Rules revision for Jan 09 Flag Football

The game will be played subject to the latest edition of the National Federation of High School rules with the exceptions as published on the Colorado Sports and events web site.  The rules as published are in effect with the exceptions noted below.

The players and formations:  Seven players from each team are allowed on the field during play. No three point stand allowed.  A minimum of 5 players is required to start/continue a game.  The game shall start at the designated time.  By mutual agreement of both coaches, if one team is late (late is defined as more that 5 minutes past designated start time), the game can still be played, but must end no later than 2 minutes before the designated start time of the next scheduled game.   If both coaches can not agree to this, then the team that was late will forfeit the game.  Exception:  At the two minute point prior to the next game scheduled start time, if the game is tied, the game will be stopped and overtime immediately played.  If both teams are more than 5 minutes late, the game can still be played, must end no later than 2 minutes prior the next game start time.  In this case, there will be no forfeit. In the unlikely event that neither team can produce 5 players before 30 minutes prior to the next game start time, then both teams will be charged with a forfeit.    If both captains have agreed to play the game letting the late team use other than roster players, this decision must be made prior to starting the game and the referee and the scorekeeper must be notified prior to start.  If teams agree, this is a regulation game, and the score will count.  Again, it is very important for you to understand that if you agree to play the game as a regulation game, you cannot protest after the game if you lose.

• Players may switch positions anytime between plays.  The center and the two closes linemen to the center are not allowed to receive a direct handoff while on the line of scrimmage. A legal formation requires a minimum of three offensive players on the line of scrimmage.  Offensive players in motion (one only allowed) toward the line of scrimmage before the snap, may not cross the line of scrimmage before the snap and are responsible for avoiding a collision with a defensive player.  Penalty: unnecessary roughness at spot of foul, 8 yards and loss of down.  The quarterback or any offensive player not on the line must be a minimum of three yards behind the line of scrimmage before rushing up field.  Offensive players on the line of scrimmage at the snap must be 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage before receiving a handoff and rushing up field. Penalty:  Illegal forward handoff, three yards from spot of foul and loss of down.  The runner may spin or twist to avoid the defensive player.  Runners are not allowed to dive or jump forward for extra yardage; however runners may jump straight up, sideways or backwards to avoid defenders attempting to pull their flags.  Penalty:  Illegal procedure, three yards from spot of foul.  Players are allowed to jump or dive in an attempt to catch a pass.
  
  
• Defensive players may rush from the defensive line of scrimmage only (defensive line of scrimmage is defined as being within 1 yard of the defensive beanbag): No blitzing linebackers.  If a defensive player lines up off the defensive line of scrimmage, he is prohibited from crossing the line of scrimmage to rush the quarterback until the quarterback crosses the offensive line of scrimmage.  Penalty:  Illegal procedure, 3 yards from end of run and replay the down.  Blocking is allowed provided contact is below the shoulders and above the belt with hands - no forearm blocking. No hands or blows to the face or head. Blockers may not leave their feet to block.  Downfield blocking by the team in procession of the ball will consist of screening only; blockers may not engage defenders downfield with hands or arms.  Downfield is defined as three yards beyond the offensive line of scrimmage.  Blocking after an interception or after the catch or recovery of a field goal that did not cross the goal line plane will consist of screening only.  Defensive players may block (chuck) potential receivers within three yards of the line of scrimmage only.  Penalty for all above:  Illegal block, 5 yards.  Zone coverage is allowed.  The defense may not force the receiver out-of-bounds.  Penalty:  unnecessary roughness, 8 yards/loss of down.
  
  
• The field:  An indoor surface 85 feet wide and 62 yards long with 4-yard end zones. Out of bounds is marked with a dash line, 2 feet from each side of the dasher boards. The dasher boards are not padded.
  
  
• Movement of the ball and scoring:  Four downs are allowed to advance the ball for a first down, or to score.  A first down may be gained by advancing the ball beyond one or more of the designated first down yard lines. There are three first down lines on the field.  Successful field goals and extra points must clear the glass and be between the designated red vertical poles.  Balls that hit the red vertical pole or touch glass or dasher boards will be an unsuccessful attempt.  Any field goal attempt that crosses the goal line and is not successful becomes dead and will be returned to the original line of scrimmage, (the previous spot).  Field goal attempts blocked behind the line of scrimmage may be advanced by either the kicking or receiving team.  Field goal attempts that cross the line of scrimmage and are recovered short of the goal line may be advanced by the receiving team only.  Field goal attempts recovered beyond the line of scrimmage but short of the goal line by the kicking team are dead where recovered and belongs to the receiving team.  No offensive player may go down field until after the ball is kicked.  During a field goal or extra point attempt by kicking, no rushing or blocking is allowed.  However the defense may jump vertically in an attempt to block the kick, but must land with both feet behind the defensive line of scrimmage (the defensive beanbag).  Penalty:  encroachment, 3 yards.  Offense may elect to take the result of the play or to replay the try.  Scoring:  Six points for a touchdown.  One point for a conversion by place kick or drop kick after a touchdown. Two points for successful run or pass.  Three points for a field goal. Kicking tee for extra points and field goals are not allowed.  Unless moved by penalty, the ball will be spotted on the three yard line for all extra point attempts.  Two point tries may be intercepted by the defense and returned for two points.  Failed kicks are dead balls and may not be returned for points.  A blocked kick is considered a failed kick and is dead.  A returned missed field goal will result in a touchdown.  A safety is two points
  
