist belt, or knotted.

Article 2. Flag guarding is the act of a ball carrier denying a defender the opportunity to capture their flag in any physical way. The ball carrier shall not flag guard by flailing of arms, using their hands, arms, elbows or extremely dipped shoulders to deny the opportunity of an opponent to remove a flag.

Article 3. The ball carrier may not swat a defender’s hands away nor pin the flag against their body using the ball or hands. An official may call flag guarding if they feel that a ball carrier’s natural running motion gave the ball carrier a decisive advantage over the defender and the running motion caused part of the ball carrier’s body to block a de-flagging attempt.

Article 4. What constitutes flag guarding is up to the official’s judgment. We recommend you carry the ball with your hands held high on the body to avoid flag guarding. This is one of the most difficult transitions for traditional football players. Flag guarding shall not be called if there is no defensive player within reasonable distance to capture the flag.

Article 5. The ball carrier may bend at the knees to dip low, side cut, skip, or take short hops. Extreme low dips (sometimes called a “duck-walk”) are legal and do not constitute flag guarding in themselves, as long as the flag carrier’s flags are still exposed and the defensive player isn’t physically impeded (i.e. the ball carrier isn’t using his arms, hands, shoulder, ball, etc. to impede the defender. Normally flag guarding can be avoiding while “duck-walking” when the ball carrier keeps his hands and elbows high on the body (ex: at shoulder-level). Examples of flag guarding:

• stiff arming
• pinning the flag
• swatting
• using the ball as a stiff arm

Article 6. No penalty will be called if a ball carrier simultaneously flag guards as the defender pulls the flag.

Article 7. Tampering with the flag in any way to gain advantage is illegal.

PASS PLAYS

Article 1. Only one forward pass per play. Once the ball has passed the line-of-scrimmage it cannot be returned to behind the line-of-scrimmage and thrown forward legally.

Article 2. If any portion of the passer’s body is behind the line-of-scrimmage it is a legal pass.

Article 3. All players are eligible to receive a pass unless they have stepped out-of-bounds of their own accord. Players may re-establish themselves in the field of play and catch the ball if another player has touched the ball first.

Article 4. Any offensive player who receives either a forward or backward handoff behind scrimmage can pass the ball from behind the line-of-scrimmage.

Article 5. Backward passes are allowed.

Article 6. If the passer’s flag has been pulled while the passer still has the ball in their hand, it is a sack. There is no allowance given for the passer’s arm being in motion at the time of the sack. Ball in hand at all equals a sack.

CATCHES

Article 1. A pass is completed when an offensive player simultaneously places at least one foot inbounds and momentarily maintains possession of the ball.

Article 2. Simultaneous catches between a defensive and offensive player go to the offense.

Article 3. In the event of a bobbled catch, i.e., the ball is batted about by the receiver in an attempt to catch it, and the intended receiver is de-flagged before taking full possession there is no penalty for early flag pull.

Article 4. Whether or not a ball is tipped or touched in the air has no bearing on the play as it applies to fouls anywhere on the field (roughing, personal fouls, illegal contact, etc.).

Article 5. If a receiver steps out-of-bounds of their own accord and is the first to touch a pass, it is illegal touching. The play will be allowed to continue to a dead ball situation (5-yards from previous and a loss of down, if accepted).

Article 6. A receiver must “survive the ground” if falling while attempting to make a catch.

Article 7. Receiver cannot intentionally redirect the ball in the direction of their end zone to further advance the ball.

5's Non-Contact Clarifications

RUNNING

Article 1. The quarterback may not run unless the ball has been thrown back, handed or pitched to him or her in the backfield.

Article 2. Teams may handoff (unlimited), pitch, or throw back in the backfield. UNLIMITED laterals or throwbacks behind the LOS are allowed for the player to remain eligible to pass.

Article 3. Pitching (backwards/laterally) is allowed downfield (unlimited). Handoffs are allowed forward or backwards when behind the line of scrimmage, and only backwards beyond the line of scrimmage. A handoff DOES NOT count as a lateral/throwback.

Article 4. A forward pass DOES NOT have to cross the LOS to be a legal play.

Article 5. If the ball is placed on the “Back” of ANY player, the player MUST run the ball (no give and go to the QB on the back)

Article 6. No run zones are located 5 yards before mid-field and 5-yards before the end zone. You may not run the ball in the no run zone (5-yards before the first down and end zone), only forward passes are allowed to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage. Laterals and handoffs are still allowed.

Article 7. Ball is spotted where the ball is at the time of the flag pull. The ball must break the plane of the midfield or goal line to be considered a first down or touchdown.

Article 8. Players may NOT block down field in any form.

