FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

Men, Women, Co-Rec

General Information

  1. NIRSA Flag Football Rules will be used with Tulane University modifications.
  2. Participants are subject to all of the policies and procedures in the Intramural Handbook.
  3. Men’s, Fraternity, and Women’s League games will consist of 2 teams, 7 players per team. Games may start with 5 players.
  4. Co-Rec games will consist of 2 teams, 8 players per team. Co-rec teams must have 3 women on the field at all times. Co-Rec games may start with 6 players, 3 men and 3 women.

Equipment

  1. All participants should wear proper recreational attire.  This includes t-shirts, gym shorts, wind or sweat pants, and athletic closed toe shoes.
  2. No pockets or belt loops allowed.
  3. Shirts must be tucked in.
  4. Shorts may not be the same color as the flags.
  5. A towel attached to a player’s waist is illegal.
  6. Jewelry or sun glasses shall not be worn.
  7. Headwear that contain, hard, or stiff material, including billed hats and helmets, is prohibited.
  8. Team jersey will be provided.  If a team has their own jersey they must all be the same color, and have a minimum of a 5 inch number visible on the back of the jersey.
  9. Any hard braces must be covered and padded.
  10. Participants wearing casts are prohibited from intramural play.
  11. The final determination regarding legal equipment will be made by the Intramural Supervisor present at the game.
  12. An official size football will be used for all men’s games. A junior size football will be used for Co-Rec and Women’s games.

Time Regulations

  1. Games will consist of two 20-minute halves with a 3-minute half time.

a.      The clock will run continuously with the exception of: injuries, referees’ time, the final 2 minutes of each period, time-outs. 

b.      The Back Judge will announce the 2 minute warning. In the last 2 minutes of each period, the clock shall stop with every:

                                                              i.      Touchdown

                                                             ii.      Safety

                                                           iii.      Touchback

                                                          iv.      Out of bounds

                                                            v.      Time-out

                                                          vi.      Incomplete pass

                                                         vii.      Change of possession

                                                       viii.      Penalty

                                                          ix.      Inadvertent whistle

  1. If a game is more than half completed and is called due to weather conditions the game is considered complete.  The team that is currently winning will be awarded a win.
  1. Time-Outs
    1. Each team is entitled to two time-outs per half, per game. 
    2. The time-outs will be 1 minute long and may be taken at any time during the game. 
    3. Time-outs will not be carried over from period to period.
    4. Teams have 25 seconds at the end of a time-out to put the ball into play. Penalty: Delay of Game, 5 yards.
    5. Time-outs in excess of the allotted number will result in a 5 yard penalty Delay of Game.
  1. Overtime
    1. Regular season games will end in a tie.
    2. Playoff games will not end in a tie. The Texas Tie Breaker will be used.
    3. Texas Tie breaker procedures:

                                                              i.      A coin toss will determine what team will have choice of offense or defense, or end zone direction. The other team will have the remaining choice.

                                                             ii.      Both teams will attempt to score in the same end zone.

                                                           iii.      Each team will receive 4 plays and 1 time-out from the 20 yard line to score a touch down, and one play to score a subsequent extra point(s).

                                                          iv.      If the score is tied after the tie breaker, the process is repeated until there is a winner.

                                                            v.      If a pass is intercepted, the defense becomes the offense and begins their series of 4 plays. If the interception is returned for a touchdown, the game is over.

                                                          vi.      Penalties are assessed similar to the regular game. A team shall be given a new series of 4 plays when an automatic first down penalty is accepted. Dead ball penalties after a touchdown are penalized on the extra point attempt. Live ball penalties committed by either team after the defensive team gains possession during an attempt or overtime shall be enforced at the succeeding spot. Dead ball penalties following a successful attempt will be penalized from the succeeding spot.

