Flag Football Rules

Rules follow National Indoor Flag-Football Association (NIFFA) rules and regulations with the following exceptions:

Rules

Games shall consist of 2 – 22 minute straight time halves. All games must be played within a one-hour time limit. There will be a 3-5 minute break between halves. There will be no time outs and/or time stoppages. At the 20-minute mark of each half there will be a two-minute warning. From that point there will only be 4 offensive scrimmage plays remaining in the half or game. However, if a penalty is called, the opposition will have the option to decline the penalty or accept the penalty and replay the down.

At the end of regulation time the team that scores the most touchdowns will be declared the winner. If a regular season game ends in a tie, the game will be recorded as such. If a playoff game ends in a tie, overtime will be played until a winner is declared.

Overtime: Each team will receive one alternating possession starting at mid-field. They will have up to a max. of 4 offensive plays to score a touchdown. In order for a team to win the ‘mini-game’ they must: a) first score a touchdown and then stop their opponent from scoring on their possession and/or b) first stop their opponent from scoring and then score a touchdown on their offensive possession. The Visiting team will have the option to take the ball and choice of sides to begin the ‘mini-game’ and/or defer to the Home team. For example: If the Visiting team elects to scrimmage the ball first and scores a touchdown on their first offensive possession of the mini-game, then the Home team must score a touchdown on their next possession to continue the ‘mini-game’. If not, the Visiting team will be declared the winner. Likewise, if Team A fails to score on the opening possession and Team B does, then Team B will be declared the winner.

Teams must be present and ready to begin play when scheduled or risk forfeiting the game. All players must be on site, appropriately attired, and on the roster prior to each scheduled game time. A maximum of 5 or a minimum of 4 players must be present to begin play. Teams will not be permitted to play with any less than 4 players or they will forfeit the game even after the game has started and a player, due to injury, cannot continue.

KICK-OFFS: There are no kick-offs. At the start of each half and after each touchdown, the ball will be spotted at the centre line.

Each offensive possession will have a max. of 4 downs to score a touchdown. In other words, "4 plays for the field". The line of scrimmage will be identified with a beanbag.

Teams are not required to huddle. It’s their preference. Teams must show courtesy and allow time for substitutions. However, the offensive team has 20 seconds to put the ball into play or will be assessed 5-yard time count violation penalty. Although this is sometimes difficult to monitor, fast play is encouraged.

The play starts when the quarterback says ‘hut’ or ‘go’ etc. or when an offensive player crosses the line of scrimmage. At the start of the play the defense will begin to count "elephants’ or ‘steamboats’. When the defense finishes counting to 4, the defensive team is now permitted to rush the quarterback and attempt to pull their flag. The quarterback may not cross the line of scrimmage when in possession of the football. However, the quarterback may try to avoid the rusher. If their flag is pulled before they throw the ball down field, a sack and loss of down will result. If the quarterback runs over the line of scrimmage before they throw the football, the play will be considered dead and will result in a loss of down (i.e. considered an illegal forward pass). The defensive player may not rush until they have counted in a slow fashion to 4. The penalty for offside is 5 yards and repeat of down. The offensive team may elect to decline the penalty.

This is strictly an aerial flag football league. The offensive team must advance the ball toward an opponent’s goal line by forward pass only.

A receiver must have at least one-foot in-bounds for a completion. Players must exercise caution close to the bleachers.

On an incomplete pass the offensive team will be responsible for retrieving the football and returning it to the offensive line of scrimmage. Simply give the ball back to the quarterback.

There are no fumbles. If the ball is fumbled it will be blown dead at the spot that the ball first makes contact with the ground and/or at the spot that the ball was furthest advanced in the event of a forward lateral.

Laterals/handoffs are not permitted and will be blown dead at the spot if they happen to occur.

A player is considered downed when: the ball carrier's flag belt is pulled off or inadvertently falls off; one of the ball carriers' knees or body contacts the ground (i.e. trips and/or dives to catch a ball or catches the ball while on the ground); the ball carrier steps out of bounds; an offensive team member intentionally or unintentionally obstructs a defensive player’s attempt to pull a flag; an offensive player obstructs/blocks a defensive player’s attempt to pursue the ball carrier; the ball carrier fumbles the ball and the ball contacts the ground; a receiver catches a football with no flag belt on; a ball carrier turns more than a 180 degree rotation in an attempt to avoid a defensive players attempt to pull the flag; a ball carrier ‘hand checks’ or ‘hand guards’ their flags in an attempt to block a defensive player's attempt to pull their flag; the ball carrier’s flags are partially covered by his/her clothing in such a way as to impede a defensive player’s attempt to pull the flag.

Points: Touchdown: 1 point

No points will be awarded on safety touches. The defensive team will then scrimmage the ball on their start line.

Teams winning by forfeit will win by a score of 5-0.

Interceptions are live and can be returned from anywhere on the field. Interceptions caught in the end zone can be run out or downed in the endzone. On touchbacks, balls will be scrimmaged from the start line.

Teams are encouraged to assist in picking up and spotting the line of scrimmage marker.

Penalties

Teams may have the option to accept and/or decline penalties. Roughing: This is a non-contact league. Although some contact is to be expected, any unnecessary body contact, which is considered deliberate and/or avoidable, will result in penalty. The penalty is 15 yards or loss of or repeat of down, depending on offensive or defensive team infraction. Defensive players are not permitted to tackle an offensive player in order to pull their flag and offensive players must not ‘put their shoulder’ into a defensive player if forward progress is restricted. Defensive Holding: 10-yard penalty and repeat down. Occurs when a defensive player, in an attempt to pull a flag, intentionally grabs clothing or impedes the ball carrier, as a means of slowing forward progress until a flag is pulled. Obstruction/Offensive Interference: 10-yard penalty. May result in a first down or yardage assessed with repeat down. Defined as any offensive team member attempting to ‘block’ and/or interfere with the ability of a defensive player’s attempt to pull an offensive player's flag, regardless of intent. Defense offside/Offense offside/procedure/time count: 5 yard penalty Defensive Pass Interference/screening: A defensive player may not contact an offensive player attempting to catch the football if, this act was made for the purpose of affecting the receivers ability to catch the ball will be interference and penalized at the spot of the foul and/or 10-yard penalty (whichever is furthest), automatic repeat of down. If the infraction occurred in the end zone, the ball will be spotted at the one-yard line and automatic repeat down. Also, if a defensive player attempts to obstruct the vision of an offensive player by holding their arms/hands in front of the receiver's face without attempting to make a play on the ball, an interference penalty should result. Objectionable conduct including but not limited to profanity, obscene gestures, pushing, verbal abuse, spiking the football, fighting, excessive rough play and the like: 15 yard penalty. Player(s) may be ejected from the game depending upon severity and frequency of violations. Delay of the game: 10 yards. Too many players on the field: 10-yard penalty and possible repeat of down.