Football Rules

Last updated Feb. 6, 2010


Download the rules here.


(All Co-Rec Rules are in blue)


Teams on the court/field must consist of at least 80% Asian players.

Late Penalty
Any team not ready to play at the scheduled game time will be penalized a men’s touchdown (6 points) every 5 minutes they are unable to play, including a touchdown at game time. If a team is not ready to play at 10 minutes past game time, a default “win” will be awarded with a score of 12-0.


No player, coach, or team follower shall:

  • Use foul or derogatory language, threaten, or verbally abuse any other participant.
  • Argue or talk back to the game official
  • Intentionally strike, push, or trip another person. Fighting is not allowed.
    • Fighting is defined as a participant intentionally striking, pushing, slapping, punching, elbowing, tackling or committing any other malicious act toward any other person. 
    • If a fight breaks out, the team will be disqualified.

Players:
- Men’s teams will have a max of 15 players. Games will be 7 on 7. Minimum to play is 6 players.

- Co-Rec will have a max of 15 players. Games will be 8 on 8. Minimum to play is 6 players.
Girls must make at least half of the team on the playing field, at all times.


Playing field:
Respective lines to gain (1st down) for each team in order are the 20, 40, 20. The point of the ball determines if it crosses the line. The side and the line at the back of the endzone are out of bounds. One foot must land in bounds for a legal catch. Players, coaches, and fans shall stay between the 20-yard lines at all times. Two ball spotters (small plastic cones) will be used during play to determine offensive lines of scrimmage and defensive line.


Game balls:
Men shall use the official sized ball while CoRec teams may use either the official or intermediate size ball. Each team is responsible for providing their own game ball.


Flags:
Flags will be provided to each team on site. Shirts MUST be tucked in and flag-belts must be worm on the outside of all clothing with the clip in front.


Jerseys:
Teams shall wear the same color shirts that contrast with the opponents. Mesh jerseys will be provided on-site if needed. Jerseys may not be tied in a manner that creates any type of knot.


Equipment:
All equipment is subject to the approval of the Dai Hoi The Thao sports coordinator on site.

  1. Players must wear covered shoes. Soccer/football type cleats, tennis, or Astroturf shoes are legal. All cleats must be less than ½ inch. No metal/sharp plastic cleats will be allowed.
  2. Players may NOT wear pads/braces above the waist or casts/splints at any time
  3. Players MAY wear knee pads, gloves, covered kneed braces, head bands, knit caps, and plastic sunglasses.
  4. Players must wear athletic apparel with NO exposed metal or pockets.
  5. Players may not wear any exposed jewelry of any type.

Coin Toss: The referee shall toss a coin and offer the winning captain these options:

  1. To start on offense or defense
  2. Defender picks a specific goal

Starting the game: Each half shall begin when the horn sounds with the ball placed on the 14 yd line. The clock runs continuously the entire game.

  1. First half= 20 minutes
  2. Half time = 5 minutes
  3. Second half= 20 minutes

*when the horn sounds for the end of 2nd half, there is a 10-play series to end the game.
MERCY RULE: Men's teams who lead with a 19 point spread at any time after the 10-play series begins will end the game at that point. Co-Rec teams who lead by a 25 point spread at any time after the 10-play series begins will also end their games at that point


Touchdowns:
Touchdowns are worth 6 points. To be ruled a touchdown, the tip of the ball must break the plane of the end zone with both feet inbounds.


Co-Rec: If a female scores a touchdown, it is worth 9 points. If a female player throws a legal forward pass, and a touchdown is scored by any player, it is worth 9 points. If a male throws a legal forward pass to a male receiver and scores, it is worth 6 points.
* If a touchdown is made by a guy, PAT is a closed play.
* If a touchdown is made by a girl, PAT is an open play.


Point after Touchdown (PAT):
If ball breaks the plane of the end zone, the scoring team will receive the amount of points according to the following:

  • Ball in play from the 3 yard line = 1 point
  • Ball in play from the 10 yard line = 2 points
  • Ball in play from the 20 yard line = 3 points

After the attempt for PAT, the ball shall be placed in play at the opposing team’s 14 yd line, unless moved by penalty. An intercepted pass or fumble during the PAT attempt that is returned for a touchdown = 2 points.

