Rules Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nvko3DYNXvt17EnqnY1qSJ105hKe1ZrF/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111249236720180578562&rtpof=true&sd=true
Columbia Academy Flag Football League
The Game
Game Time is FORFEIT TIME
Minimum 5, 6, or 7 players to start a game, depending on (5v5, 6v6, or 7v7)
KG division is 5v5, 1st/2nd division is 6v6, 3rd-5th division is 7v7.
A coin toss determines 1st possession. The team can elect to have offense, defense, defer or direction. Choice in the 2nd half will be awarded to the team that did not have the choice 1st half.
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has three plays to cross mid-field. Once a team crosses mid-field they have four plays to score. If the offensive team fails to cross mid-field, The ball changes possession. If the offense does not score, the ball changes possession. All drives start from the 5-yard line with the exception of an interception or if the team goes for it on 4th down, the ball is turned over where the flag is pulled or on the 5-yd line, whichever is more advantageous to the offense.
No blocking is allowed. No intentional contact is allowed.
Diving for a flag is NOT allowed.
The Field: The dimensions of the field are from the top of the number to the top of the numbers. The field is 30 yards wide and the width of the football field (~53yds). The bottom of the numbers on each side is the 5 yd line.
Official Football:
PreK & K: Wilson mini football.
1st & 2nd: Wilson K2 – Peewee football
3rd - 5th: Wilson K2 – Peewee football
Coaches:
Coaches are volunteers whose role it is to help young people learn to play and enjoy football. Parents are encouraged to support their youth and their coach at all times.
Coaches (1 Coach per Team) in all divisions (only) are permitted on the field to assist players with their position alignment and mentoring. At the snap, on-field coaches must be 5 yards behind their nearest player.
Only two coaches per team are allowed on the sidelines. ONLY THE HEAD COACH CAN ADDRESS THE CAME OFFICIALS.
Attire
All players will be given a jersey (Jerseys (with flags)) and all players must wear the jersey.
Flags cannot be the same color as the shorts.
Mouthpieces are required for all players. A player cannot be on the field without a mouthpiece.
Game Clock Format
Tournament clock is 45 minutes long. Two 20-minute halves and 5-minute halftime.
Each team has two 30 second timeouts PER GAME. If a time out is called after a TD the clock will not run until the change of possession and the offense snaps their ball.
There will be a 25 sec play clock.
First Half Clock
The clock will run continuously during the first 19 minutes of the first half, unless a team timeout is used or play is stopped by an official (e.g. deal with an injury, challenge, referee conference, game management purposes, etc.)
The head official will give a verbal two-minute warning (for rule specific changes inside 2 minutes)
The clock will run during point-after-touchdown attempts (PATs) in the first half unless the defense opts to use a team timeout.
At the one-minute warning officials will use a 'PRO/CLOCK' mechanic for the remainder of the contest.
Second Half Clock
In the second half the clock will run continuously for the first 18 minutes unless a team timeout or an official's time out is used.
The one-minute warning will stop the clock in the second half.
The head official will give a verbal two-minute (for rule specific changes) and one-minute warning as close as possible to the actual marks but will not interrupt a live play.
At the one-minute warning officials will use a 'PRO/CLOCK' mechanic for the remainder of the contest.
The time remaining on the clock will be announced after every play inside the final two minutes of the contest.
Overtime Extra Point Shoot-Out
A coin flip determines first possession, l timeout per OT period
Teams will go in reverse order if more than 1 OT is required
Teams can elect to go for l or 2 points
Winner will be determined once the value of the extra point exceeds the other teams attempt.
Offense
Running
The quarterback may not run unless the ball has been thrown back, handed or pitched to him or her in the backfield, after the QB has handed the ball off. The Center - QB exchange does not qualify has a pitch to the QB.
Teams may handoff unlimited times in the backfield. The player who receives the pitch or handoff may throw the ball as long as he or she is not fully beyond the line of scrimmage.
Handoffs are allowed in front or behind.
A forward pass DOES NOT have to cross the LOS to be a legal play.
