Good morning Niner Empire
Here are the rules for the flag football tournament for August 30th at Candlestick Park. Please read them and make sure you understand the game. Remind you this is a family oriented game and have fun but at the same time the competitive juices will be flowing.Please make sure to respect the referees and the calls they make. If you have questions please ask. Thank you
RULES
• • A game consists of two halves, each of 15 minutes in duration, separated by a two minute halftime period. The game clock runs continually, except: • When an injury occurs • During a timeout • When an official deems it appropriate to stop the clock Each team is entitled to one timeout per half, each of which lasts for 30 seconds. The offense must put the ball in play within 30 seconds of the “ready for play” whistle. A coin toss determines which team takes first possession of the ball. The winner of the toss has the option to begin on offense or defense. The team that begins on offense in the first half will begin on defense in the second half. The team that begins on defense is allowed to choose which goal to defend. Teams switch directions at the beginning of the second half.
Play shall be five on five.
Snapping the Ball The center must snap the ball between the legs and must release the ball to the quarterback for a legal play to begin. Shotgun snaps are allowed but not required. Prior to the snap, the ball must be resting on the ground. Handoffs to the center are not allowed. If the ball hits the ground on a snap, the play is called dead, and the ball is spotted at the point where it hit the ground —
Number of Downs Each team will have three downs to advance the ball across the first down marker or into the opposing end zone. After a team crosses the first down marker, it receives three more downs in which to score. Ball Position The location of the runner’s hips (not the ball) at the end of the play determines where the ball is to be spotted.
Running The player who receives the snap (the quarterback) may not run the ball beyond the line of scrimmage until it has been given to another player. After the ball has been handed off to another player, then this restriction no longer applies; the quarterback becomes eligible to run, pass, or receive the ball. The hand-off may occur in front of or behind the ball carrier — the player receiving the hand-off is eligible to pass as long as they have not crossed the line of scrimmage. The offensive team may run the ball after performing a valid hand-off, so long as the line of scrimmage is not located within a no-running zone. The offensive team may not hand the ball off to the center. Spin moves are allowed. If the ball carrier’s hand touches the ground, play will continue. If the ball carrier’s elbow or knee touches the ground, the play will be whistled dead at the spot where they touched the ground. It is the ball carrier’s responsibility to avoid colliding with defenders that lie in his/her path. Unintentional contact shall not be penalized, provided the ball carrier makes an effort to avoid it. Failure to attempt to avoid contact with a defender (charging) will be penalized, even if it does not result in a collision. Intentional contact will not be tolerated, and may also result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and/or player ejection. Once the ball carrier crosses the line of scrimmage, his/her teammates must stop running. Any offensive player who continues running and impedes the progress of a defensive player who is attempting to pull the ball carrier’s flag will be called for illegal blocking.
Restrictions • Ball carriers are prohibited from using hands, arms, or the ball to impede access to the flag belt. • If the ball carrier impedes access to the flag belt, even if it is in his/her “natural running motion”, a flag guarding penalty shall be assessed. • The ball carrier shall not lower his/her head to charge or run into a defensive player. • No intentional contact of any kind is allowed. This includes charging or running directly into a defensive player or stiff-arming.
This means that the offense must attempt a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage. Handoffs are allowed, but must lead to a pass attempt. Handoffs may occur only behind the line of scrimmage but must lead to a pass. There is no limit on the number of handoffs that may occur during a given play. Handoffs may be forward or backward and do not limit the offense’s option to throw a subsequent forward pass. Handoffs may not occur after a completed forward pass.
Seven Second Rule After the ball is snapped, the quarterback has seven seconds to pass or hand-off the ball. If this time expires without a pass or hand-off, the ball shall be returned to the line of scrimmage and the down shall be lost. As soon as the quarterback no longer has possession, the seven second rule ceases to apply, even if the quarterback gains possession of the ball again. Passing No more than one forward pass is allowed on the same play. All players (including the quarterback) are eligible receivers.
