FLAG FOOTBALL - COED updated 6/16/23

ANYONE HANGING, DUNKING, SLAPPING, ETC OF THE GOAL POSTS WILL BE PUNISHED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LEAGUE COORDINATOR.

1. EQUIPMENT

1. POCKETED SHORTS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED, BUT IT IS OK TO PLAY IN THEM.
2. Only NFL or NCAA official size footballs

1. Females may use junior size football when they are quarterbacking.

1. they can not lateral to a male and the male throw it
2. time does not stop for switching out the football

3. Cleats are allowed however, NO METAL SPIKES ARE ALLOWED
4. Shirts must be worn at all times while playing
5. League issued Club Sport shirts. Any deviation from the league supplied shirts must be made in a manner that all shirts remain similar in color, and distinctly different than those of other teams.

2. PLAYER CONDUCT

1. Only the captain is allowed to dispute calls with the referee.  Any excessive arguing or abuse of the umpire can result in the ejection of the player.
2. Players ejected from any game may be required to serve a one or more game suspension pending league review. Fighting, wrestling, or pushing will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from league altogether.  Verbal abuse of the officials or players, foul language, and continued rough play could result in player ejections.

1. Any player or fan ejected from a game will be asked to leave the park

3. Any player or fan is encouraged to root for their own team, but rooting against or use of disparaging language is discouraged and could result in penalties of players or dismissals of fans.  Any fans of teams may be asked to leave by Club Sport staff.  Refusal to leave could result in forfeiture of games.

3. ROSTER/ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

1. All players must be at least 18 and signed onto a roster/waiver for that night and location
2. Only players that have signed the roster/waiver are allowed in playoffs.  Teams may add players to their roster up until their last regular season game.

1. Players may not appear on more than 2 official rosters per league unless approved by the Club Sport office. 
2. Playing with ineligible players in the playoffs may result in a forfeit.  This call is made by Club Sport staff.

3. Once a player has signed the team’s roster they CANNOT be replaced or removed
4. Teams that made team payments are covered up to a certain number of players (10) and any player after that number it is an additional $10 per player
5. Individual teams have a roster cap (10) and can only add players with League Office approval if all roster spots are taken.
6. Play consists of 6 (3m/3f) players per side.  Teams may not play with more than 3 male players on the field at a time.
7. Minimum of 4 players to include 3 players from your roster one of which must be female is needed to be considered a legal game.
8. If a team has less than 6 players, the team may pick up players to field the maximum number of players allowed on the field.  The player or players picked up must be on a Club Sport roster/waiver for another team  for that night and location

1. First pick up is free
2. Each additional pick up the opposing team is awarded 7 points per player
3. If players from your team show up, you must drop the pick up players.  At no time may you have any of your roster players sitting on the bench while pick up players are playing
4. During playoffs no pickup players are allowed.

9. Roster Checks: Players have the right to ask for a roster check of the opposing team. The request must be made with the coordinator either before, during the first half, or at halftime of the game. Roster checks are not available once the second half has started unless a player shows up late. If it is found that the opposing team is playing with an “illegal player”  (i.e. not on that team’s roster or not signed) then staff reserves the right to remove the player and/or forfeit the game. Club Sport staff decisions are final.

4. GAME PLAY

1. Field Layout - 1 or 2 fields will be played on each turf field side by side. The playing field will comprise of 2 endzones and a midfield line. Midfield line may be cones and crossing it will be at the discretion of the official. First downs can be made by crossing midfield. The field will be approximately 60 yards long with 10 yard end zones.

2. Game time is forfeit time.  Referee and coordinators call game time

1. If a team forfeits a game, their opponent will be awarded at 7-0 win
2. If a team forfeits twice within the season they may not be allowed to play in playoffs
3. If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call our office so we can inform your opponents.

3. The game is divided into two 20 minute halves, with a couple of minutes for halftime in between.

1. The clock runs for the first 18 minutes of each half only stopping for timeouts, injury, questions for the referee or referee conferences.
2. During the last 2 minutes of each half the clock will stop for timeouts, incomplete pass, a player goes out of bounds, a team scores, first downs (until cones are placed), QB spiking the ball, and penalties
3. Misuse of consecutive offensive penalties is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.  Under 2 minutes the clock will not stop for offensive penalties
4. If, for any reason, the game is cancelled with the second half already started the game will be considered final.