Substitutions

  1. There is no limit to the number of substitutions a team may make.
  2. A substitute that desires to enter the game must report to the midfield sideline to make their intentions known to the line judge.  The line judge will notify the head official. The substitute may not enter until they are recognized by the official.
  3. If a player enters the field of play without notifying the official, a 5 yard penalty will be called for illegal substitution.
  4. Players entering and leaving the field may enter/exit their team side line only.  Penalty: Illegal Substations, 5 yards.

Field

1.      The field is 90 yards long. There are four 20 yard zones and two 5 yard end zones that mark the field of play.

2.      Team sideline area will be 6 foot off of the sideline mark with a orange and white strip.  A team’s players that fails to stay within the team area will receive a penalty of 10 yards unsportsmanlike conduct.

Pre-Game

  1. The home team or higher seed will chose one of the following options:
    1. Receiving the ball or
    2. Which goal to defend.
  2. At the start of the second half the visiting team or lower seed shall receive the ball or defend whichever they did not do at the start of the game. 
  3. Teams switch ends at the start of the second half.
  4. The home team is determined by whatever team is listed first on the schedule.

Kick-Offs

  1. Kick-offs will happen twice a game, at the beginning of the first and second halves.
  2. Kicks that are out of bounds will be placed at the 25 yard line.
  3. The kicker will kick from the 20 yard line.
  4. All possessions resulting from a touchdown or safety will start at the 15 yard line.
  5. There are no on-side kicks. An on-sides kick will result in the ball being placed at the 25 yard line.
  6. The kicked ball must travel at least 20 yards before players from the kicking team can touch the ball.
  7. Players cannot run past the ball before it is kicked. Penalty: False Start, 5 yards.

Downs/ Zone Line to Gain

  1. Teams have 4 downs to advance the ball to the next 20 yard zone to gain.
    1. If a penalty occurs during a play the zone to gain will be established after the enforcement of the penalty. If the penalty is against the offensive team the zone to gain will remain the same. 
    2. If a penalty moves the ball beyond the zone to gain, or a penalty calls for a first down, the next line will be the zone to gain.
    3. Declined penalties will have no effect on the zone to gain and the number of the next down will be whatever it would have been had the foul not occurred.
  2. Failure to advance the ball to the next zone to gain results in loss of possession.
  3. A new series of 4 downs will be awarded when the team advances the ball into the next zone line to gain.

Live Ball, Dead Ball

Dead ball

  1. A live ball becomes a dead ball as defined in the rules or when an official sounds the whistle, even inadvertently, or otherwise declares the ball dead.
  2. Ball is declared dead:
    1. When it goes out of bounds.
    2. All lose ground balls are dead.
    3. When any part of the runner's person other than the hand or foot touches the ground.
    4. When a touchdown, touchback, safety, or successful try-for-point is made.
    5. When a player of the kicking team catches a punt or when a punt comes to rest on the ground.
    6. When a forward pass strikes the ground or is caught simultaneously by opposing players. Judgment call of the officials. If ripped from hands of a player Penalty of 10 yards.
    7. When a backward pass or fumble by a player strikes the ground the ball is dead at the spot where it hits the ground.
    8. When a runner has a flag legally removed by a defensive player. When a runner is legally touched with one hand between the shoulders and knees, including the hand and arm, in cases where the flag belt comes off without any obvious contact.
    9. When the passer is de-flagged before releasing the ball.
    10. Following a valid or invalid fair catch signal.
    11. A snap from center that bounces once into the hands of the quarterback or punter continues in play unless dropped or muffed. A ball that is snapped over the head of the quarterback or punter becomes dead where s/he is standing at the time of the snap.
    12. A live ball, forward pass, lateral backward pass or fumble, other than a kicked ball, hits the ground.

                                                              i.      A fumbled ball or pass that is caught before it hits the ground may be advanced by either team and is a live ball.

Live Ball

  1. The offense must snap the ball within 25 seconds after the referee has put the ball in play (sounds whistle and drops hand). Penalty: Delay of game, 5 yards.
  2. If a team delays under two minutes left in the game, the first infraction shall be a loss of down. A second infraction will carry a loss of possession.

