2022 Narberth Flag Football Rules and Guidelines Game  (draft)

1. I. Game Summary

Away team (light jersey) has the football first.   Each team fields 5 players with a minimum of 4 players at all times.   Number of field player can change at the discretion of the field commissioner

1. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four (4) downs to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has three (3) downs to score a touchdown.  

2. If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, on 3 downs, and elects to “punt” on 4th down, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its own 5-yard line. 

If the offensive team goes for it on 4th down and does not cross field, the opposing team will start its possession from the spot.

3. Offensive team MUST declare 4th down intent; “Play or Punt”, when asked by the referee and prior to the  ‘Ready for Play’.

4. Teams may use a timeout only to change the declaration of “Play” at any time prior to the expiration of the play clock.

5. If the declaration is  Punt  the ball changes possession and will be placed at the opposing team’s 5-yard line, 1st down, With NO option to change the declaration.

6. If the offense fails to score, after crossing midfield the ball changes possession and the new offensive team starts at its 5-yard line

2. Teams change sides after the first half. Possession changes to the team that started the game on defense.  

II. Equipment

1. Official NFL Flag Jerseys must be worn during play.  Home team wears the dark side of jersey

2. Jerseys must be tucked into pants or shorts, so they do not interfere with the opponent's  opportunity to pull the flag.

3. Flags must be of contrasting color to the player’s pants. They must be worn as designed (sockets facing outward, one on each hip) and may not be altered in any fashion.  

4. Football and soccer cleats are permitted, but not required.  No metal cleats.

5. Mouth guards are recommended. 

6. No Jewelry

III. Terminology

IV. Field

1. Field dimensions  - 25 yards wide by 70 yards with two 10-yard end zones 

Both with a midfield line to gain. No Run zones are located five yards prior to the line to gain and five yards prior to the end zone in the offense’s direction.

2. No-run zones are in place to prevent teams from conducting power run plays. While in the no-run zones (a 5-yard imaginary zone before midfield and before the end zone), teams cannot run the ball in any fashion. All plays must be pass plays, even with a handoff.       

3. Stepping on the boundary line is considered out of bounds. 

4. Each offensive team approaches only TWO no-run zones in each drive (one zone 5 yards from midfield to gain the first down, and one zone 5 yards from the goal line to score a TD).     

V. Timing and Overtime

1. Games are played on a 40-minute continuous clock with two 20-minute halves.   In the last 2 minutes of the game incomplete passes and running out of bounds stops the clock.

2. Halftime is 3 minutes. 

3. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. 

4. Each team has TWO 30-second timeouts per half. They do not carry over.

5. Officials can stop the clock at their discretion and injuries. In the event of an injury, the clock will stop then restart when the injured player is removed from the field of play. 

6. Overtime usage:  

1st to 5th - no overtime in regular season games, only on final day

6th to 8th - Overtime in all games

7. Overtime Format is as follows:

   1. Home team calls the toss to determine the team that chooses to be on offense or defense first.

If a second round of overtime must be played, the team that lost the coin toss will get to choose offense or defense for the start of the second round of overtime. This process continues with teams alternating who gets to choose to be on offense or defense to start out during every round of overtime.

1. ii. The referee will determine which end of the field the overtime will take place on. 

2. Each team will take turns getting one (1) play from the defense’s 5-yard line for one point or the defense’s 10-yard line for two points. Whether to go for one or two points is up to the offensive team. Whether or not the team that begins on offense converts the team that started on defense gets a chance on offense to win or tie by converting a one- or two-point play of their own. 

   1. Example: Team A starts on offense and chooses to go for one point from the 5-yard line and is successful. Team B is then on offense and can choose to either go for one point from the 5-yard line to tie and force a second round of overtime or to go for two points from the 10-yard line for the win. 

   2. If the second team on offense in an overtime round fails to beat or match the team that went first, the team that went first wins.

