NFL Flag Football

International Competition Rules[BACK]

BYAFA Flag Football is Non-Contact. Blocking and Tackling are not allowed.

Attire:

Cleats are allowed, but must be rubber or aluminium safety studs. Inspections must be made prior to a game.
No padding or headwear shall be allowed.
A team’s shirts should all be of a similar colour.
Flags should be a contrasting colour to the team’s game pants.
All players must wear a gum shield of any readily visible colour (not white or clear) that covers all upper teeth.

Field Dimensions and Markings:

Length: 60 or 80 yards.
Width: 20 or 30 yards.
End Zones: Maximum 10 yards deep, minimum 7 yards deep.
No Running Zones: Must be marked 5 yards from each goal line.

Possession:

A coin toss determines first possession. The winner of the coin toss has possession of the football. Losers of the coin toss have choice of end zone to defend.
The team that loses the coin toss gets possession at the beginning of the second half starting at its own 5-yardline.
There are no Kick-offs The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four plays to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line. An automatic first down by penalty will overrule the other requirements regarding four plays to make either a first down or score.
If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5-yard line.
All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense 5-yard line.
Teams change end zones after the first 10 minutes (20 minutes Championship and Internationals)

Number of Players:

Teams may consist of up to10 players (5 on field, 5 substitute)
Teams may play with a minimum of 4 players (due to injuries).
If less than 4 players are available the game is forfeited by the side that is unable to field a team.

Timing/Overtime:

In regular season tournaments the game length is 20 minutes (two halves of 10 minutes each). For Championship and international tournaments the game length will be 40 minutes (two 20 minute halves)
In the event of a tied game in a championship and international tournament, overtime will be played. The period between the end of the game and the start of the overtime period will be two minutes. A coin toss determines first possession of overtime. The team winning the coin toss starts with the ball on its own 5-yard line. Play continues as in regulation until one-team scores. There will be no time outs granted during the overtime period.
Each time the ball is spotted the offense has 30 seconds to snap the ball.
Each team has two 60-second time outs per half. These cannot be carried over to the second half of overtime.
Timeouts can be called by Head Coach and on field players only
Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.
Games will be played to a running clock. The clock will start at the snap after it has been stopped. The clock will stop for the length of the timeout. The clock will stop to warn teams that there are two minutes left to play in each half (No time out is given).

Scoring:

Touchdown: 6 points
Extra point: 1 point (played from midpoint of 5-yard line only)
Extra point: 2 points (played from midpoint of 12-yard line only)
Safety: 2 points.

Note: An interception return to opponent’s end zone on any extra-point play by the defense will result in the defense scoring 2 points plus gaining possession for next series at its 5-yard line.

Running:

To start the play, the ball must be snapped between the legs of the snapper.
The centre is the player who gives the ball to the quarterback via a snap. The centre cannot take a direct handoff back from the quarterback (no centre sneak play].
The quarterback is the player who receives the ball directly from the snap.
The quarterback cannot run with the ball past the line of scrimmage unless he has handed off the ball, tossed or pitched, and it has been returned to him.
An offense may use multiple handoffs behind the line of scrimmage. Only backward and lateral hand-offs are allowed during a down.
Tosses or sweeps behind the line of scrimmage are allowed and are running plays.
Once the ball carrier has crossed the line of scrimmage the ball cannot be handed off, tossed or pitched in any way.

"No-running zones" are located 5 yards in front of each end zone. When the ball is on or inside the 5-yard line going towards the opponent’s end zone, the offense cannot run.
The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
All defensive players are eligible to rush once the ball has been handed off or tossed, or there is a play-action fake or fake handoff.
Spinning is allowed, but the ball carrier cannot dive forward, or jump, to avoid a defensive player or gain yardage (no diving).
The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are placed when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.

Receiving:

All players are eligible to receive passes including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off or tossed behind the line of scrimmage).
One player may be in motion, but not in motion towards the opponent’s end zone at the snap.
A player must have at least one foot in bounds when making a reception.