Scoring

1.      Touchdown: 6 points, 9 points Co-Rec if scored by a woman.

a.      To be ruled a touchdown, the ball must be in possession of a player and cross the goal line. 

b.      After scoring a touchdown, a player must immediately raise their arms and let the official de-flag them. This is to ensure that the flags were not illegally secured. Penalty: Player ejection, and a 10 yard penalty. 

2.      Extra Points: 1 point from the 3 yard line, 2 points from the 10 yard line, 3 points from the 15 yard line.

a.      Once the captain makes the decision for 1, 2, or 3 points, they may not change their mind unless they use a time-out.

b.      If the distance of the attempt is charged by a penalty, the attempt will be for the point value of what was originally decided.

c.      An intercepted pass on an extra point try by the defensive team may be returned for 2 points.

3.      Safety: 2 points

a.      A runner carries the ball from the field of play to or across their own goal line and it becomes dead there, in their team’s possession. Exceptions: When a player intercepts a forward pass, or catches a scrimmage kick or free kick between their 5 yard line and goal line, and their momentum carries them into the end zone where the ball is declared dead. This is known as the momentum rule and a touchback will be awarded.

b.      Following a safety, the ball is put in play by the scoring team at their own 15 yard line, unless moved by a penalty.

4.      Touchback: 0 points.

a.      A touchback occurs when a kick returner catches a kick in the end zone and takes a knee.

b.      The ball is out-of-bounds: behind a goal line except from an incomplete forward pass; when the ball becomes dead in possession of a player on, above or behind the player’s own goal line; or when the ball becomes dead not in possession on, above, or behind the team’s own goal line and the attacking team is responsible.

c.      The team whose goal line is involved shall put the ball in play on the inbounds line on the 15 yard line.

5.      Mercy Rule: If a team is 17 points (Co-Rec 23 points) ahead at the 2 minute warning in the second half the game is over.

Punting

  1. A punt may be declared by the offensive team on any down. All players aside from the punter must be on the line of scrimmage.  Penalty: Illegal procedure, 5 yards.
  2. Once a team has declared they will punt, they may not change their decision unless there is a penalty or a time-out is called.
  3. The snap must be received at least 5 yards back and the kick executed behind the scrimmage line within a reasonable time.
  4. Defensive team may not line up on line of scrimmage.  Team must be 10 yards back from the line of scrimmage. Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards.
  5. Offensive team cannot move until the ball is kick.  Exception of the snapper who can step to the side to allow for a clean punt. Penalty: False start, 5 yards.
  6. If the punt is muffed by a player and strikes the ground, it is dead at the spot where it strikes the ground.
  7. There are no quick kicks. Penalty 10 yards.
  8. Fair catch
    1. When a player makes a fair catch, the ball becomes dead where caught and belongs to the receiving team.
    2. A valid fair catch signal is one hand clearly above the head waved from side to side. If a receiver makes a valid fair catch signal and does not touch the ball, they may not screen block. Penalty: Invalid fair catch, 5 yards.
  9. Receiving Punts
    1. The punt returner is eligible to return punts or allow them to come to rest on the field of play.
    2. A punt that goes out-of-bounds whether it has been touched or not, or an untouched ball that comes to rest, will be marked at those respective spots.
    3.  Kick-Catch Interference applies if the receiver’s path to the ball in flight has been obstructed by the kicking team. Penalty: 10 yards.