No run zones are located 5 yards before mid-field and 5-yards before the end zone for 3rd /4th/5th division, only forward passes are allowed.
Ball is spotted where the flag is pulled. The lead flag must break the plane of the midfield or goal line to be considered a first down or touchdown. The ball doesn't have to cross.
Players may NOT block down field in any form.
In the 3rd/4th/5th division, the QB may run, if the defense rushes/crosses the line of scrimmage.
Passing
The quarterback has 7 seconds (5 sec in 3rd-5th) to pass the ball if there is no rush. If the ball is not thrown, then the play is dead. After the ball is ruled dead it is returned to the line of scrimmage.
Once the ball is handed off or pitched backwards the 7 second count stops. If the defensive team rushes, then there is no 7 second count.
There is no arm in motion, if the ball is in hand when the quarterback's flag is pulled then it will be ruled a sack.
Interceptions may be returned.
The rusher may not have any contact with the QB (no hitting the QB arm or knocking the ball out of the QB hand).
If ANY part of the players body is behind the LOS it is a legal pass
Receiving
All players are eligible to receive a pass, including the quarterback, if the ball has been pitched or handed off in the backfield.
Players must have at least one foot in bounds when making a catch..
Players that run out of bounds during a play cannot be the first player to touch a ball when attempting to make a catch (this is a penalty Illegal.
touching). If the player is pushed out of bounds by a defender, then comes back into the play, he or she is still eligible to touch the ball first.
Play is Ruled Dead When
The offensive player's flag is pulled.
Ball carrier steps out of bounds.
A touchdown is scored.
Any part of the body that is not hands or feet touches the ground. -
Incomplete pass.
Ball hits the ground.
*****If a player loses a flag unintentionally or starts a play with 1 flag on and receives the ball, the defense only must touch the ball carrier, not pull the flag.
Defense
Rushing the Quarterback
Players that rush the quarterback must be a minimum of 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
Rushing is ONLY allowed for 3rd/4th/5th division.
The 7 yards will be measured off by a referee.
Players that are not 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped may not enter the backfield until there is a change of possession.
The rusher is allowed a direct lane to the quarterback as long as he or she rushes from either side of the center or outside the bunch formation. The offense must avoid interfering with the rusher if he or she has established a lane.
Officials should drop a bean bag or mark the 7yd rush line in some manner.
Pass Coverage:
Contacting receivers is not allowed
Pass interference normally occurs above the waist; entangled feet are not considered pass interference.
Incidental contact is not considered pass interference.
A player may find their opponent by reaching out and placing a hand on them if touching does not delay, impede, twist, or turn their opponent. This is not considered pass interference.
A player may use their arms or hands to intentionally obstruct the receiver's view (face guarding) of the ball without turning their own head to play the ball as long as noteworthy contact is not made with the receiver.
If defensive pass interference occurs in the end zone the ball will be placed on the one-yard line, automatic first down.
Interceptions may be returned.
Interceptions in the end zone that are not returned to the field of play will result in a touchback and the ball will be spotted on the 5-yard line.
Contact away from the direction of the pass is not considered pass interference but may be considered illegal contact.
Whether a pass is catchable or uncatchable has no bearing on pass interference. The benefit of the doubt is given to the receiver.
Examples of pass interference include:
Shoving or pushing off to create separation.
Playing through the back.
Hook and turn grabbing the torso and turning an opponent before the pass arrives.
A player may lateral the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
Arm bars, hooking, restricting, grabbing wrists, or turning a receiver. Blocking downfield before the ball has been touched, commonly seen through "pick plays”.
Scoring:
Touchdown- 6 points
Safety- 2 points
Point After Touchdown (PAT)
1 point from the 5-yard line (no-run zone in effect)
2 points from the 12-yard line, run, pass (outside of no-run zone)
Interceptions returned on PATs are worth 2 points
Point After Touchdown (PAT):
Following a touchdown, once the scoring team has informed an official of which point conversion choice, they want to attempt the decision cannot be changed unless the scoring team uses a team timeout.
If a penalty occurs during an extra point attempt, the penalty will be assessed but the extra point value remains the same.
