South Indy Flag Football Rules
Rosters & League Composition:
4 Divisions: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade
8 Teams per Division
8 players per Team
5 v 5 Format
45-Minute Games
Game Times: 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a
Field Dimensions:
2nd & 3rd Grade: 25 yards wide by 64 yards long, with two 7-yard endzones:
4th & 5th Grade: 25 yards wide by 70 yards long, with two 10-yard endzones:
General League Rules
All players MUST touch the ball at least once per game
Players MAY NOT sit out two consecutive possessions (offense/defense)
Teams must have at least 4 players to start game – if less than 4 players, team must forfeit (5-minute grace period in effect)
The Offense takes possession of the ball at its own 5-yard line and has four plays to cross midfield.
Mid-Field Line is the “line to gain.”
If offense fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its own 5-yard line.
If offense crosses midfield and fails to score in 4 plays, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its own 5-yard line.
”No Run” zones are located 5-yards prior to the mid-field line and the endzones (teams may not run the ball in any fashion inside this zone).
Equipment:
All players must wear league-provided belts and flags.
All players MUST wear mouth guards at all times while on the field.
Game balls should be age specific
Cleats may be worn, but no metal spikes.
Tape, gloves, elbow pads and knee pads are allowed.
No jewelry or hard-billed hats permitted.
Soft shell helmets and sunglasses are allowed.
Jerseys must be tucked into shorts if they hang below the belt line.
No belt loops or shorts/pants with pockets allowed – belt loops and pockets MUST be taped before the player can participate.
Shorts/pants cannot be the same color as the flag belt and flags.
Timing and Overtime:
One representative from each team will keep the play clock and scoreboard.
40-minute continuous clock with two 20-minute halves.
Clock can be stopped for halftime, injuries and the Officials’ discretion.
5-minute halftime.
Team has 40-seconds to snap the ball after the ball is spotted.
One (1) 60-second timeout per half (use it or lose it).
If score is tied at the end of regulation, overtime will determine winner.
Overtime Rules:
Home team calls the toss to determine offense/defense
Each team gets one (1) play from either the defense’s 5-yard line (1 point) or the 10-yard line (2-points).
No timeouts
Interceptions are returnable, and worth 2 points (game ends with a returned INT).
If a 2nd second OT is necessary:
Scoring:
Touchdown: 6 points
PAT (point after touchdown)
1 point (5-yard line)
2 points (10-yard line)
- Safety: 2 points
Mercy Rules is 35 points or more. Teams may elect to continue playing but no additional points scored will be added.
Forfeits are scored 35-0 for the winning team.
GamePlay Rules:
DEAD BALL
Play is ruled “dead” when:
The ball-carrier’s flag is pulled or falls out
The ball-carrier steps out of bounds or knee or arm hits the ground
A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored.
The receiver catches the ball while in possession of one or no flag(s).
Inadvertent whistle
The ball hits the ground:
2nd & 3rd Grade: If the ball hits the ground during the center/QB exchange, the ball is placed back at the line of scrimmage for a redo without loss of down, once per down. On a second consecutive occurrence, the down is consumed.
4th & 5th Grade: If the ball hits the ground during the center/QB exchange, the ball is placed back at the line of scrimmage for a redo without loss of down, once per game. All subsequent occurrences result in the ball being placed where it hit the ground, and down is consumed.
NOTE: There are no fumbles. If the ball is fumbled forwards then it will be spotted where the ball carrier lost possession.
RUNNING RULES
The quarterback cannot directly run with the ball.
On running plays, only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Handoffs may be in front, behind or to the side of the offensive player.
Multiple handoffs are allowed.
Centers are ineligible to receive handoffs (i.e. the “center sneak” play is not permitted).
Absolutely NO pitches or laterals of any kind.
“No-Run” Zones are located 5 yards before each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield.
Runners are not permitted to dive or hurdle any player while advancing the ball.
Ballcarriers may only leave their feet for spinning, jump cuts, QB’s passing progression or if there is a clear indication that they have done so to avoid a collision with another player.
No blocking or “screening” is allowed at any time.
No “running with the ball-carrier” by other offensive players.
Flags must be on the player’s hips and free from obstruction. Deliberately obstructed flags will be considered flag guarding.
PASSING RULES
All passes must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.
There is no intentional grounding – the quarterback may throw the ball away to avoid a sack. Pass must go beyond the line of scrimmage.
All passes that do not cross the line of scrimmage, whether received or not, are illegal forward passes, unless touched by a defender.
Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
The center must snap the ball between his/her legs or by turning and tossing the ball to the quarterback. The ball must completely leave his/her hands.
Only one player is allowed in motion at a time. All motion must be lateral to the line of scrimmage – no motion toward the line of scrimmage is permitted.
In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense.
Interceptions are returnable. The ball is spotted at the end of the run-back. If returned for a score during regular game play, the score will be worth six points, two points if returned during conversions and/or overtime.
The quarterback has a seven-second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within seven seconds, the play is dead, the down is consumed, and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage.
If the QB is standing in the end zone at the end of the 7-second clock, the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage (LOS).
The referee will count the 7 seconds out loud each play. Cadence should be a consistent 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, SACK!
RUSHING RULES
In 2nd & 3rd Grade: defenders MAY NOT rush the passer unless there is a legal handoff executed in the backfield.
In 4th & 5th Grade: defenders MAY rush the passer, assuming:
Any player who rushes the passer must be behind the 7-yard “rush line” when the ball is snapped.
A special marker, or the referee, will designate the “rush line” 7-yards behind the line of scrimmage. Defensive players should verify they are in the correct position with the official on every play.
Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback can defend on the line of scrimmage.
Teams are not required to rush the quarterback
Teams are not required to identify their rusher before the play.
The offense cannot impede the rusher in any way. The rusher has the right to a clear path to the quarterback, regardless of where they line up prior to the snap, and any disruption to the rusher’s path and/or contact will result in impeding the rusher penalty.
Once the ball is handed off, the 7-yard rule is no longer in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.
FLAG-PULLING RULES
A legal flag pull takes place only when the ball-carrier is in full possession of the ball.
Defenders can dive to pull flags but cannot tackle, hold or run through the ball-carrier when pulling flags.
It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball-carrier’s possession at any time.
If a player's flag inadvertently falls off during a play while that player has possession, the player is down immediately and the play ends. The ball is placed where the flag lands.
A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in possession of the ball.
Ball-carriers may not obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping the head, hand, ball, arm or shoulder or intentionally covering the flags with the football jersey.
FORMATION RULES
Offenses must have a minimum of one player on the LOS (Center) and up to four players on the line of scrimmage.
The quarterback must be off the line of scrimmage.
Teams may shift formations prior to the snap as long as they are set for at least 1 second before the ball is snapped.
One player at a time may go in motion at least 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage – movement by a player who is set or a player who runs toward the line of scrimmage while in motion is considered a false start.
COACHING RULES
One coach is allowed on the field to call plays and direct players according to need. Once the quarterback begins his or her cadence, however, coaches can no longer speak and must be behind the deepest offensive and defensive players and out of the action.
Coaches can assist in the alignment of their players to facilitate a fast-paced game, but coaches on the field may not provide extra instruction or make audibles to play calls once the huddle is broken.
Coaches on the sidelines may provide this information to players on the field