FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

Forfeits-If a team fails to show up for a game that team will be responsible for BOTH teams referee fees.  Second forfeit and your team will be removed from the league for the rest of the season, no exceptions. If notification is made to the league commissioner or Holbrook Sports Center over 24 hours in advance, it will not go as a forfeit. However, we can not guarantee that you will get 12 games if you need to cancel on a given week.

Referees:

Referee fees are $25 per team per game.

Coin Toss:

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. Selection of direction, defense, or offense only! There are no kick-offs. Play starts on the 5-yard line. To begin the second half, teams will flip goals and the team that started the game on offense will start on defense.

Time:

Each game consists of two twenty-two minute halves. If a team is more than 20 minutes late, they will be forfeited from that game. For the entire game, the offensive team has 30 seconds to snap the ball, once the ball has been spotted and rush line has been marked. Delay of game is a 5 yard penalty. A one-minute warning is given in the first and second halves. Until that time, the first 21 minutes run without stop unless there is a time out on the field. During the final minute of each half, the clock will run like the final minute of an NFL game.  The clock will stop on incomplete, out of bounds, and time outs. If a team is up by 18 points or more within the final minutes of the game the game shall be stopped and the winning team will be declared the winner.

Time-outs:

Each team is allowed one time out per half.

Team Size & Non-Team Players:

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.

Rosters
Each team will be allowed up to 14 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.

Flags:

Pop type pull flags are the only acceptable flags allowed. All players must have their shirts/jerseys placed so as to not interfere with an opposing players attempt to pull his/her flags.

Starting of Play / Hiking the Ball:

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.

Laterals:

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.

Pass Receptions:

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 the ball

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:

NFL rules apply the same. Dead ball fouls other than delay of game on offense will result in a loss of down.

Blocking:

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.  

Pass Rushing:

If the defensive team chooses to rush the quarterback, the rusher must start 7 yards back. The referees will mark the 7 yards off when spotting the football after the play.

Tackling:

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.

Flag Guarding:

An offensive player may not avoid a tackle by guarding his/her flag. 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.

First-Downs:

A team can achieve a first down by crossing mid field in three plays. If the offense takes possession over mid field they must score a touch down in three plays

Inside the 5
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. Any running play must involve the quarterback handing the ball or passing the ball to a teammate.

Fourth Down:

After three downs the offense will turn the ball over. The defense will take over at their 5 yard line.

Fumbles

If a player fumbles the ball, the play is dead at the spot where the ball first touched the ground.  

Interceptions

Interceptions of forward passes or laterals may be advanced.

Point After Try:

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 12 yards from the goal line.

If a turnover occurs during a PAT, the defensive team may run back the ball for 2 points.

Touchdowns

Only the ball is required to cross the goal line in order for it to count as a touchdown or extra point.

Overtime:

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.

Playoffs:

All teams will play at least one playoff game.

Arguing Calls:

We understand that referees will not always see plays the same as you will. Expression of your view is acceptable, but excessive arguing will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty, ejection, and possibly suspension.

If a player makes any personal threat towards an official, that player will be ejected from the game and suspended for the remainder of the season.

Other rules:

All teams are responsible for any/all trash brought to the fields. There are trash cans at the field, please have some respect for the owners of the Sports Center.  A $15 fine will be assessed to any team that is found to leave trash on the field.

In all instances where a dispute comes up NFL rules shall be utilized for any situations that may not be listed.

Phone: 781-986-5591   Email: HolbrookSportsCenter@yahoo.com

Holbrook Sports Center, 616 South Street, Holbrook, MA 02343