4. Possession of the ball is determined by coin flip or odd-even.  The team that wins the toss may choose to receive the ball or defer their choice to the second half.
5. Each team will have 2 one-minute timeouts per half
6. The offense has 30 seconds to snap the ball

5. OFFENSE GAME PLAY

1.  There are no kick-offs; play starts 5 yards from the opposing goal line.
2. Each team has 4 downs to score or earn a first down by crossing midfield.
3. There are no punts. If a team fails to score or cross midfield in 4 downs the ball is turned over and placed at the teams own 5 yard line.
4. If the offense chooses to huddle, then all offensive players must be within 8 yards of the huddle.  No sleeper plays will be permitted.
5. The offense must have 3 stationary players on the line of scrimmage prior to snap
6. A snap  can be received either from under center or shotgun formation

1. In shotgun formation the snap must be at least 2 yards from center
2. The ball must be snapped from in between the “hashes”.  The refs will call where the hashes are.
3. Only the player who signals verbally or nonverbally for the snap may receive the snap.

7. Only one forward pass is allowed per play

1. unlimited backwards or laterals passes are allowed
2. intentional grounding will be called when a passer facing imminent loss of yardage throws a forward pass without realistic chance of completions
3. within the last two minutes of each half the QB may spike the ball to stop the clock

8. The quarterback may only run past the line of scrimmage if rushed by the defense (i.e. a defensive player breaking the line of scrimmage). See defensive rules 6.2.
9. All players must proceed through the neutral zone perpendicular to the line of scrimmage (straight in or straight out).  Only after leaving the neutral zone may a player make a cut or change direction of their rush or route.
10. All players are eligible.
11. The ball is marked where the waist is when the flag is pulled

1. a first down or touchdown will occur when a player’s waist breaks the plane of the first down line while in possession of the football.  The football must cross the line as well. If the line is imaginary or cones, this call is solely the referee's discretion.
2. tying flags to prevent a pull is considered unsportsmanlike
3. if the ball carrier touches the ground with anything except their feet or the hand that is not in possession of the ball, the player is down at that spot
4. diving is not allowed to gain yardage or score a touchdown

12. Fumbles and muffed balls are considered dead.
13. A catch must be completed with first foot inbounds
14. A player may jump to avoid having a flag pulled
15. Spinning is allowed, however if the spinning player crashes into another stationary player this will result in a charging penalty
16. Contact blocking is not allowed

1. blockers must be stationary from the time the rusher gets within 1 yard of them until the rush passes with hands behind the back, close to the hips or down in from clasped
2. any player that does not run a route at the snap will be considered a blocker

17. Shadow blocking is not allowed

1. a player attempting to block downfield must be stationary until the play passes them.

6. DEFENSIVE GAME PLAY

1. The defense will line up 2 yards from the line of scrimmage

1. except when the offense is within 2 yards of a 1st down or the end zone.  In these cases will line up on the first down line or end zone.

2. A three-count is used for rushing. The referee will count “one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand” Players may rush only when the referee finishes the final “one thousand.” The quarterback may only run past the line of scrimmage if rushed by the defense (i.e. a defensive player breaking the line of scrimmage).
3. If a player's flag falls off during play and is not due to the opposing team pulling it, play will continue

1. If the player is the ball carrier, they may be downed by one-hand touch between the shoulders and knees.
2. This rule applies the same for hats, bandanas, towels, and/or playbooks

4. A player may dive to pull a flag
5. Defensive checking is not allowed.

1. A defensive player may not initiate contact with any offensive player

7. COED RULES

1. To ensure co-ed participation, there are a number of rules governing the extent to which females must be involved in plays during the course of each game.
2. A penalty will be assessed if the offensive team fails to use a female as an “Operative Player” at least once on three consecutive plays. (Note: This rule does not reset after a first down; the rule applies to any three consecutive plays). The entire point of a co-ed league is to get the females involved and for them to be the Operative Player on a given play – i.e. the player throwing the ball, the primary/intended target of a pass, or the runner on a handoff.
3. An Operative Player is defined as a player who:

1. Is the primary/intended receiver in the eyes of the referee  
2. Runs the ball as the primary runner and reaches or crosses the line of scrimmage  
3. Receives the snap as the QB and throws a forward pass across the line of scrimmage  
4. Receives the snap and immediately spikes the ball in order to stop the clock (in the last 2 minutes of the game only).