The Scrimmage and Snap

  1. The snap must be between the snapper's legs, or flipped back by a player standing sideways while keeping the point of the ball on the ground. The player receiving the snap must be at least 2 yards behind the scrimmage line. There are no direct snaps on the line of scrimmage. Penalty: Illegal procedure, 5 yards.
  2. Direct snaps are allowed if the snapper is 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
  3. During the snap, the offensive team must have at least 4 players (5 players Co-Rec) on their scrimmage line and within one yard of the scrimmage line. Penalty: Illegal procedure, 5 yards from the previous spot.
  4. Three and four point stances are legal, contact is illegal. Penalty: 10 yards.
  5. No player of the offensive team shall make a false start. A false start is any movement simulating the start of play. Penalty: Dead ball foul, illegal procedure, 5 yards from the previous spot.
  6. The scrimmage line for the offensive team is the yard line and its vertical plane which passes through the forward point of the ball. The scrimmage line for defensive team is the yard line and its vertical plane which passes one yard from the point of the ball nearest its own goal line. An offensive player is on their scrimmage line when facing their opponent’s goal line with the line of their shoulders approximately parallel and with their head breaking the plane of the imaginary line drawn through the waistline of the snapper and parallel to the scrimmage line.
  7.  Encroachment: after the snapper has made their final adjustment of the ball, it is encroachment for any player to break the plane of their scrimmage line, except the snapper's right to be over the ball. Penalty: Encroachment, dead ball foul, 5 yards from the previous spot. 10 yards penalty or 2 or more consecutive encroachment fouls.
  8. All offensive players must be motionless for one second preceding the snap, except for a player moving parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage. If a player starts in motion from the scrimmage line, that player must be at least 5 yards behind that line when the ball is snapped. The offensive team must still have 4 players (5 players Co-Rec) on the scrimmage line at the snap. Penalty: Illegal motion, 5 yards from the previous spot.
  9. An offensive player that moves/shifts (other than going legally in motion) must stop for one full second before the snap. Penalty: Illegal shift, 5 yards from the previous spot.
  10. All players must be within 15 yards of the ball prior to it being snapped. Penalty: Illegal formation, 5 yards from the previous spot.
  11. The Neutral Zone is a one yard dead zone between the offensive and defensive line of scrimmage. Penalty: Encroachment, 5 yards.

Handling the Ball

  1. Any player may hand the ball backward at any time.
  2. A forward hand-off is illegal, beyond the line of scrimmage or after a kick. Penalty 5 yards and loss of down. 
  3. Backward Pass: Is a pass with its initial direction parallel with or toward the passer’s end line. Treated the same as a backward pitch.
  4. A backward pass or fumble that touches the ground is dead at the spot.
  5. A backward pass or fumble that is intentionally thrown out-of-bounds to avoid being de-flagged, tagged, or to conserve time is illegal. Penalty: 5 yards and loss of down.
  6. The player receiving the snap may advance the ball.
  7. The snapper may not receive a hand-off unless they have first turned 180 degrees to face their own end zone. Penalty: Illegal hand-off 5 yards.

Passing/Interference

  1. Forward pass may be thrown only once per down.  All players are eligible to touch or catch a pass. A forward pass is illegal if:
    1. The passer’s foot is beyond the offensive line of scrimmage when the ball leaves their hand.
    2. Thrown after team possession has changed during the down.
    3. A passer catches their untouched forward pass. A passer can catch their own pass if another player has touched it after it has been thrown.

Penalty: Illegal forward pass, 5 yards from the spot of the pass, loss of down.

  1. The pass begins when the ball is released from the passer’s hand.  The ball is dead if the passer is de-flagged before the ball is released.
  2. The initial direction of a pass determines whether a pass is forward or backward.
  3. The passer can not cross the line of scrimmage and then cross back to throw the ball.  Penalty: Illegal forward pass, 5 yards, loss of down.
  4. A pass may be touched by any number of players prior to begin caught.
  5. All players are eligible to catch a pass.
  6. If a pass is caught simultaneously by opposing players, the ball becomes dead, and is considered a complete pass and belongs to the offensive team.
  7. A receiver must have one foot inbound for a pass to be ruled complete.  If the foot lands simultaneously with the foot that lands out-of-bounds the pass is incomplete.
  8. Protecting the passer:  The passer will be protected at all times.  The only legal contact that can be made is around the waist area, where the defender would be attempting to de-flag the passer.  The ball is considered an extension of the passer.  The ball may not be hit while in the possession of the passer. Penalty: Roughing the passer, automatic first down, 10 yards.

