Rules 4on4 Flag Football

4-on-4 Flag Football Rules Game of Champions Team Requirements Teams normally consist of 4 players  Teams may play with as few as 3 players  Co-Rec teams may be composed of the following combinations  2m/2w  2m/1w  1m/2w  Equipment   Players must wear shoes  Metal cleats are prohibited Pants/Shorts with belt loops or pockets are prohibited     NO taped pockets NO Zipper Pockets NO boxers on the outside of shorts Refer irate players to a supervisor   Cut-off T-shirts must not have excessively large openings All jewelry is prohibited Equipment Length of Game and Timing   Coin Toss Games consist of two 20-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime   Running clock • Only stopped by team or official’s time-out EXCEPTIONS: • Last minute of 1st half • Last two minutes of 2nd half • Inform teams    Each team has two time-out per half 25-second play clock  Begins after Official has signaled ready for play 19 points (25 in Co-Rec) during the final two minutes Mercy Rule  Clock Stops for...           1 or 2-minute warning Incomplete Pass Out-of-Bounds Time-Outs Touchbacks Change of Possession First Downs Penalties Touchdowns  Point-after is an un-timed down Clock restarts on the snap  Exceptions: first downs and penalties Inadvertent Whistles Whoops!  Ball is dead at the spot when the whistle was blown  Team may accept the spot or replay the down  The Field  “Zone line-to-gain” at midfield  Offense has 4 downs to advance  Placement of ball   5 yard line at beginning of each half or after a touchdown 10 yard line after a touchback or a safety  “Punting”  Offense may choose to place ball on opponent’s 10 yard line on fourth down Starting a Play  Offense must have 1 player on the line of scrimmage  Line of scrimmage set by referee with two cones Must be one continuous motion Player receiving snap must be at least 2 yards from the line of scrimmage All offensive players must come to a complete stop for at least one full second One player maybe in motion • May be moving towards the opponents goal line at the time of the snap • If two or more players go in motion before the snap then all players must come set for one full second again  Snapping the ball    Motion    No chicanery: It must be clear who the 4 offensive players are on each play The Game  Passing/Catching  Each member of the team is eligible to receive a pass • Unless a player voluntarily goes out of bounds on a play   One foot inbounds (college rules) Offensive may pass the ball behind the line of scrimmage as often as they like • Forward or backward   No running the ball Defensive Rush  Must line up behind second cone  Must count 1-1000, 2-1000, 3-1000 out loud  1 blitz per series • No blitzing on point-after attempts  Laterals and Fumbles  Ball is dead when it touches the ground Scoring  Touchdowns = 6 points   9 points if female scores in Co-Rec Point-after try: • • • • From 3-yard line = 1 point From 10-yard line = 2 points From 20-yard line = 3 points If the defense intercepts the ball and returns it for a score = 3 points (regardless of attempt by offense) • Decision cannot be changed unless a time-out is called  Safeties = 2 points Overtime!    Regular Season: only one overtime period Playoffs: overtime repeated until a winner is declared Coin toss  Winner chooses offense or defense   Each team given 4 downs from the 10-yard line to score Each team has one time-out per overtime period Screen Blocking  Form for a screen block:   Hands and arms at side or behind back Use of hands, arms, elbows, legs or body to initiate contact is illegal Defensive players are responsible for avoiding contact behind the line of scrimmage Offensive players are responsible for avoiding contact beyond the line of scrimmage  General Guidelines   Flag Belt Removal  Runner is down when the flag belt is unclipped   Ball spotted at point where ball is when de-flagging occurs NOT where the belt falls to the ground   If a flag belt inadvertently falls off  One-hand tag between shoulders and knees BUT inadvertent contact occurs – use judgment The ball carrier may spin, jump or dive The ball carrier may not use his/her hands, arms or the ball to protect his/her flags A defensive player may not hold, push or knock the ball carrier down   Flag-Guarding!   Live Ball vs. Dead Ball  Dead Ball = prior to the snap       Blow whistle, throw flag, stop play False start Illegal snap Encroachment Delay of game Unsportsmanlike conduct  Live Ball = simultaneous with snap or during the play   Throw Flag but DO NOT blow whistle All other Penalties Roughing the Passer Defensive Rusher must avoid contact  Any contact with arm is illegal  QuickTime™ and a DV/DVCPRO - NTSC decompressor are needed to see this picture. QuickTime™ and a DV/DVCPRO - NTSC decompressor are needed to see this picture. Flag Guarding Any part of the body protecting the flags (usually arms)  Tell players to run with ball outstretched  Illegal Contact  Rushing/Blocking   Offensive • Using arms, legs, or chest to push defender Defensive • Running through a blocker who has established position • Swim moves  Downfield  Offensive • Running through a defender who has established position  Defensive • Tackling a runner Holding Grabbing the runner’s shirt, shorts, or body to slow them down  ONLY call a foul if the flag is pulled as a result of the holding  3-yard Penalties  Dead Ball     Illegal Equipment Delay of Game Illegal Snap False Start or Encroachment  Live Ball    Illegal Shift • i.e. 2 players in motion at snap    Illegal Forward Pass (loss of down) Intentional Grounding (loss of down) Helping the Runner Illegal Blitz Running across the line of scrimmage (loss of down) 5-yard Penalties          Unsportsmanlike Conduct Flag Guarding Illegal Contact Pass Interference (loss of down or automatic 1st down) Roughing the Passer (automatic 1st down) Stripping Illegal Participation Illegal Flag Belt Removal Illegally Secured Flag Belt (loss of down) Enforcing Penalties  Loose Ball Plays (i.e. passing plays)   Enforce penalty from previous spot EXCEPTION: • Foul by the offense behind the spot • Enforce penalty from spot of foul • “Stiff the Offense”  Running Plays   Enforce penalty from end of run EXCEPTION: • Foul by the offense behind the spot • Enforce penalty from spot of foul • “Stiff the Offense” Plays with Multiple Fouls  2 or more fouls by same team  Enforce one penalty – offended team chooses Penalties cancel and down is replayed Enforced as dead ball Add to end of play even if another live ball foul occurred  Fouls by both teams   Unsportsmanlike conduct   Fouls and the Zone Line-toGain  Live Ball Fouls  Mark off penalty yardage before establishing zone line-to-gain  Dead Ball Fouls  Zone line-to-gain established before marking off penalty yardage Rules Clarifications No pushing/chucking the receivers  No stripping the ball  No spiking  Offense is responsible for retrieving the ball  Have Fun!