rules to play flag football

A team shall consist of seven players. A team can play with a minimum of 5 players.
The offensive team must have any 4 players on the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap.
Substitutions are allowed between plays and during time outs.
All players must be recorded on the roster and waiver form (with personal signature) before they are allowed to participate.
The designated team area is located between the 20 yard lines, two yards off the sideline. This area is for all players and a maximum of two coaches.
The spectator area is designated as five yards from the sideline. Spectators are not allowed in the team area.

All players must wear shoes.
Rubber cleated shoes will be allowed. Open toe, open heel or hard soled shoes will not be allowed. No metal cleats. Pants and or shorts with belt loops and or pockets are strictly prohibited. A player may not turn his or her shorts inside out or tape his or her pockets in order to play.
Towels may not hang from a participants waist or otherwise interfere with the removal of a flag.
Covering Flags A team will get 2 warnings, then a 10 yard penalty will be assessed. (No Warnings will be given)
All flag belts must be free of knots. Penalty Unsportsmanlike conduct and ejection from the game.
Each team must provide their own football. There are no requirements regarding ball pressure and markings. Men shall use the regular size while women shall use the intermediate, youth, or junior size. The referee shall be the sole judge of any ball offered for play and may change the ball during play at his or her discretion. During the game each team must use a legal ball of its choice when in possession.
Equipment such as helmets, billed hats, bandanas, pads or braces worn above the waist, leg and kneee braces made of hard, unyielding substances, casts and all jewelry are strictly prohibited. Knee braces made of hard, ynyielding substances covered on both sides with all edges overlapped and any other hard substances covered with at least 1 2 inch of slow recovery rubber or similar material will be allowed.
Teams must use flags provided by intramural sports. All team members must wear the same color shirt. Shirts must be tucked in the pants or cut off a minimum of 4 inches above the waistline. Shirts may not have pockets and may not be tied in knots. No hooded sweatshirts...if wearing a hooded sweatshirt this will result in an illegal equipment penalty...10 yards.

Toss of the CoinThree minutes before the start of the game, the referee will conduct a captains meeting in which he or she wil designate which captain shall call the toss of the coin. The captain winning the toss will have a choice of options for the first half or shall defer his her option to the second half
to choose whether his or her team will start on offense or defense.
to choose the goal his or her team will defend The captain, not having the first choice of options for a half, shall exercise the remaining option.
Two timeouts a half are allowed per team.
The ball must be put into play no more than 25 seconds after the official has placed the ball.
Games will consist of two 20 minute halves with a three minute half time. Timing will be continuous for the first half, and the first 18 minutes of the second half. Only team and official timeouts can stop the clock. Approximately two minutes before the end of the second half the referee shall stop the clock and inform both captains of the time left on the clock. The clock will restart on the snap.

Field dimensions are 80 yards by 40 yards with 10 yard endzones, yard markings every 20 yards.
The ball will be placed on the 14 yard line after every touchdown.
A team shall have four consecutive downs to advance to the next zone line to gain (and earn a first down).
The zone line to gain in any series shall be the zone in advance of the ball, unless distance has been lost due to penalty or failure to gain.
A new series of downs will be awarded when a team moves the ball into the next zone.
Flag Belt Removal
When the flag belt is taken from the runner, the down shall end and the ball is declared dead. The spot of the ball is determined at the point where the clip of the flag belt becomes detached, not whre the belt falls to the ground. If a flag belt inadvertently falls off, a one hand tag between the shoulders and the knees constitutes a capture.
A player may leave their feet to remove a flag.
The ball becomes dead when
a legal deflagging occurs.
the ball carrier touches the ground with any part of their body other than the hands or feet.
a fumble hits the ground.
a snap from the center touches the ground. Officials descretion on the call.
Each member of the offensive team is eligible to receive a pass unless the player voluntarily goes out of bounds during the play.
The center, after assuming the position for the snap and adjusting the ball, may not move nor change the position of the ball in a manner simulating the beginning of a play. The ball must be snapped in one continuous motion, not necessarily between the centers legs, from the spot designated by the ball marker. The ball may be moved with approval by the official due to poor field conditions. The player receiving the snap must be 2 yards from the line of scrimmage during a scrimmage play and 1 yard from the line of scrimmage for a punt. Penalty Illegal procedure.
Before the snap, all offensive players must come to a complete stop for at least 1 full second. Only one offensive player may be in motion, and may not be moving towards the opponents goal line at the time of the snap. If two or more players go in motion before the snap, then this is considered a shift and all players must come set for one full second prior to the snap.
For a legal catch, a pass receiver must come down with at least one foot in bounds.
RushThe defense must line up at least 1 yard from the line of scrimmage. This is true even when the offensive team is less than one yard from the end zone or the zone line to gain.
All offensive players must be momentarily within 15 yards of the ball. It must be clear who the seven offensive players are on each play. The intent of this rule is to eliminate all sleeper or hideout plays. These plays will result in a 10 yard penalty for illegal participation.
Fumbles are dead when the ball touches the ground.
The ball is put into play at the point where the ball first touched the ground.
Any passed or fumbled ball that does not touch the ground may be advanced by any player catching the ball.
A ball fumbled into the offensive teams end zone will result in a safety. If the ball is fumbled into the opponents end zone the result is a touchback (opponents ball on their 15 yard line).
The ball is placed on the 14 yard line after a safety. The team receiving the 2 points for the safety will put the ball into play with a series of downs.
The ball is placed on the 14 yard line after a touchback. The team puts the ball into play with a series of downs.
Extra Point Attempts A try for three points will be taken from the 20 yard line. A try for two points will be taken from the 10 yard line. A try for one point will be taken from the 3 yard line. If the defense should intercept a pass, they may return it for a score. A score will equal three points, regardless of whether or not the attempt is for one, two, or three points. Tie score at the end of regulation during the playoffsThe field captains shall be brought together and a coin toss will be conducted. During the regular season, NO overtime periods shall be played. During the playoffs, the overtime format will be repeated until a winner is declared. The winner of the toss shall be given the option of either offense or defense. If additional overtime periods are necessary, captains will alternate choices. Each team will be given 4 downs from the same 20 yard line to score a touchdown. If the first team scores, then the second team will still have 4 downs to attempt to win or tie the game. If the defense intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown, the game will be over. If not, the ball will be placed at the 20 yard line to begin the series of four downs. Conversion attempts will be held as in regulation play. Each team is entitled to one time out per overtime period.