 Forward Pass and Runner Co-Rec Rule Only

  1. The term “closed” means a male player may not throw a legal forward pass completion to any other male player. The term “open” means any player can complete a legal forward pass to any other player.  The head official will announce if a play is open or closed
  2. During the offensive team’s possession, there may not be 2 consecutive legal forward pass completions from a male passer to a male receiver.
  3.  If a male passer completes a legal forward pass to a male receiver, the next legal forward pass completion must involve either a female passer or female receiver for positive yards. The spot where the ball becomes dead by rule must be beyond the offensive scrimmage line. There is no foul for a female receiver being de-flagged behind the offensive scrimmage line. The next legal forward pass completion remains “closed.”
  4. Any foul, whether accepted or declined, shall have no effect on whether the next forward pass completion is “open” or “closed.”
  5.  Penalty Illegal Forward Pass, 5 yards from the spot where the second consecutive male to male completed legal forward pass is released, and a loss of down.
  6. A male runner or receiver cannot advance the ball through the offensive scrimmage line. Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards from the previous spot.
  7. Once the ball is beyond the offensive scrimmage line, there are no restrictions regarding who can run with the football anywhere on the field either before or after possession changes.

Interference

1.      During a down in which a legal forward pass crosses the scrimmage line, contact which interferes with an eligible receiver who is beyond the scrimmage line is pass interference. Penalty: 10 yards from the previous spot and automatic first down.

2.      Defensive pass interference that is considered to be intentional or unsportsmanlike. Penalty: 10 yards for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, possible ejection, and 10 yards and first down for interference.

3.      Offensive pass interference that is considered to be intentional or unsportsmanlike. Penalty: 10 yards for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, possible ejection, loss of possession and 10 yards and first down for interference.

Screen Blocking

  1. Blocking is prohibited. A player may not use their hands, arms or body to block or ward off an opponent. Penalty: Personal foul, 10 yards.
  2. Offensive players may protect the runner by screening. The offensive screen block shall take place without contact and the screener may maintain a position (moving or stationary) between the defensive player and the runner. The screen blocker shall have their hands and arms at their sides or behind their back. Any use of the arms, elbows, or legs to initiate contact during an offensive player's screen block is illegal. A blocker may use a hand or arm to break a fall or retain balance. Players must remain on their feet before, during, and after screen blocking. The blocker must have their shoulders square with their feet. No part of the screener's body, except the feet, may be in contact with the ground. Penalty: Illegal contact, 10 yards.
  3. The Neutral Zone is a one yard dead zone between the offensive and defensive line of scrimmage. Penalty: Encroachment, 5 yards.
  4. Interlocked interference is illegal. Penalty: Illegal Interlocked interference, 10 yards.
  5. Defensive players must go around the offensive player's screen block. Defenders may not use their hands or arms to gain an advantage in going around the offensive blocker. Penalty: Personal foul, 10 yards.
  6. The runner may not straighten arm or lower the shoulder into an opponent. Penalty: Personal foul, 10 yards.
  7.  Illegal contact between the blocker/rusher will be called against the player determined to have initiated the contact. Penalty: Personal foul, 10 yards. Repeated illegal contact will not be tolerated and will result in ejection.

Running

1.      Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for opponents to pull or remove the flag belt. Flag guarding includes:

a.      Swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging.

b.      Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging.

c.       Lowering the shoulders in such a manner that places the arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging.

Penalty: Flag Guarding, 10 yards.

2.      The runner shall be prohibited from contacting an opponent with extended hand or arm. This includes the use of a stiff arm extended to ward off an opponent attempting to de-flag/tag. Penalty: Stiff Arm, 10 yards.

3.      The runner shall not grasp a teammate or be grasped, pulled or pushed by a teammate. Penalty; Helping the runner, 5 yards.

4.      The runner shall not lower their head or shoulders to avoid being de-flagged.

5.      Spinning while running is considered part of running and is allowed provided the runner maintains contact with the ground.