Co-Rec: New possession is always an open play.


Safety: when a safety is scored (2 points) the ball belongs to the scoring team at their own 14 yard line.


Overtime procedure – Playoffs only:
There will be only one coin toss. Field captains will alternate choices if additional overtime periods are played. The winner of the toss shall be given options of offense, defense, or direction. Both teams will go the same direction in overtime. Each team will be given a series of downs (4 downs) from the same 10 yard line. If the first team which is awarded the ball scores, the second team will still have 4 downs to attempt to win the game. Point after touchdown will be attempted in a normal manner by any team who scores a touchdown. If the defense intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown they will win the game. Each team gets one time-out.


Time-outs: each team is allowed one 30 second time-out per half.


Substitutions:  Players may substitute at any time between downs provided they are ready to play.


The snap:

  1. The offense must snap the ball within 25 seconds after the referee has blown the whistle to put the ball in play.
  2. Following the ready whistle, no defensive players may break the plane of the restraining line until the snap.
  3. No offensive player shall make a false start or any action that simulates the start of play.
  4. The player receiving the snap must be at least 2 yards behind the scrimmage line.

Line scrimmage sets: all players are subject to motion, position, and illegal procedure rules

  1. The offense must have at least 4 players not in motion on their scrimmage line at the snap.

  • Co-Rec: Offense must have at least 5 players not in motion

  1. The offense must bring all players within 15 yards of the ball at some point after the whistle and prior to the snap.
  2. One player may be in motion but not forward at the snap.
  3. Following a huddle or shift, each offensive player must come to a full stop for one second before the snap.

Passing the ball: All players are eligible to touch or catch a pass. Backward passes are unlimited.

  1. Only one forward pass may be thrown per scrimmage down but NOT on kicks, punts, or interceptions.
  2. The pass begins when the ball is released from the passer’s hand. The ball is dead if the passer is deflagged before the release.
  3. If a forward or backward pass is caught simultaneously by opposing players, the ball becomes dead, is considered a completed pass and belongs to the offensive team.
  4. Interceptions in a team’s own endzone may be advanced out or downed for a touchback.

Ending the play:  The ball because a dead ball when:

  1. The whistle blows (on inadvertent whistles, the team may replay the down or take the ball at the spot).
  2. It goes out of bounds.
  3. Any part of the runner’s body other than a hand or foot touches the ground. Ball in possession is considered part of the hand.
  4. After any score.
  5. Any kick or punt comes to rest on the ground and no player attempts to secure it, or a muff hits the ground.
  6. A forward or backward pass, fumble or snap hits the ground. (dead at spot on backward pass, fumble, and snap).
  7. The flag belt is removed legally.

Punting the ball: On fourth down, the referee will ask the offense captain if he/she wants to punt

  1. There are no fake punts.
  2. If the offense wants to change their decision to punt or not, they must call a time-out.
  3. Neither team may advance beyond their respective scrimmage lines until the ball is kicked. After receiving the snap, the kicker must kick immediately and in a continuous motion. The kicker may not kick the ball to him or herself or any other member of the kicking team. Defensive players may jump in an attempt to block the kick.
  4. There are no fair catches.

Fouls and Penalties: flag football is NOT a contact sport. However, incidental contact will occur.
Personal Fouls: Players may not commit any of the following personal fouls.

  1. Punch, strike, strip, steal or attempt to steal the ball from a player in possession.
  2. Trip, clip or hurdle any player.
  3. Contact an opponent who is on the ground, or after the ball is declared dead.
  4. Throw the runner to the ground.
  5. Deliberately drive or run into a defensive player or lower the shoulder.
  6. Commit any unnecessary roughness.
  7. Tackle a runner by grasping or encircling with the hands or arms.
  8. Rough the passer (automatic first down) applies only to the player throwing a legal forward pass behind the offensive line of scrimmage. If a defender contacts the passer in any fashion, whether or not he/she touches the pass, it is roughing the passer.
  9. Aid the runner, grab, push or pull a teammate with the ball.
  10. Stiff arm and opponent.
  11. Guard flags by blocking them with the hands, ball or otherwise denying the defense the chance to pull.
  12. Use hands or body to block an opponent.
  13. Pulling the flag from an opponent who does not have the ball.
  14. Tying the flag belt in a knot or any other tampering with the flag belt.

