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Intramural Sports

Flag Football Rules

THE GAME

 

  • The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 40-yard line and has three plays to cross the 20-yard line (first down). The offensive team then has three more plays to cross the goal line. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 40-yard line.

 

  • If the offensive team fails to score possession of the ball changes and the opposite team starts its drive from its 40-yardline.

 

  • All possession changes including interceptions start on the offense's 40-yard line. The clock does not stop.

 

 

SCORING/TIMING

 

  • Games are played to 28 points or 30 minutes whichever comes first.

 

  • Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.

 

  • Each team has one 1 minute time out per game.
  • If the quarterback runs beyond the 50 yd line it will be considered a safety, 2 points awarded to the defense and loss of possession for the offense.

 

  • 1 pt. conversion from the 3 yd. line

 

  • 2 pt. conversion from the 10 yd. line

 

  • 3 pt. conversion from the 20 yd. line

 

 

RUNNING PLAYS

 

  • The Quarterback ("QB") CANNOT run the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

 

  • Only direct hand-offs behind the line of scrimmage are legal.

 

  • Absolutely no laterals, pitches, or backward passes of any kind.

 

  • "No Running Zone", designed to avoid short yardage power running situations, are located five-yards from each end zone.

 

  • Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.

 

  • A team can only rush the ball once per four downs.

 

  • Only 1 handoff every 3 downs.

 

 

PASSING

 

  • All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.

 

  • Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.

 

  • QB has a seven-second "pass-clock". If a pass is not thrown within 7 seconds, play is dead, and the quarterback is considered sacked at the point of possession. Once the ball is handed off, the 7-second rule is no longer in effect.

 

  • Interception changes the possession of the ball at the point of interception and cannot be returned.

 

DEAD BALLS

 

  • Ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play.

 

RUSHING THE QB

 

  • All players that rush the passer must be a minimum of 7-yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the QB. A special marker will designate this rush line.

 

  • Players not rushing the QB may defend on the Line of Scrimmage.

 

PENALTIES

  • All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage

 

  • 5-yards: Illegal Substitution, Illegal Procedure

 

  • 5-yards: Offsides, Illegal Forward Pass, Illegal Snap, Illegal Motion

 

10-yards: Tackling, Pass Interference, Illegal Blocking, Illegal Flag Pull, Charging, Illegal Contact, Illegal Rush, Flag Guarding, Delay of Game (and clock stops).