Blocking, as in regulation tackle football, is PROHIBITED! A screen block shall take place WITHOUT CONTACT. The screen blocker shall have his or her hands behind his or her back. Any use of the hands, arms, elbows, legs, or body to initiate contact during a screen block is ILLEGAL!!!!! A blocker may use his or her hand or arm to break a fall or retain his or her balance. A player must be on his or her feet before, during, and after screen blocking. Penaltypersonal foul, 10 yards.

In an attempt to remove the flag belt from the ball carrier, defensive players may contact the body of an opponent with his or her hands. A defensive player may not hold, push or knock the ball carrier down in an attempt to remove the flag.No player shall attempt to steal the ball, trip an opponent, contact an opponent who is on the ground, make unnecessary contact with an opponent, deliberately dive or run into an opponent or tackle the ball carrier. Penalty personal foul, 10 yards (flagrant offenders will be ejected from the game and possibly suspended for the remainder of the season).

Protected scrimmage kicks (Punts)NO RUSHING FROM DEFENSE
a. Punts must be announced before the ball is ready for play. The kicking team (offensive team that is kicking the ball) must have 4 players on their line of scrimmage. Punts must be snapped from the center. The punter must be at least two yards off the line of scrimmage upon receiving the snap and must punt the ball immediately. There will be no movement by the offensive players until the ball is kicked. Penalty5 yards.
b. Defensive players may not enter the neutral zone until the ball is kicked.
c. The ball may be advanced by the receiving team after it has touched the ground. However, if the ball hits any player and then touches the ground, the ball is dead at that spot.
d. Quick kicks and fake punts are illegal.
e. Once the ball is punted, any player on the kicking team or receiving team may block the punt. If the blocked punt is caught by any kicking team player behind the line of scrimmage, they may advance the ball. The receiving team may advance the blocked punt anywhere in the field of play.

A defensive player may not remove an offensive players flag when the offensive player does not have the ball. Similarly, the defensive player may not remove the quarterbacks flag after the ball has been thrown. Penalty Illegal flag belt removal, 10 yards.
A defensive player may not remove an offensive receivers belt prior to the receiver touching the ball. Penalty defensive pass interference, 10 yards and automatic first down.
A defensive player must avoid running into the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. If a defender contacts the passers hand or arm, whether or not he or she touches the ball, it is roughing the passer. Penalty 10 yards and automatic first down.
A player may not fasten his or her flags to his or her uniform or belt other than prescribed in the rules. Penalty 10 yards and automatic disqualification. The official will check the flags of each person who scores a touchdown or conversion. Following a touchdown or conversion, if a player removes their flag belt prior to being checked by the official the score will be nullified.
Pushing or chucking a receiver defender is not allowed. Penalty Illegal use of hands. 10 yards.
An offensive player may not dive or hurdle over, through or into an opponent who is on their feet.
Any deadball penalty occuring after a touchdown will be assessed on the extra point. Any dead ball penalty occurring after a conversion will be assessed on the next play from scrimmage at the 15 yard line.
An offensive player may not stiff arm or guard his or her flags by blocking them with their hands or the ball.
When an inadvertent whistle is blown by an official, the ball is dead at the point when the whistle was blown. The team against which the inadvertent whistle was blown has the option of accepting the play or replaying the down.
All players on the field must wear flags. Failure to do so will result in a five yard penalty, if noticed prior to the ball being snapped. If noticed after the ball has been snapped, then the player without a flag belt must be touched with one hand between the shoulders and the knees (after the ball has been snapped, a penalty cannot be assessed).
Spiking Kneeling the ball is considered unsportsmanlike conduct. Penalty 10 yards.
The offensive team is responsible for retrieving the ball after a play. The offensive team, if they choose, may bring the ball into the huddle.
The 25 second clock begins when the official signals ready for play.

Gather several players together to play flag football if you arent already on a flag football team. Divide the group into two teams, each of which should have an equal number of players.

Players should be aware of the sidelines. The recommended size of the field is 30 yards by 70 yards with the end zones taking up an additional 10 yards. However, you may choose to play on a smaller area, such as a soccer field.