 

Legal and Illegal offensive screen blocking: offensive players may protect the runner by screening

  1. The offensive screen block shall take place without contact and the screener may maintain a position (moving or stationary) between the defensive player and the runner.
  2. The screen blocker shall have his/her arms at their sides or behind their back. Any use of arms, elbows or legs to initiate contact during an offensive player’s screen block is illegal. A blocker may use a hand or arm to break a fall or retain balance. Players must remain on their feet before during, and after screen blocking. No part of the screener’s body, except their feet, may be in contact with the ground.
  3. Defensive players must avoid the offensive player’s screen block, and may not use their arms or hands as a wedge to contact offensive blocker.
  4. Illegal contact between the blocker/rusher will be called against the player determined to have initiated contact (similar to block/charge in basketball).

Pass Interference:

  1. Pass interference is defined as bumping, pushing, or unnecessary contact with an opponent OR restricting a player from access to a pass while on offense or defense. Players may not wave their hands in the face of an opponent.
  2. Offensive screen blocking beyond the line of scrimmage when a forward pass crosses the line is illegal.
  3. Players may not go through opponents to get to a ball in flight.

Penalty Enforcement: the officials will present the options to the captain of the offended team

  1. There are 5 and 10 yard penalties.
  2. Enforcement will be from one of 4 spots:  the line of scrimmage (previous spot), the spot of the foul, the end of the run, or the spot where the ball will next be snapped or kicked (succeeding spot).

CO-REC MODIFICATIONS (Summary):
Touchdowns- if a female scores a touchdown, the point value is 9. If a female player throws a legal forward pass, and a touchdown is scored by any player, the point value is 9. All other touchdowns are 6 points.

Starting the play: the offense must have at least 5 players, not in motion, on their scrimmage line at the snap.

Males runners: A male runner cannot advance the ball through the scrimmage line

  • There are no restrictions concerning runs by female.

  • Once the line of scrimmage has been legally penetrated, all advancement restrictions are eliminated

  • After a change of team possession any male runner may advance the ball without restriction, as in an interception or punt return

Male to Male forward pass completions: During the offensive team’s possession there may not be 2 consecutive legal forward pass completions on downs from a male passer to a male receiver.

  1. The term CLOSED means a male player may not complete a legal forward pass to a male
  2. The  term OPEN means any player can complete a pass to any other player
  3. If a male passer completes a legal forward pass to a male, the next legal forward pass completion must involve either a female passer or receiver for positive yards. If the female is deflagged before gaining positive yards, the next play remains closed.
  4. If a male receiver catches a pass from a female passer behind the line of scrimmage and then advances beyond the line of scrimmage the penalty will be illegal forward pass, 5 yards from the spot of the pass and loss of down.
  5. In order for a closed play to become open, the direction of the pass involving a female MUST be forward.

Penalties and loss of Yardage
5 yard Loss

  1. Advancement by male runner (Co-Rec only)

  2. Delay of game – dead ball
  3. Encroachment (offsides) – dead ball
  4. Formation infractions on punts – dead ball
  5. False start – dead ball
  6. Illegal snap – dead ball
  7. Illegal forward handoff – loss of down
  8. Intentional grounding – loss of down
  9. Illegal forward pass – loss of down
  10. Helping the runner
  11. Illegal equipment
  12. Illegal motion or shift
  13. Illegal punt formations
  14. Illegal substitution
  15. Not enough players on the line
  16. Offensive player not within 15 yards of ball prior to snap
  17. Player out of bounds at snap
  18. Player receiving snap within 2 yards of scrimmage line

10 yard Loss

  1. Defensive pass interference – auto 1st down
  2. Roughing the passer – auto 1st down
  3. Offensive pass interference- loss of down
  4. 2 encroachments/ same down
  5. Clip, tackle, trip, stiff arm
  6. Flag guarding or illegal removal
  7. Holding or obstruction of runner
  8. Hurdling any player
  9. Illegal contact
  10. Illegal participation, too many players
  11. Illegal screen block
  12. Interlocked screens
  13. Kick catch interference
  14. Quick kicks or illegal kicks
  15. Spike, kick, throw dead ball
  16. Steal, strike, strip, or bat ball
  17. Unsportsmanlike conduct