Blocking Blocking is not allowed. Once a ball carrier has possession of the ball beyond the line of scrimmage, the other offensive players must stand still. If an offensive player moves and impedes the progress of a defender who is making an attempt to pull the ball carrier’s flag, an illegal blocking penalty shall be assessed. Receiving A completion results when the receiver has control of the ball with at least one foot in bounds. If a receiver catches a pass while not wearing a flag belt, the ball shall be down at the point of the catch. Offensive players are not allowed to intentionally bat a passed ball forward to a teammate. A pass that is intentionally batted forward (in the referee’s judgement) that is caught by an offensive player shall be ruled as an incomplete pass. Motion No more than one player at a time is allowed to be in motion, and a player in motion may not move toward the line of scrimmage while the ball is being snapped.
G. Defense Flag Pulling • To stop the ball carrier, the defensive player must remove the flag or force (without contact) him/her out of bounds.
• No intentional contact is allowed. This includes tackling, pushing, grasping, and bumping. This also includes touching the face or head in any way or contacting a passer’s arm or the ball while he/she is holding the ball. • Incidental contact to the ball carrier’s body while reaching for the flag belt is not a violation. • If a ball carrier’s flag falls off without being touched, he/she is down at the spot it touched the ground. Rushing the Quarterback Any defensive player is eligible to rush the quarterback if he/she is behind the rushing line when the ball is snapped. The rushing line is marked by the official and is seven yards from the line of scrimmage. This seven-yard distance applies even if the first down line or goal line is less than seven yards from the line of scrimmage. Any number of players may rush the quarterback, provided they comply with the listed restrictions. When the ball leaves the quarterback’s hands (for a handoff or pass), then all defensive players immediately become eligible to rush, regardless of whether they lined up behind the rush line.
H. Change of Possession A team failing to advance beyond the first down marker or into the end zone after three downs loses possession of the ball. The opposing team takes possession on its own five yard line. In most divisions, an intercepted pass results in a change of possession and may be returned until the ball is dead. The line of scrimmage then moves to the point at which the ball was ruled down. . I. Dead Ball The ball shall be declared dead when: • The ball touches the ground • Any part of the ball carrier other than hands or feet touches the ground • The ball carrier’s flag belt falls off or is removed
• The ball carrier scores • The ball carrier steps out of bounds • The seven second clock expires J. Score Values • Touchdown: 6 points • Point after touchdown • From 5 yards: 1 point • From 12 yards: 2 points • Safety: 2 points • Extra point attempt (whether from 5 or 12 yards) returned to opposing end zone: 2 points K. Tie Games During the regular season, games ending in a tie will remain a tie game. During the playoffs, games ending in a tie will be settled by a longest-yard tie-breaker. A coin toss will take place to determine which team will go on offense first. The winner of the coin-toss will have the right to choose offense or defense. Each team will have one play from their own five yard line to gain as many yards as possible. The team gaining the most yards will be declared the winner. In the event that a team loses yardage or is assessed a penalty on their play, their yardage will be marked as zero. A team can not have negative yardage on their play. If the defensive team a safety, this counts as two points, and the game is over. If both teams have negative yardage on their plays, a second overtime tiebreaker will take place.
N. Penalties All defensive penalties are five yards, and result in an automatic first-down for the offense. All offensive penalties are five yards, and result in a loss-of-down for the offense. Penalties are either imposed from the line of scrimmage or from the point at which the foul occurred. For fouls that occur before or during (prior to the catch) a legal forward pass, the foul shall be marked from the original line of scrimmage. Otherwise, the foul is spotted from the point of the infraction. The offended team always has the option to decline any penalty. When the penalty is greater than the distance to the goal line, it shall be assessed half the distance to the goal line. A period of play cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense chooses to decline it. In the event of a defensive penalty that is not declined at the end of a half, the offense receives another un-timed play (along with an extra point attempt, if they score). Offensive Penalties – 5 Yards from Line of Scrimmage and Loss of Down • Delay of Game • Off-Sides • False Start • Illegal Motion • Illegal Blocking • Attempting to Run From a No-running Zone • Offensive Pass Interference (Loss of Down) • Charging (depending on degree) • Interference by a Coach on the Field • Too Many Players on the Field • Equipment Violation • • Disrespectfully Addressing any Person • Holding an Unauthorized Conference or Being on the Field Illegally