4. An Operative Player is NOT a player who:

1. Hands off the football  
2. Snaps the ball into play  
3. Receives a hand-off only to give the ball back to a male before crossing the line of scrimmage  
4. Was in the vicinity of a male player who caught the ball, unless it was apparent to the referee that she was the target of the quarterback’s pass  
5. Is the recipient of a thrown ball possessed/controlled by a male and then intentionally pitched, thrown, or otherwise transferred to a female

5. Examples of what is and is not considered a “male play” and a “female play:”    

1. A pass deflected by a male and caught by a female is a female play  
2. A pass intended for a female (in the eyes of the referee) that is deflected by a female and caught by a male counts as a female play  
3. A pass thrown by a male, caught by a male, and THEN pitched, thrown, or otherwise transferred to a female does NOT constitute a female play at any time. However if the pitch is made outside of 5 yards from the endzone it will count as a female touchdown. If made inside 5 yards it is only worth 6 points (male score).  
4. If a female pitches the ball to a male behind the line of scrimmage who then crosses the line of scrimmage, it will not be considered a female play  
5. If a female pitches the ball to a male behind the line of scrimmage and then he passes it to a female, it will count as a female play  
6. A ball possessed by a male in the air and intentionally transferred to a female via a pitch, throw, or any other method is not a female play. The male must demonstrate control of the ball and have intentionally directed it toward the female in the eyes of a referee in order for the play to not count as a female play.

6. Under two minutes of each half, all coed rules are dropped.  All plays are eligible.

8. SCORING

1. A score will occur when a player's waist breaks the plane of the goal line in possession of the ball or catch a legal forward pass while in the endzone.  The football must cross the line as well.
2. A 24 point mercy rule is in effect within the two minute warning of the second half during regular season.

1. the clock will only stop for timeouts of the trailing team
2. The maximum score differential for a single game will be capped at +50.

3. For a female score to be counted, a female must cross the goal line in possession of the ball or catch a legal forward pass while in the endzone or throw a legal forward pass past the line of scrimmage and that play result in a touchdown.
4. Interceptions in the end zone will be called a touchback if the player does not enter the playing field from the end zone, and a safety if the player runs the ball out of the end zone and is downed upon reentry to the end zone.
5. After a touchdown is scored, the offensive team has the option of attempting their extra point conversion from either the 3 yard line or the 10 yard line

1. After announcing their intention, this decision can only be changed by using a timeout
2. 2 point conversions can be returned by the defense for 2 points or 3 points if female scores it.

6. The next drive will begin on the 5 yard line.

9. PLAYOFFS

1. Playoffs are a single elimination tournament based on regular season standings
2. Playoff seeding will be based on the following criteria: (1) winning percentage, (2) head to head (with two tied teams), (3) fewest points allowed, (4) most points scored, (6) coin toss
3. If a team plays an 8th game during the season due to an odd number of teams this game will count in the standings
4. There will be overtime during the playoffs
5. A mercy rule will apply in the playoffs, stopping the game if a team is up by 50 points anytime in the 2nd half.
6. All players, including added players, must sign their team’s roster/waiver before the their team's last regular season game in order to be eligible to play in the tournament.  If a player is not signed on the roster by then, they are not eligible for  the tournament.  Playing with ineligible players may result in a forfeit. This call will be made by Club Sport staff. It is the responsibility of the team captains to make sure all players on their team are eligible players for all games.

10. OVERTIME (PLAYOFFS ONLY)

1. If there is a tie at the end of regulation in the tournament, the game goes to overtime
2. Winner of the coin toss chooses either offense or defense
3. The ball is placed on the 20 yard line with 20 yards to go to goal
4. All special coed rules apply
5. If the offense throws an interception, they lose the rest of their downs.  Upon receiving an interception defense may attempt to return the interception for touchdown to end the game.  However, if the defense does not score a touchdown, they will receive the ball on the 20 yard line and have their 4 attempts to score.
6. After the first team uses it four plays, the second team gets it’s turn starting at the same 20 yard line as the first team.
7. If the score is still tied after a full over time period (possession for each team), another overtime will be implemented.

1. beginning in the 3rd overtime, all extra point attempts must be from the 10 yard line.

11. MISCELLANEOUS

1. No jewelry can be worn during the games (for safety of all players)
2. No metal spikes are allowed
3. Hats with hard bills must be worn backwards
4. No casts hard or soft are allowed on the field
5. No player with an open wound or blood on any part of his or her body may remain in the game. They must leave the game to cover wound or clean away the blood before returning.
6. No alcohol is allowed at the fields.
7. All teams are responsible for their own trash
8. Club Sport reserves the right to adjust/or insert rules due to game day time restrictions to ensure fair play.
9. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!