  
• The kicking game:  Actual kicking of the ball except for field goals and extra points is not allowed.  For kick offs and punts, the ball will be spotted on the opponent’s ten yard line.  After a safety, the ball will be spotted on the twenty yard line of the team scoring the safety.  On any down, a team may go for a first down, touchdown, field goal, or elect the punt option. To exercise the punt option, the team must do the following:
  
  
• Notify the referee that the team elects to punt.
• The referee will place the ball on the opponents’ 10 yard line.
• The receiving team will now go on offense.
  
  
• The passing and running game:  Between the goal lines, passes that hit or touch the sideline/ceiling netting, glass or boards will be considered out of bounds, incomplete.  Any pass that hits the netting, glass or boards in the end zones is a live ball and playable.  Interference restrictions end for all players after the ball touches netting, boards or glass in the end zones. Defensive player must attempt to avoid a collision with an offensive player while attempting to pull the flag.  Runners must make an attempt to avoid a collision with defensive players who are attempting to pull their flags. Penalty:  Unnecessary roughness, 8 yards from end of run and automatic first down/loss of down unless beyond line to gain after enforcement.  Defensive pass rushers are responsible for avoiding unnecessary contact with the quarterback.  All contact (incidental or otherwise), with the quarterback’s passing arm or hand (or the ball in the hand of the quarterback), while in motion attempting a pass is prohibited.  Penalty:  Roughing the passer:  8 yards from previous spot and automatic first down.  Incidental contact on the quarterback by defenders in a legitimate attempt to pull the flag or block a pass, and in the judgment of the referee does not constitute roughing, is not a penalty.  If a defender in an attempt to pull a flag, inadvertently grasps the jersey or pants of a runner and immediately releases, and in the opinion of the referee did not unduly impede the runner, does not constitute holding.  If the referee rules the runner was impeded, the penalty is defensive holding; 3 yards from the end of the run and replay the down.  If the flag of a runner inadvertently falls out without the defense pulling and possessing it (the flag being in your hand), the defense must touch the runner with one hand.  Down where touched.  When a defensive player pulls the flag of a runner, the ball will be marked down at the point where the ball was advanced not where the flag was pulled.  This spot is at the discretion of the referee. 
  
  
• Flag Guarding or slapping the flag by an offensive player will result in an eight yard penalty and loss of down from the point of the infraction.  The loss of down does not apply if, after penalty enforcement, the ball is spotted beyond the line to gain.
• If a runner touches the turf with any part of his body other than a hand or foot, the play will be blown dead and the ball spotted at that point.  .
• Passing rules will be the same as the National Federation High School rules. The receiver must have possession of the ball and one foot inbounds.  Receivers that step out-of-bounds on their own and return, will be an ineligible receiver for the remainder of the play.  Defenders may not intentionally force a receiver out of bounds.  Penalty:  unnecessary roughness, 8 yards and automatic first down.  A loose ball (other than a field goal attempt) that touches the ground is dead where it first touches and can not be recovered or advanced.
• Timing and timeouts:  There will be two 20-minute periods with a continuous running clock. (2 min. halftime).  Timeouts are limited to 30 seconds each.  The last minute of each game will be regulation clock, unless the point differential is 16 points or more.  When a timeout is taken following a touchdown, but before the try, the clock will start on the snap following the simulated kickoff.  The offensive team will have 30 seconds to get a play off.  The play clock will begin when the ball is spotted and the Referee is in a safe position and blows the whistle.  For obvious delays, the referee may start or stop the play clock at his discretion.  Each play will begin with a throw or snap of the ball.  The clock continues to run after the play unless there is a timeout called by the referee.  Each team will be authorized 2 time-outs per half, if both are not used in the first half of play; one may be carried over into the second half.  The game clock will be kept on the Score board along with the score by an official Score Keeper. The Time/Score Keeper is part of the officiating crew and has the same authority in the bench area and on the field of play as the game officials.  The referee has the authority to stop the clock at his discretion at any time.  Remember the clock is a running clock and does not stop unless ordered stopped by the referee.
   
