Baltimore Flag Football

Baltimore Flag Football Rules

Coin Toss:

Before the start of the game the referee will toss a coin in the presence of opposing captains, after first designating which captain shall call the fall of the coin.

The captain winning the toss shall choose one of the following options:

a. Offense

b. Defense

c. To designate which goal his/her team will defend.

d. To defer the choice of the above options to begin the second half.

Number of Players:

The game shall be played between 2 teams of 7 players each. A minimum of 5 players is required to prevent a forfeit.

Equipment:

Each player on the field must wear a one piece flagbelt (provided by SportsLeagues) at the waistline with three flags permanently attached, one flag on each side and one in the center of the back. If cleats are worn, they must have a one-piece molded bottom. Illegal equipment includes: the use of headgear (Exception: stocking caps are legal), forearm, hand, or elbow pads, shoes with metal cleats, shoulder pads, jewelry (jewelry worn for religious reasons will be ok as long as it is tucked away), or any unyielding or dangerous equipment. Any slippery or sticky substance of a foreign nature on equipment or exposed parts of the body is illegal. It is strongly recommended that the pants or shorts worn by players do not have pockets.

*** All players must wear jerseys (shirts) long enough so that they remain tucked in during each down, or cut at least 4" above the flag belt. ***

Timing Game:

The game will consist of two halves of 22 minutes. The clock will run continuously during the first half and for the first 20 minutes of the second half, unless a time out is called or the clock is stopped at the referee's discretion. During the last two minutes of the second half, the clock will stop for an incomplete pass, when a ball carrying player steps out of bounds, on penalties, on change of possession, and on first downs.

TIME OUTS: Each team is entitled to two (2) time outs per half. Time outs will be one minute in length. Time outs are not carried over from the first to the second half. The clock will stop on time outs.

Yards and Downs:

When a first down is gained in a zone, the team in possession of the ball is allowed four (4) downs to move the ball from that point into the next zone.

Forward Pass:

Any member of the passing team is eligible. All forward passes must originate behind the line of scrimmage. The position of the feet will determine legality. Teams are allowed only one forward pass per down.

Dead Ball:

A live ball becomes dead when an official sounds the whistle or declares it dead. The ball will become dead when:

a. The ball goes out of bounds or when it touches the goal line of the ball carrier's opponents.
b. Any part of the ball carrier's person other than the hand or foot touches the ground. NOTE: the ball carrier may contact the ball to the ground and the ball will remain live as long as no other body parts other than the foot or hand are in contact with the ground. The ball is considered to be part of the hand.
c. A touchdown, touchback, safety or try for point is made.
d. A forward pass strikes the ground or is caught simultaneously by opposing players. NOTE: A simultaneous catch is retained by the offensive team.
e. A backward pass or fumble by a player touches the ground. This includes snaps. NOTE: Backward passes and fumbles may be caught in flight in bounds by any player and advanced.
f. A ball carrier has a flag belt removed legally by a defensive player. A ball carrier is legally touched with one hand below the neck once the flag belt is no longer attached.
g. A muff of a scrimmage kick strikes the ground.
h. A scrimmage kick is touched by the kicking team. The receiving team retains possession.

NOTE: A scrimmage kick that falls to the ground untouched will remain alive.

i. The official inadvertently blows his/her whistle.

Blocking:

Offensive screen blocking is legal as long as there is no contact. The screen blocker shall position his hands and arms behind their back, to their sides, or wrapped across their chest. Screen blocking down field is legal, however, the blocker must be on her/his feet before, during and after screen blocking. This is judged like a block/charge in basketball.

A. Screen blocking fundamentals.

A PLAYER WHO SCREENS SHALL NOT:

a. When he is behind a stationary opponent, take a position closer than a normal step

b. When he assumes a position at the side or in front of a stationary opponent, make contact with him.

c. Take a position so close to a moving opponent that his opponent can not avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. The speed of the player to be screened will determine where the screener may take his stationary position. This position will vary and may be 1 or 2 normal strides from the opponent.

Penalty

Personal foul, 10 yards.

Tackling:

It is a foul for a defensive player to tackle, trip, push, shove, or elbow the ball carrier or blocker. The runner's forward progress may not be impeded in any way. PENALTY: Personal foul, 10 yards, and if flagrant, the offender shall be disqualified.

