Youth Flag Football League Rules & Regulations

Age Divisions & Eligibility

Ages 7-9 years old, Ages 10-11 years old, and Ages 12-14 years old. A player’s age on January 1 determines their division placement/eligibility for the entire calendar year.

Players on the Field

(7) seven offensive players versus (7) seven defensive players. Coaches are permitted on the field in the 7-9 year old division to provide instruction. Coaches are not allowed on the field in any other age division.

General Rules

No contact or blocking allowed (unavoidable, incidental contact occurs in flag football).
The away team takes the first possession at the start of the game.
The ball is spotted where the ball carrier's feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is located.
There are no fumbles. The ball will be spotted where the ball carrier's feet were when the fumble was made. For example, a bad snap will be blown dead and the ball will be spotted at the center’s feet.
A player while in possession of the ball who touches the ground with any part of his body other than his hands or feet is down at the spot of such touching.
Interceptions change the possession of the ball. The ball is spotted at the end of the runback. Interceptions that occur in the end zone can be returned or downed.
A player must have at least one foot in bounds when making a reception. Players cannot return to the playing field and make any play on the ball from an out-of-bounds position (unless they were pushed out of bounds and immediately come back in).

Game Duration

Each game consists of (1) five-minute warm-up and (2) twenty-minute halves. There will be a halftime period of two minutes. Teams change sides at halftime.

In the final two minutes of the game, NFL rules apply regarding clock stoppage. Officials can stop the clock at their discretion. Teams will be warned when there are two minutes left to play in the second half.

If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, a match score 5-minute overtime will be played with a running clock until the final 1 minute where NFL rules apply regarding clock stoppage. If the game remains tied after the 5-minute overtime, the game will end in a tie.

For playoffs, consecutive 5-minute overtime periods will be played until a winner is determined. A referee will toss a coin to determine first possession. The visiting team captain will call the toss. Each possession in overtime will start at mid-field.

Scoring

Touchdown = 6 points
Field Goal = 3 points
Extra Point = 1 point (5-yard line conversion or successful extra point kick), 2 points (10-yard line conversion)
Safety = 2 points
Interception and return to the end zone of a 1-point conversion = 1 point
Interception and return to the end zone of a 2-point conversion = 2 points

Mercy Rule

If the point spread is 50 or more at any time in the second half, the official game will end. At the referee’s discretion, the remaining time will be played as a scrimmage.

Timeouts

(2) two time-outs per team during the first half.
(2) two time-outs per team during the second half.
Time-outs do not carry over.
(1) one time-out per team during overtime.

Uniforms & Equipment

All players are required to wear matching jerseys with numbers.
Each player must wear turf shoes or sneakers. Screw-in or metal cleats are not allowed.
All flag belts are provided by the league. Flags may not be altered in any way, including no tying knots for any reason.
No article of clothing may cover any portion of a player's flag belt. Shirts are required to be tucked in and tight. If a player’s clothing covers any portion of the flag, the referee has the right to make the player down upon touch.
Mouthguards are highly recommended.

Offensive Rules of the Game

To start the play, the ball must be snapped by a center. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 25 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a Delay of Game penalty is enforced.
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has four (4) plays to cross mid-field. Once a team crosses mid-field, they will have four (4) plays to score a touchdown or kick a field goal.
If the offensive team fails to convert a fourth down attempt into a first down by gaining the required yardage or scoring, possession of the ball changes and the defensive team switches to offense. The ball is spotted at the point of the last play with turnover on downs.
If the offensive team informs the referee that they wish to "punt" on 4th down, the opposing team takes possession of the ball at their 10-yard line. No actual "punt" is made.
All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage). Players can be in motion and in the backfield, following NFL rules.
The center cannot take a direct handoff back from the quarterback (no center sneak play).
Tosses or sweeps behind the line of scrimmage are allowed, as are running plays. The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
No Stiff Arming – A ball carrier may not stiff-arm, slap at, or push away any defender (flag guarding).
No Flag Guarding – Players are not allowed to guard their flag in any manner. Referee discretion applies.

Defensive Rules of the Game:

Formations: Zone or man-to-man defensive formations are both acceptable.
Rushing the Offense: Defensive players can rush once the ball is handed off, thrown, or the 5-second count has elapsed.
Balance: Defenders may only use their hands for balance when moving around an opposing player. No pushing, pulling, or contact is allowed.
Contact Restrictions: Defenders may not hit or block a player off the line of scrimmage. No contact is permitted at any time.
Roughing the Passer: This occurs when any contact is made with the passer, regardless of the ball’s position. Even when blocking, the defender may not touch the passer’s arm or run into the quarterback.
Making a Tackle: A tackle is made when a defender detaches the flag belt of the ball carrier. The ball is marked where the clip was initially pulled.
One-Hand Touch: If a flag belt is lost, the defender must use a one-hand touch between the shoulders and knees to "tackle" the ball carrier.
No Holding or Grabbing: Defenders may not hold or grab a ball carrier's body or uniform, or detain them through any physical contact. They may not slap, bump, or knock the ball from a ball carrier’s hands.
Out-of-Bounds: Defenders cannot tackle or push a ball carrier out of bounds, which is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

Penalties – General

All penalties are 5 yards. The down will be repeated unless otherwise noted, and will be assessed from the line of scrimmage.
All penalties can be declined; Penalties will not exceed half the distance to the opposing team's goal line from the line of scrimmage. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
Penalties of an intentional manner to stop the clock, at the referee’s discretion, will not stop the clock.

Offensive Penalties

Offensive Charging - 5 yards if accidental. Considered unsportsmanlike if intentional.
Delay of Game, Too Many Players on the Field, False Start, Offensive holding - 5 yards & repeat the down.
Illegal Forward Pass - 5 yards & loss of down.
Offensive Pass Interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) - 5 yards & loss of down.
Flag Guarding - 5 yards from the point of foul and loss of down.

Defensive Penalties

Offside - 5 yards & repeat down.
Pass Interference - ball will be spotted at the point of the foul & automatic first down.
Interference - ball will be spotted at the point of the foul, plus 5 yards & automatic first down.
Roughing the Passer - 5 yards from the line of scrimmage & automatic first down.
Holding - 5 yards from the line of scrimmage & automatic first down.
Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball) - 5 yards & repeat down.
Illegal rushing (starting before the referee’s count is completed) - 5 yards & repeat down.

Sportsmanship

All coaches, parents and players are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. Foul play will not be tolerated- If the referee witnesses any acts of flagrant contact, tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game. Trash talking is illegal (trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams, or spectators). Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If trash talking occurs that disrupts the game, the referee will give a warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game. The officials have the final say on all judgment calls. No protest of a referee’s judgment call will be permitted. Only the coach of the team may approach the referee on a rule interpretation. The referee has authority to rule promptly and, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, in any situation not specifically covered in the rules. The referee decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game.