• Penalties and Other illegal Actions: All 8 yard penalties (unsportsmanlike conduct, personal fouls, roughing the passer, pass interference, illegal participate, flag guarding, and tackling will be marked as an eight yard penalty and an automatic first down or loss of down.  For tackling a player, the penalty of 8 yards will be assessed from the spot of the foul or succeeding spot, whichever is more advantageous to the offended team.  Intentionally driving your opponent into the dasher boards along the sidelines or in the end zone will be considered a personal foul and penalized 8 yards from the succeeding spot, and an automatic first down/loss of down. Each runner must have attached to his belt three flags.  The flags can not be tied to the belt or altered or secured in any way with the intent of making their removal harder than originally intended.  Penalty:  Unsportsmanlike conduct, 8 yards/loss of down automatic first down from previous spot.  Each runner’s shirt must be tucked into their shorts or pants.  Penalty:  failure to wear proper equipment, 3 yards previous spot.
  
  
• Pass interference will be marked from the spot of the snap, not at the point of the foul.
• Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the same player during the game will result in an ejection for the remainder of the game and the player(s) receiving the penalties must leave the building immediately.  Fighting by any player(s) results in an automatic ejection and that player(s) must leave the building immediately.  All players involved in fighting are suspended for the next game and placed on probation for the remainder of the season.  Fighting is defined as engaging (making contact) with another player in a combative manner unrelated to football with hand, fist, elbow, head, knee, or foot.
• Unless otherwise stated and summarized below, all other penalties will be enforced using National Federation Rules.
• Yardage enforcement of penalties for arena style football is less than for outdoor football. The conversion follows:

Summary of distance penalties:
            Encroachment                                        3 yards
            Delay of game                                        3 yards
            Failure to wear proper equipment      3 yards
            Illegal procedure                                    3 yards
            Illegal shift/motion                                 3 yards
            Illegal formation                                     3 yards

            Holding                                                    5 yards
            Illegal use of hands                              5 yards
            Illegal block(downfield)                        5 yards (spot foul)

            Roughing the quarterback                   8 yards/automatic first down
            Tackling                                                   8 yards/automatic first down/loss of down
            Unnecessary roughness                     8 yards/automatic first down/loss of down
            Unsportsmanlike conduct                   8 yards/automatic first down/loss of down
            Personal fouls                                        8 yards/automatic first down/loss of down
            Illegal participation                                8 yards/automatic first down/loss of down
            Flag guarding                                         8 yards/loss of down (spot foul)

Overtime Procedure:

• If the score is tied after regulation play, overtime procedures will apply.
• There will be a coin toss to determine who will receive the ball first.
• Team that loses the toss will decide which end of the field will be used.
• Ball will be placed on the 40-yard line.
• Each team will have four downs to score a touchdown or field goal, or advance the ball as far down the field as they can. 
• Overtime will end when a team scores more than the other or advances the ball farthest downfield.  The winning team will be awarded the win and 2 points for advancing the ball the farthest or whatever points they score during the overtime period. Each team gets one possession, if it is still tied then each team will get one field goal attempt from the 20 yd. line.  If still tied the game ends in a tie.  

Extra Games:  

• If a team receives an extra game during the regular season due to an odd number of teams and/or games, then their last regular season game will not count in the standings.  This last game will be used in head to head competition if both teams are tied in the standings. 

REMEMBER:  WE WELCOME COMPETITION, BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND SAFETY.  DANGEROUS PLAY OR TRASH TALKING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  ANY ATTEMPT TO INJURE ANOTHER PLAYER WILL RESULT IN AN INDEFINITE SUSPENSION FROM THE LEAGUE.  REFEREE DECISIONS MADE ON THE FIELD WILL BE FINAL AND HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF COLORADO SPORTS CENTER MANAGEMENT AND STAFF.  THE SCOREKEEPER AND PERSONS MANAGING THE FACILITY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ASK SPECTATORS AND PLAYERS TO LEAVE THE BUILDING FOR IMPROPER BEHAVIOR.  LENGTH OF SUSPENSIONS WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MANAGEMENT.

Roster and Forfeit Rules:
        Absolutely No Double Roster Players allowed.
        Forfeit Scoring:  6 points for the win - 0 points against
        - (if you play a game instead of taking a forfeit you receive full points for and against).
        Standings Tie Breaker - 1) Head to Head 2) Points For 3) Points Against