PASSING

Article 1. The quarterback has 5 seconds to pass the ball if there is no rush. If the ball is not thrown, then the play is dead. After the ball is ruled dead it is returned to the line of scrimmage.

Article 2. Once the ball is handed off or pitched backwards the 5 second count stops. If the defensive team rushes, then there is no 5 second count.

Article 3. There is no arm in motion, if the ball is in hand when the quarterback’s flag is pulled then it will be ruled a sack.

Article 4. Interceptions may be returned.

Article 5. The rusher may not have any contact with the QB (no hitting the QB arm or knocking the ball out of the QB hand).

Article 6. If ANY part of the players body is behind the LOS it is a legal pass

RECEIVING

Article 1. All players are eligible to receive a pass, including the quarterback, if the ball has been pitched or handed off in the backfield.

Article 2. Players must have at least one foot in bounds when making a catch.

DEFENSE

GENERAL DEFENSE

Article 1. Stripping or attempting to strip the ball from a player’s hand, including the quarterback, is illegal. Stripping is defined as the ball in a players hands for an elapsed period of time and a defender knocking it out.

Article 2. Defensive teams may not simulate the offensive team’s signals or cadence.(First penalty “illegal procedure”, Second penalty “unsportsmanlike”)

Article 3. There are no “free plays” for the offense. After the head official blows the ready-for-play whistle and the snapper puts their hand(s) on the ball, no player may enter the neutral zone until the ball is moved to start the snap. Entering the neutral zone before the snap is known as “offside” or encroachment which causes the play to be immediately blown dead and the offending team is penalized five yards.

Article 4. If a defensive team intentionally commits a penalty in order to achieve a specific goal and the penalty is declined, any subsequent attempts to continue committing the penalty will result in a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty and automatic first down for the offense.

Example: Offense has the ball 2nd down and 3 yards to gain prior to a first down. Defense intentionally jumps offsides to try and get offense to accept a first down and long line to gain. If offense declines, and defense immediately attempts the same penalty again, an additional unsportsmanlike penalty will be enforced.

ROUGHING

Article 1. Defensive players must make a concerted effort to avoid charging into the quarterback.

Article 2. In general, defensive players may not “crash” the quarterback’s throwing arm, shoulder or body even if the ball is touched first. This rule applies to holders and kickers as well.

Article 3. It is a quarterbacks right to step into a throw, and the rushers duty to avoid contact. If contact is significant and forceful at the discretion of the officials, whether attempting to go for the flag or not, it may be deemed roughing the passer.

Article 4. An insignificant “brush-by” may be allowed by the referee but is not guaranteed.

Article 5. Making contact with the quarterback while blocking a pass or attempting to block a pass may result in a roughing the passer penalty.

Article 6. Whether or not a ball is tipped in the air has no bearing on the play as it applies to fouls (roughing, personal fouls, etc.).

Article 7. A roughing penalty will not be enforced if a quarterback initiates contact with a defensive player while in the throwing motion; for example, during the passer’s follow through the player’s arm makes contact with an opponent’s hand, arm, or shoulder. In this instance the impetus of the contact is the action of the quarterback and not the defender. This is a judgment call.

FLAG PULLING MECHANICS

Article 1. Flag football is a finesse game versus the brute strength game of traditional tackle football.

Article 2. Flag pulling is the legal removal of a flag from an opponent in possession of the ball. Legal flag pulls must begin with the hands leading toward the opponent’s hips and flags.

Article 3. No player shall make any contact with an opponent which is deemed unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness. (This is a judgment call,       IAW NFHS rule 9-4-3g, Illegal Personal Contact)

Article 4. No player has the right to over-aggressively ‘body up’, ‘wrap up’, ‘play through’, ‘bull rush’, charge, spear or lead with a shoulder against an opponent even to capture a flag. Players must play to capture the flag, not to commit Illegal Personal Contact.

Article 5. Pushing out on the sidelines is not permitted unless the defense was making a fair, legal, and reasonable attempt to pull the ball carrier’s flags, i.e. the defender’s hands were aimed low at the ball carrier’s hips and flags and not high up on the body.

Article 6. Pushing, striking, holding, slapping or tripping while attempting to pull a flag is not permitted.

Article 7. A defensive player may not pull the flag of a player who is not in possession of the ball.

Article 8. Any defensive player who removes the flag from an offensive ball carrier is encouraged to show good sportsmanship and hold the flag above their head to assist the officials in locating the spot where the capture occurred.

Article 9. Players may be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing, spiking, obscuring, or delaying the ball carrier in recovering their pulled flag.

Article 10. If a player’s flag inadvertently falls off during the play the de-flagging reverts to a one-hand touch of the runner between the shoulder and the knees.