Defensive Restrictions: Defensive players may not use their hands on blockers. They must try to avoid them. Incidental contact with the hands will be allowed, but if the defender should gain an advantage by using his hands, a penalty will be assessed. PENALTY: Personal foul, 10 yds.

Ball carrier restrictions:

It is a penalty for the ball carrier to stiff arm, charge into, knee or try to knock over a defensive player at any time. This is judged like a block/charge foul in basketball. Spinning and diving is legal, however, the ball carrier must be in control of his body at all times. PENALTY: Personal Foul, 10 yards, and if flagrant, the offender will be disqualified.

Protected scrimmage kick:

The kicker on punts will have absolute protection. The referee shall notify the defensive team prior to a punt. Players from either team may not pass the scrimmage line until after the ball has been kicked. PENALTY: 5 yards.

a. Quick kicks are illegal. After receiving the ball, the kicker must kick the ball immediately and in a continuous motion. PENALTY: Illegal kick, 10 yards.

b. If the ball from snap hits the ground the ball is dead. The kicker must be at least 2 yards deep when receiving the snap.

Fouls to prevent play:

If the defensive team commits a foul so near its goal line that they can be penalized only by halving the distance to the goal line, the object being (in the opinion of the officials) to consume time, it shall be regarded as a refusal to allow play to proceed. In that event, the referee shall warn the offending team once, and then if the offense is repeated, it is in the officials power to award a touchdown.

Ball in play:

A team has 25 seconds to put the ball in play after the referee has signaled ready for play. PENALTY: Delay of game 5 yards. Dead ball foul. NOTE: If the offensive team delays with less than two minutes left, 1st infraction will be a delay of game. 2nd infraction will result in a change of possession.

Scoring - Touchdown:

6 points; Try-for-Point: 1 pt. from the 3 yd. line, 2 pts from the 10; Safety: 2 pts. On a try for points, the defensive team may intercept the ball and run it back for a touchdown, scoring 2 points.

Mercy Rule:

If a team is trailing by 17 points or more at the two minute warning, the game shall be over. The same rule applies if a team increases their lead to 17 or more points during the final two minutes.

Overtime

THERE WILL BE NO OVERTIME DURING THE REGULAR SEASON. During the playoffs there will be overtime. All overtime periods are played towards the same goal line. A coin toss will determine which team has the options, as in the beginning of the game. Each team will start 1st and goal from the 10 yard line. An overtime period consists of one series of downs for each team. This process will be repeated until a winner is determined. Try-for-points will be attempted.

a. Penalties shall be assessed according to the regular rules of the game.

b. Interceptions: Intercepted passes may be returned in an overtime period. If the defense intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown, they will win the game. If they do not return the interception for a touchdown, the ball will be placed on the 10 yard line to begin their series of 4 downs. Each team is entitled to one time-out per overtime period.

Fifteen yard rule

After the ball is ready for play, each Team A player must momentarily be within 15 yards of the ball before the snap. PENALTY: Illegal Procedure 5 yards.

Out of bounds:

Only one foot must touch in bounds in order for a pass reception to be considered legal.

Inadvertent Whistle:

In flag football it is not uncommon for a ball to be mistakenly blown dead. In these cases, the offensive team shall have the option of replaying the down from the previous spot, or accepting the ball at the spot where it was blown dead. On all loose balls such as a pass in flight, the down must be replayed from the previous spot. After a change in possession, the team in possession at the time the ball is blown dead shall have the option of accepting the play or replaying the down.

CONDUCT AND SPORTSMANSHIP:

Examples include: Abusive or insulting language directed at the officials or an opposing player; Any acts of unfair play; Intentionally kicking at the ball (other than during a legal kick); Spiking the ball into the ground; Throwing the ball high into the air; Intentionally kicking at any opposing player (DQ); Intentionally contacting a game official during the game; (DQ); Intentionally swinging and arm, hand, or fist at an opposing player (DQ). PENALTY: Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Dead Ball, 15 yards (and/or objection). The second unsportsmanlike foul by the same player or non player results in a disqualification. Referee's discretion: Three "flagrant" unsportsmanlike fouls in the same game will result in a forfeit.

Additional Point of Emphasis

a. Out of Bounds Between the Goal Lines on a Kickoff.

b. The penalty awards three options to the receiving team:

c. Rekick with a five yard penalty.

d. Place the ball in bounds where the ball went out of bounds.

e. Place the ball 25 yards beyond the previous spot. Normally this means it will be placed on the receiving teams 35 yard line.

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