6.      Hurdling/diving in an attempt to gain yardage by a ball carrier is illegal and will constitute a personal foul. Hurdling is an attempt by a player to jump with one or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent who is contacting the ground with no part of their body, except one or both feet. Penalty: Hurdling/diving 10 yards.

7.      Obstruction of Runner. The defensive player shall not hold, grasp, or obstruct the forward progress of a runner when in the act of removing the flag belt or making a legal tag. Penalty: Holding 10 yards.

8.      Charging. A runner shall not charge into an opponent in his/her path nor attempt to run between two opponents, unless the space is such as to provide a reasonable chance for him/her to go through without contact. Penalty: Personal Foul, 10 yards.

9.      The ball becomes dead if any part of the runner other than their hands or feet touches the ground.

10.  Pushing the runner out-of-bounds is an illegal act. Penalty: Personal Foul, 10 yards.

Flag Removal 

  1. De-flagging, removal of the flag by a player is allowed only under special circumstances similar to tackling in football. Players must have possession of the ball before they can be legally de-flagged.
  2. When a runner loses his/her flag belt either accidentally or inadvertently (not removed by grasping or pulling), play continues. The de-flagging reverts to a one hand tag of the runner between the shoulders and the knees.
  3. In circumstances where a flag belt is removed illegally, play should continue with the option of the penalty or the play. Penalty: Personal foul, 10 yards.
  4. Intentionally pulling or removing a flag belt from an offensive player without the ball by a defensive player is prohibited. Penalty: Personal foul, 10 yards.
  5. Tampering with the flag belt in any way to gain an advantage including tying, using foreign materials, or other such acts are illegal. Penalty: Player ejection, unsportsmanlike conducts, 10 yards from the previous spot and loss of down.
  6. Defensive Contact: In an attempt to remove the flag belt from a runner, defensive players may contact the body and shoulders of an opponent with their hands, but not their face, nor any part of their neck or head.  A defensive player may not hold, push, or knock the runner down in an attempt to remove the flag belt.  Penalty: 10 yards.

Personal Fouls

  1. No player shall commit a personal foul. Any act prohibited here or any other act of unnecessary roughness is a personal foul. No player shall:
    1. Punch, strike, strip, steal, or attempt to steal the ball from a player in possession.
    2. Trip an opponent.
    3. Contact an opponent who is on the ground.
    4. Throw the runner to the ground.
    5. Hurdle any other player.
    6. Contact an opponent either before or after the ball is declared dead.
    7. Make any contact with an opponent which is deemed unnecessary, of any nature, including using fist, locked hands, elbows, or any part of the forearm or hand, as well as the legs, knees, and/or feet.
    8. Deliberately drive or run into a defensive player.
    9. Clip an opponent.
    10. Position himself/herself on the shoulders or body of a teammate or opponent to gain an advantage.
    11. Tackle the runner by grasping or encircling with the hand(s) or arm(s) and taking the opponent toward the ground as in tackle football.
    12. Use of abusive or insulting language, swearing
    13. Indicating objections to an official's call
    14. Touching or striking an official- immediate player ejection and life suspension.
    15. Intentionally pulling the flag of a player not in possession of the ball.
    16. Spiking the ball.  The passer is allowed to spike the ball in the last 2 minutes of the half only by turning around from the line of scrimmage and spiking the ball straight down.  The clock stops and the ball is spotted where it struck the ground.
    17. Destruction or abuse of Reily Center property. 
    18. Fighting
    19. Penalty: Personal Foul, 10 yards, if flagrant, the offender shall be disqualified/ejected.

     

  1. Unsportsmanlike conduct: Any participant receiving 2 Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during a game shall be ejected from the game immediately and must leave the playing facilities. Any player receiving 3 Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for the season will be disqualified for the remainder of the season.
  2. Any player ejected from the game must leave the playing area and is not permitted to watch the reminder of the game.
  3. Three Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on one team in one game shall end (forfeit) the game immediately.
  4. All 10 yard penalties inside the 10 yard line are half the distance to the goal.
  5. All 5 yards penalties inside the 5 yard line are half the distance to the goal.

 

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