Article 11. When a ball carrier flag guards and a defensive player pulls the ball carrier’s flag simultaneously, no penalty will be called for flag guarding.

Article 12. If a defensive player physically contains, tackles, or attempts to tackle the ball carrier (e.g., bear hugs, holds, wrestles with, obstructs, pushes the ball carrier out-of-bounds, tackles, or attempts to tackle, etc.) without making a clear, legal attempt to pull the ball carrier’s flag, the offensive team will be awarded at least one line-zone-to-gain or fifteen-yards (offended team’s choice) from the spot of foul and an automatic first down.

Article 13. This type of action can result in a score awarded if the foul occurred inside the final line-zone-to-gain or the covering official reasonably believes the foul is the only thing that prevented the ball carrier from scoring Refer to Last man rule. Rule 10, Section 20. (Teaching point: Play the flag not the ball carrier’s body or ball as in traditional tackle football).

PASS COVERAGE

Article 1. Pass interference normally occurs above the waist; entangled feet are not considered pass interference. Incidental contact is not considered pass interference.

Article 2. A player may “find” their opponent by reaching out and placing a hand on him/her as long as touching does not delay or impede him/her. This is not considered pass interference.

Article 3. Contact away from the direction of the pass is not considered pass interference. It is considered illegal contact. Examples of pass interference include:

• Shoving or pushing off to create separation.
• Playing through the back.
• Hook and turn: grabbing the torso and turning an opponent before the pass arrives.
• Not playing the ball: the defender is looking at the receiver and contact materially impedes the receiver.
• Arm bars, hooking, restricting, grabbing wrists, or turning a receiver.
• Blocking downfield before the ball has been touched, commonly seen through “pick plays”.
• Cutting off the path of a receiver by being in front of them and slowing down or being beside them and “riding” them off their path to the ball.

Article 4. Whether a pass is catchable or uncatchable has no bearing on pass interference.

Article 5. A player may use their arms or hands to intentionally obstruct the receiver’s view (face guarding) of the ball without turning their own head to play the ball as long as contact is not made with the receiver.

Article 6. If defensive pass interference occurs in the end zone the ball will be placed on the one-yard line, automatic first down.

INTERCEPTIONS

Article 1. Interceptions may be returned. In the event of an interception, the intercepting team must secure the ball with “clean hands,” i.e., they must not have committed a foul before or simultaneous to the interception.

Article 2. If the intercepting team gained the interception with “clean hands” they will be awarded a first down where the ball becomes dead regardless of penalty occuring during/after obtaining possession. (flag pull, stepping out-of-bounds, fumbled, etc.)

Article 3. The ball will be spotted wherever the ball was at the time of the flag pull or the ball carrier left the field-of-play.

Article 4. Fouls by the intercepting team after an interception will be assessed from the spot of the foul. Fouls by the intercepted team after the interception will be assessed at the end of the run.

RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK

Article 1. Players that blitz/rush the quarterback must be a minimum of 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.

Article 2. The 7 yards will be measured off by a referee.

Article 3. Players that are not 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped may not enter into the backfield until there is a change of possession.

Article 4. The blitzer/rusher is allowed a direct lane to the line of scrimmage as long as he or she rushes from either side of the center or outside the bunch formation. The offense must avoid interfering with the rusher if he or she has established a lane. Officials will announce LANE or NO LANE for rushers/blitzers prior to the snap. This is a judgement call/decision based on the spacing between the players in the offensive formation. A space of 6″ or greater in length between two players constitutes a lane at the officials discretion.

Article 5. The rush of a blitzer has to be immediately after the snap, quick and straight towards the point where the quarterback receives the snap in order to retain the right of way. If a blitzer is rushing late, slowly, aiming at another spot, changing direction during the rush or just does not rush the quarterback, the player loses the right of way but still can participate as any other defensive player.

SCORING

POINTS

• Touchdown: 6 points
• Point After Touchdown:
• (PAT) 1 point from the 5-yard line (no-run zone in effect)
• 2 points from the 12-yard line, run, pass (outside of no-run zone)
• Interceptions returned on PAT’s are worth 2 points
• Safety: 2 points

POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN (PAT)

Article 1. Following a touchdown, once the scoring team has informed an official of which point conversion choice they want to attempt, the decision cannot be changed unless the scoring team uses a team timeout.

Article 2. If a penalty occurs during an extra point attempt, the penalty will be assessed but the extra point value remains the same.

Article 3. Decisions cannot be changed after a penalty. For example, if the offense attempts a 1-point PAT and is penalized five yards for a false start, they cannot change their mind and go for a 2-point PAT. They will still be attempting a 1-point try even if they call a timeout.

