Milford Recreation

Adult Flag Football Rules

 

 

 

Teams

  • Rosters will consist of 7-12 players. (Anything over 12 has to get approval from the league with the team dropping a player from the roster).
  • Teams can start the game with four players.
  • Every player that is on the roster which is given to the ref prior to each game must play at least of one full series (offense or defense) per half.
  • The league is a 18 an older league
  • Playoff rosters will consist of only the players that play a minimum of half the games during the regular season. As with the regular season, a team can start a game in the playoffs with four players.

 

 

 

Equipment

  • Flags and Football will be provided.
  • Shirts must be tucked in at all times.
  • No steel or metal cleats. Inspections can and will be made.

  • No shirts or pants with pockets.
  • Teams must wear like-colored shirts/jerseys.
  • No cast or hard braces.
  • Everyone is encouraged to wear a mouthpiece.

 

 

 

Game Play

  • Games consist of two 20-minute halves (a continuous running clock).
  • Clock only stops in the last minute of each half. The ref will stop the clock and let each team know (Like a two minute warning). Also the clock will stop during this time after each play.
  • The league reserves the right to shorten games due to unforeseen circumstances.
  • A coin toss will determine who gets ball first. (The team that doesn’t get ball first gets to choose which side of the field they chose to defend).
  • Teams will change sides after the half with the team who didn’t receive the ball to begin the game to get the ball for the second half.

 

Offense

  • The ball must be snapped between centers’ legs to start play.
  • The center may snap ball to anyone behind the line of scrimmage
  • Once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage, pitches and laterals are allowed.
  • Only one forward pass is allowed per down.
  • No flag guarding (a ball carrier cannot protect the flags from defenders by swatting hands away).
  • Spinning is allowed.
  • No diving to advance the ball.
  • No punting or kicking ball.
  • The ball will be spotted in the middle of the field after every play.
  • Each time the ball is spotted the offense has 45 seconds to snap the ball.
  • No hurry up snaps whatsoever!!!! (Both teams must be set).
  • The ref will ask the offense if there ready then the defense has 5 seconds to get set and say ready or it will be a penalty on the defense.
  • Intentional grounding will be called if the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage on a pass play.
  • Offense has three downs to get a first down, and once they are past midfield they have three downs to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to do so the ball is turned over to the defense.
  • All possession changes start on the offenses 5-yard line, except on interceptions.

 

Time Outs

  • Each team gets one-60 second timeout per half.
  • The referee can stop the clock at his own discretion (due to an injury, for example)

 

Scoring

  • To score a TD a player’s flag and the ball have to cross into the end zone.

 

  • Points

    • TD- 6 points
    • Safety 2 points
    • Extra point from 5 yards- 1 point
    • Extra point. from 10 yards- 2 points

 

  • There will be a 24-point mercy rule at any point in the game.

 

Overtime

  • A coin toss will determine who gets possession first.
  • If the score is tied at the end of the game each team will be given one shot each to score a TD. The ball will be placed at mid-field and each team will get three downs to score. Extra points are attempted after each score. (If an interception has occurred, the ball is placed where the person is down as long as it’s over mid-field. Also if the interceptor has not crossed mid-field then the ball is placed at mid-field if it’s the defense’s turn for their chance to score. Also if there is a TD scored on an interception the game is over).

 

 

 

Offensive plays

  • The QB cannot run the ball unless rushed upon.
  • Only direct hand-offs behind the line of scrimmage are legal. (NO backward laterals or pitches of any kind (no flea-flickers)).
  • The player who takes the hand-off can throw the ball as long as he or she doesn’t cross the line of scrimmage (even on multiple hand-offs).

 

 

No Run Zones (Self explanatory)

 

  • ”No run zones” are located 5 yards before midfield and 5 yards before the end zones in each offensive direction.
  • ”No run zones” are used to prevent short power running situations.

 

 

 

Motioning

  • Anyone can be in motion in any direction as long as you don’t cross the line of scrimmage.

 

 

Blocking

  • The only blocking that is allowed is hands or forearm to the chest. Any other types of blocking will be a penalty.  (If it is a blatant block, it will be a roughing call (refer to roughing penalties)).

 

 

Passing

  • All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage
  • Shovel passes and forward lateral 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 the seven seconds, play is ruled dead, loss of down, and the ball is returned to the original line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off the clock restarts in case of a forward pass by the rusher.

 

 

Receiving

  • All players are eligible to receive passes (including the QB if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
  • Players must have at least ONE foot in bounds to be classified as a catch.

 

 

 

 

Dead Balls

  • Play is ruled dead when;

·        ·        Offensive players’ flag is pulled.

·        ·        Ball carrier steps out of bounds.

·        ·        Ball carriers’ knee or the ball hits or touches the ground.

·        ·        ABSOLUTELY NO FUMBLES

·        ·        Ball carrier’s flag falls off.

·        ·        There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball initially hits the ground.

·        ·        If a receiver catches the ball with a flag missing then the receiver is down where he catches the ball.

 

Defense

  • Interceptions can be returned.
  • All players that rush the QB must be 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the QB.
  • Defenders not rushing the QB can defend one yard from the line of scrimmage
  • Once the ball is handed off the rusher he/she has passed the line of scrimmage the 7-second rule is no longer in effect.
  • Defenders cannot bump the receivers at the line.
  • Defenders must go for the flag of the ball carrier not the ball. The ball cannot be intentionally stripped or there will be a penalty.

 

 

Penalties

  • All penalties will be called be the referee and may be declined.
  • All penalties are assessed from the original line of scrimmage
  • Exceptions: if a penalty occurs after an interception, the penalty is marked off from the point of reception.

 

 

Defensive penalties

Offsides, Interference, Illegal contact (holding, bumping motion receivers, hitting QB’s throwing arm, Etc.) Illegal flag pulling (before the receiver has the ball) Illegal rushing of the QB (start rush inside the seven-yard marker), stripping the ball, all defensive penalties are Ten Yards (from the L.O.S. and automatic first down).

 

 

Offensive penalties

Illegal forward pass, offensive pass interference (illegal picks, pushing off/away a defender), Flag Guarding, Delay of game - the clock will stop/ten yard penalty and a loss of down. All offensive penalties are ten yards From L.O.S. and a loss of down. Within ten yards of each goal line the ball will be moved half the distance to the goal. Only team rep can ask the ref questions about a rule. Team rep cannot question a judgment call. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty unless the offense declines it.

 

 

 

Flag Guarding

  • If a player is called for flag Guarding on the first and second offense is a warning and a penalty, on the third offense the player will be ejected from the game.

 

Referees’ Duties

  • Ref needs to spot the ball in the middle of the field after every play is complete.
  • Must keep the 45-second count for the next snap and call a 10-yard penalty for delay of game (last 10 seconds to be counted out loud).
  • Must keep score.
  • Must place the L.O.S. marker down and another marker 7 yards back for the blitz zone.
  • Must make the final calls on any disputes and kick out any player who doesn’t follow the rules.

 

Un-sportsmanship/Roughing:

 

**If the referee witnesses any acts of intentional tackling or tripping or cheap shots of any kind like blocking or and intent to injure the game will stop and the player will be asked to leave the game. No foul play will be tolerated!!!**

 

Ejection from the game

  • Getting ejected from a game once will result in a one game suspension and depending on the severity of the incident the player can be reviewed to be dismissed from the league. For a 2nd ejection from a game the player WILL be dismissed from the league.

 

Tie Breaker Criteria

    1. Head to head
    2. Most points scored
    3. Biggest point differential
    4. Least points scored against
    5. Least unsportsmanlike penalties
    6. Coin flip