Passing:

Only players starting 7 yards from the line of scrimmage can rush the passer.
The quarterback has seven seconds to throw the ball, If a pass is not thrown within seven seconds, the play is dead, with loss of down and the ball spotted at the previous line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off or tossed, or there is a play action fake or a fake handoff, the seven-second rule no longer is in effect.
Only one forward pass is allowed per down
Interceptions change the possession of the ball.
Interceptions can be returned by the defense.
On interceptions that occur and remain in the end zone, the ball will become dead and will result in the ball belonging to the intercepting team at its 5-yardline. Should an interception occur in the end zone and the ball carrier leaves the end zone, the ball will belong to the intercepting team at the spot the ball becomes dead. However, should the ball carrier return to the end zone and be deflagged, or the ball be ruled dead, the result would be a safety for the other team.

Dead Balls:

Substitutions may be made only when ball is dead
Play is ruled "dead" when:
An official blows his/her whistle.
Ball carriers flag is pulled or becomes illegal!.
Points are scored.
When any part of the ball carriers body, other than a hand or foot touches the ground.
If a ball carriers flag falls off, the play will be whistled dead and the ball will be spotted at the spot where the flag fell off.
Players are ineligible to catch a pass, or receive the ball, by hand off, toss or pitch, if their flag has fallen off. The down will not be replayed.

Note: There are no fumbles. The ball will be spotted where the ball left the ball carrier’s hand(s)

Rushing the Quarterback:

All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players may rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off or tossed, or there is a play-action fake or a fake handoff, the 7-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage. A special marker, or a game official, will designate 7 yards from the line of scrimmage. Remember, blocking and tackling is not allowed.

Sportsmanship/Roughing:

If the referee witnesses any acts of flagrant contact, tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the tournament. Foul play will not be tolerated.
Trash talking is illegal. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, team or spectators.) Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If trash talking occurs the referee will give one warning. If it continues the player or players involved will be ejected from the game.

Penalties:

All penalties are 5 yards. The down will be repeated unless otherwise noted, and will be assessed from the line f scrimmage.
All penalties may be declined.
Penalties will not exceed half the distance to the opposing team's goal line from the line of scrimmage.
Game officials determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.
All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage.
Only the team captain and Head Coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Players and Coaches cannot question judgement calls. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
Penalties after an interception shall be assessed after the return is over and/or the play is blown dead.

Defensive Penalties:

Offside
Substitution fouls. (a player enters field after ball is blown ready for play, i.e. to deceive the opponents. or 6 men on field.
Diving.
Disconcerting signals (signals to distract opponent or simulate offensive signals prior to snap.
Interference with opponent or ball at the snap.
Illegal rushing (rushing from inside 7-yard marker.
Interference - plus automatic first dawn
Illegal contract - plus automatic first down (holding, blocking etc),
Illegal flag pull - plus automatic first down (pulling flag before receiver has ball)

Offensive Penalties:

Flag guarding.
Delay of game.
Substitution fouls.
Offensive holding.
Illegal motion. (more than one person moving, etc.)
False start.
Illegal snap.
Illegal shift or failure to pause for one second.
Diving.
Player out of bounds - (if player goes out of bounds, player cannot return to the field and catch ball)
Illegal forward passes - plus loss of down. (a second forward pass or a pass after ball has crossed the line of scrimmage)
Offensive pass interference - plus loss of down (illegal pick play, pushing of/away defender)
Running inside a no running zone - is a loss of down at the previous spot.

Team Judges:

Each team must register at least one Team Judge. There is nothing to stop a team registering more than one, This will be actively encouraged, as it will allow a team more flexibility, thus ensuring that a Team Judge will always be available on game days.

The Team Judge is to attend each of your events, and must be prepared to officiate at games in said event. He will be joined by Team Judges from other teams competing, if necessary other registered personnel can assist, but the Team judges will have the final say on all official decisions.