Article 4. Defensive unsportsmanlike conduct, personal fouls, or roughing penalties during a successful touchdown attempt will be assessed at half the distance to the goal during the PAT attempt (e.g., 2-point PAT attempts will be spotted at the 6-yard line, 1-point PAT attempts will be spotted at the 2.5-yard line). All other defensive penalties may be declined by the offense and the score will stand.

Article 5. Dead ball fouls committed by the offense that do not carry a loss-of-down penalty (false start) may result in penalty yardage assessed and the down replayed.

Article 6. Fouls by the offense during a successful PAT attempt that carry a loss-of-down penalty (flag guarding, illegal advancement, illegal forward pass, etc.) will result in the PAT being no good.

Article 7. Fouls committed by the offense in unsuccessful PAT attempts will be declined by the defense and the PAT will be “no good” and will not be replayed.
Article 8. Fouls by the defense during an unsuccessful PAT attempt will result in a retry after the options are administered.

Article 9. If the PAT-attempting team throws an interception and then commits a flagrant foul after the interception during the attempted return (physically contains the ball carrier; bear hugs, aggressively holds, tackles, etc. without making a clear, legal attempt to pull the ball carrier’s flag, the ball carrier will be awarded two points.

OVERTIME EXTRA POINT SHOOT-OUT

Article 1. A coin flip determines first possession, 1 timeout per OT period

Article 2. Teams will go in reverse order if more then 1 OT is required

Article 3. Teams can elect to go for 1 or 2 points

Article 4. Winner will be determined once the value of the extra point exceeds the other team’s attempt.

MERCY RULE

Article 1. No Mercy Rule during regular season. 

• Postseason
• 12 min half format: No mercy rule
• 15 min half format: If a team is up by 28 points or more At any point in the second half of play during playoffs, the game will be over.
• 20 min half format: If a team is up 28 or more at any point after the 10 minute mark in the second half. 

PENALTIES INSIDE 2 MINUTES

Article 1. All penalties inside of 2 minutes of BOTH halves remain the same except:

• Defensive delay of game (+ 15 yards Unsportsmanlike & 1st Down)
• Leading Team – Offensive delay of game (LOD + clock stops)
• Offensive Pre-snap penalties – yardage + LOD

 

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT: (Offense/Defense)

• a. Arguing with Officials: There will be an unsportsmanlike 15 yard penalty and potential “Cool down” penalty thrown. The second penalty of the night is an ejection. 
• * Note: Only captain may address officials (In sportsmanlike manner)
• Fighting: Throw a punch, hit the road. There is no room in this league for fighting.
• Being involved in a fight and/or throwing a punch, also included is a verbal threat of harm, will result in an automatic ejection from the league with no refund.
• Showing up to the facility intoxicated to the point that league managers deem inappropriate will result in immediate removal from the facility for the night. If this happens 2 times there will be bigger penalties assessed.
• There will be no tolerating punting/kicking equipment anymore. Or throwing a ball into the wall/ceiling. If we were to damage the facility the player responsible for the action will be held responsible.
• All unsportsmanlike penalty ejections are for 1 full game. (if there are multiple games in a night you will serve one full games time) 
• Fighting or any physical altercation ejections are for the an extended period of time

ADDRESSING OFFICIALS: (Questioning Calls)

• Only the designated captain is allowed to address the officials. All interactions with captains and officials will be made in a sportsmanlike manner. (First warning the Team captain will be notified of team player violation, second warning will result in 3 minute suspension for offending player, third warning will result in a removal from the game. If the player continues to cause issues this will result in a forfeit for the whole team and the player will be banned from the league for 1 calendar year.)

The Referees will call the game as they see it. If you have a question about a rule, the

captain is the only person to approach the official with any questions.

RULE CLARIFICATIONS AND NOTES

• *** If the yardage cannot be achieved due to being to close to the endzone the ball will be placed on the 1 yard line
  
• ***Offensively any penalties down field will be assessed after the play. So if the first down is achieved give them the first down then assess the penalty yards resulting in a longer amount of yards to go.
• ***Defensive penalties will be assessed prior to determining the down.
• ***Illegal touching is when a player voluntarily goes out of bounds and is the first to touch the ball after coming back into play
• ***If there is a rule/call not listed that is a general football play we will default to actual football ruling
• ***Last Man rule is a judgment call on by the Ref - IF there is a penalty or act that impeded a player that probably would score a touchdown the ref may award a TD
• ***Illegal contact, unnecessary roughness, or Unsportsmanlike Conduct have priority over all other penalties and will not be included in any "offsetting penalty" call