Decisions cannot be changed after a penalty. For example, if the offense attempts a 1-point PAT and is penalized five yards for a false start, they cannot change their mind and go for a 2-point PAT. They will still be attempting a 1-point try even if they call a timeout.
Defensive unsportsmanlike conduct, personal fouls, or roughing penalties during a successful touchdown attempt will be assessed at half the distance to the goal during the PAT attempt (e.g., 2-point PAT attempts will be spotted at the 6-yard line,1-point PAT attempts will be spotted at the 2.5-yard line). All other defensive penalties may be declined by the offense and the score will stand.
Dead ball fouls committed by the offense that do not carry a loss-of-down penalty (false start) may result in penalty yardage assessed and the down replayed.
Fouls by the offense during a successful PAT attempt that carry a
loss-of-down penalty (flag guarding, illegal advancement, illegal forward pass, etc.) will result in the PAT being no good.
Fouls committed by the offense in unsuccessful PAT attempts will be declined by the defense and the PAT will be "no good" and will not be replayed.
Fouls by the defense during an unsuccessful PAT attempt will result in a retry after the options are administered.
If the PAT-attempting team throws an interception and then commits a flagrant foul after the interception during the attempted return (physically contains the ball carrier; bear hugs, aggressively holds, tackles, etc. without making a clear, legal attempt to pull the ball carrier's flag, the ball carrier will be awarded two points.
There is no diving. If a player falls while pulling a flag, this is not considered diving. The referees will be the judge of diving.
PENALTIES
PENALTY CHANGES for inside 2 minutes of BOTH halves.
Defensive pass interference is a spot foul and will result in an automatic 1st down.
Intentional delay of game by the offense or defense, any team member, or fan will result in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
automatic 1st down (if committed by the defense}
LOO (if committed by the offense) and the clock will stop.
Penalty Charts:
Yardage
Where is the Penalty Assessed?
Result
Flag Guarding
5
Spot of foul
Loss of Down
Illegal Advancement
5
Spot of foul
Loss of down
Illegal Forward Pass
5
Previous spot
Loss of down
Offensive Pass Interference
5
Previous spot
Loss of Down
Defensive Pass Interference
15
Previous spot
**Spot foul under 2 min of 1st/2nd half
Automatic 1st Down
Yardage
Where is the Penalty Assessed?
Result
Personal Foul /Unnecessary
Roughness
15
End of the play or previous spot whichever penalizes the offender more
By the Offense: Loss of Down By the Defense: Automatic 1st Down
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
15
End of the play or previous spot whichever penalizes the offender more
By the Offense: Loss of Down By the Defense: Automatic 1st Down
Roughing the Passer
Incidental
Intentional
s
15
Previous spot
By the Defense: Automatic 1st Down
Yardage
Where is the Penalty Assessed?
Result
Delay of Game
5
Previous spot
Replay down
** LOO, if 2 min or less
False Start
5
Previous spot
Replay down
**LOO, if 2 min or less
Offside/ Encroachment
5
Previous spot
Automatic 1st down
Cool Down Period
0
No foul
Player must sit out 5 plays
Yardage
Where is the Penalty Assessed?
Result
Illegal Substitution or Illegal Participation
5
Previous spot
Replay down - dead ball
Illegal Shift or Illegal Motion
5
Previous spot
Loss of down
Stripping or Attempted Stripping
s
Spot of the foul
Automatic 1st down
IllegaI Contact
s
Previous spot or spot of the fouI
By the Offense: Loss of Down
By the Defense: Automatic 1st Down
Early Flag Pull
s
Previous spot
Automatic 1st Down
Illegal Touching
s
Previous spot
Loss of down
Yardage
Where is the Penalty Assessed?
Result
Illegal Blocking
s
Spot foul or from previous spot if behind LOS
Loss of down
Holding
5
Spot of the foul
Automatic 1st down
Impeding the rusher
5
Previous spot
Loss of down
Charging
s
Spot of the fouI
Loss of down
Last Man Rule
15 or
TD
Spot of the foul
Automatic 1st down TD if inside the 5 yard line