3. Starting with the 2nd overtime, both teams must "go for two" from the 10-yard line

4. Starting with the 3rd overtime, each team will get 1 play from the 5 yard line going   out from the end zone. The team with the most yards will be the winner. The team with the most yards will be awarded 1 point added to their final score.Final Score will be recorded to include all points scored for each team

5. All regulation period rules and penalties are in effect.

6. There are no timeouts. 

7. Interceptions are returnable in OT, and worth 2 points  

8. Interceptions returned for a score in the first or second overtime period.

9. Interceptions advanced from the possession point in the third overtime period

j.     Each team has one rules challenge for the entire overtime session

     .

VI. Scoring

1. Touchdown: 6 points

2. PAT (point after touchdown) 

1 point (5-yard line pass only) or 2 points (10-yard line run or pass)

3. Interceptions returned for scores during regular game play are worth 6 points. 

4. Safety:  2 points

a.     A safety occurs when the ball-carrier is declared down in their own end zone. Runners can be called down when their flags are pulled by a defensive player, a flag falls out, they step out of bounds, their knee or arm touches the ground, a fumble occurs in the end zone or if a snapped ball lands in or beyond the end zone.

5. A team that scores a touchdown must declare whether it wishes to attempt a 1-point conversion (5-yard line) or a 2-point conversion (from the 10-yard line) 

VII. Coaches

1. Coaches are expected to adhere to NFFL FLAG philosophies, coaching guidelines and code of conduct.  

2. Coaches, players and all fans are required and must remain a minimum of 10 yards off the field sideline for safety reasons.

3. Only one coach is permitted to set up kids on the field before play and must leave the playing field before play begins.

4. Players will have equal playing time and play in all positions.  No steady quarterback

5. Designated game head coach is the only one who can talk to an official regarding rule interpretation. If the rule is interpreted incorrectly, the timeout will not be charged and the proper ruling will be enforced. If the ruling is correct the team will be charged a timeout. 

6. Any disputes on the field that the referees can not handle will be decided by the field commissioners. 

7. If a coach does not behave in a sportsmanlike manner they will be warned. 2nd warning they will receive a one game suspension. A third infraction will result in a suspension for the remainder of the season and not allowed to coach in NAA.

8. Practice is only allowed on game day at WVMS for 30 minutes before game time. 1st – a warning, 2nd infraction- not allowed to coach 

IX. Live Ball/Dead Ball

1. The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead.

2. The official will indicate the neutral zone and line of scrimmage. 

   1. It is an automatic dead ball foul if any player on defense or offense enters the neutral zone. In regard to the neutral zone, the official may give both teams a “courtesy” neutral zone notification to allow their players to move back behind the line of scrimmage.

3. A player who gains possession of the ball in the air is considered in bounds as long as the first foot or other body part contacts the ground in the field of play.

4. The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals by trying to confuse the offensive players, while the quarterback is calling out signals to start the play. This will result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

5. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.

6. Any official can whistle the play dead.

7. Play is ruled “dead” when:

   1. The ball hits the ground. If the ball hits the ground as a result of a bad snap, the ball is then placed where the ball hit the ground.

   2. The ball-carrier’s flag is pulled.

   3. The ball-carrier steps out of bounds.

   4. A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored.

   5. The ball-carrier’s knee or arm hits the ground.

   6. The ball-carrier’s flag falls out.

   7. The receiver catches the ball while in possession of one or no flag(s). 

   8. The 7 second pass clock expires.

   9. Inadvertent whistle

   10. Ball-carrier leave their feet other than jump cuts, spinning or to avoid a downed player on the field of play.

NOTE:     There are no fumbles. The ball becomes a dead ball. (If the ball is fumbled forwards then it will be spotted where the ball carrier lost possession.  A bad snap resulting in a muff (a fumble) can be picked up and played unless the ball rolls past the line of scrimmage in which case the ball is a dead ball.

8. If inadvertent whistle occurs the offense has two options:

1. Take the ball where the whistle blew and the down is consumed 

or

2. Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.  

If it occurs on the last play of the half or game, the offense will be awarded one untimed down and given those two options.

X. Running

1. The ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled. 

2. The quarterback cannot directly run with the ball until the defense crosses the line of scrimmage, which the defense until a 4 second count by the referee has expired. The QB is the offensive player who receives the snap.

3. Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Handoffs may be in front, behind or to the side of the offensive player but must be behind the line of scrimmage. The offense may use multiple handoffs.

   1. “Center sneak” play is not allowed. The QB is not allowed to handoff to the center on the first handoff of the play.

   2. Any player who receives a handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. 

   3. Once the ball has been handed off, in front, behind or to the side of the quarterback, the seven-second passing clock is eliminated and all defensive players are eligible to rush.

4. Pitches or laterals are permitted.

5. No-run Zones are located 5 yards before each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield are designed to avoid short-yardage power-running situations.  Teams are not allowed to run in these zones if the subsequent line is LIVE. (Reminder: Each offensive team approaches only TWO no-run zones in each drive – one 5 yards from midfield to gain the first down and one 5 yards from the goal line to score a TD).

6. Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball. Diving, leaping or jumping to avoid a flag pull is considered flag guarding. 

7. Spinning/Jump Cuts are allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a flag pull.         

   1. Players spinning out of control will be called for flag guarding.      

8. Ball carriers may leave their feet and the play will continue for spinning, jump cuts, QB’s passing progression or if there is a clear indication that he/she has done so to avoid a collision with another player and the play will continue without stoppage.  

9. No blocking or “screening” is allowed at any time.

10. Offensive players in close proximity to the ball-carrier must stop their motion once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage. No running with the ball-carrier. 

11. Flag obstruction – All jerseys MUST be tucked in before play begins. The flags must be on the player’s hips and free from obstruction. Deliberately obstructed flags will be considered flag guarding.  

12. Any player who receives a handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. 

13. Once the ball has been handed off in front, behind or to the side of the quarterback,  all defensive players are eligible to rush.13

XI. Passing

1. All passes must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage, thrown forward and ball out of hand prior to breaching the line of scrimmage.     

   1. There is no intentional grounding 

2. All passes that do not cross the line of scrimmage, whether received or not, are illegal forward passes, unless touched by a defender.

3. The quarterback may throw the ball away to avoid a sack. Pass must go beyond the line of scrimmage.

2. Shovel passes are allowed. 

3. The quarterback has a 7-second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within the 7 seconds, the play is dead, the down is consumed and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off, the 7-second rule is no longer in effect.           

   1. If the QB is standing in the end zone at the end of the 7-second clock, the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage (LOS). 

   2. If the quarterback throws the ball and then catches it, the play is dead and treated like an incomplete pass.

XII. Receiving

1. All players are eligible to receive passes (including the QB if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).

2. Only one player is allowed in motion at a time. All motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmage and no motion is permitted toward the line of scrimmage.

3. A player must have at least one foot or other body part in bounds, contacting the ground first with possession.

4. In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense.

5. Interceptions are returnable. If returned for a score during regular game play, the score will be worth six points, two points if returned during conversions and/or overtime.

XIII. Defense & Rushing the Passer

1. All players who rush the passer must wait until the referee has counted for 4 seconds.  Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the QB  can defend on the line of scrimmage.

2. Once the ball is handed off, all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.

   1. A legal rush is:

 A rush from anywhere on the field AFTER the ball has been handed off by the quarterback.

2. A penalty may be called if:

   1. The rusher leaves the rush line before the snap and crosses the line of scrimmage  before a handoff or pass – illegal rush (5-yards from the line of scrimmage and first down). 

   2. Any defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped – offsides (5-yards from line of scrimmage and first down).

   3. Any defensive player not lined up at the rush line crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is passed or handed off – illegal rush (5-yards from the line of scrimmage and first down).

   4. If the offense draws the rusher(s) to jump the seven-yard marker prior to the snap of the ball, that rusher(s) CANNOT rush during that play. However, any other defender that is seven yards back may rush instead. Jumping the rush is not a penalty until the rusher crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the handoff or passed ball.

   5. c. Special circumstances:

i.      Teams are not required to rush the QB with the 7 second clock in effect. 

ii.      Teams are not required to identify their rusher before the play.                             

3. Players rushing the QB may attempt to block a pass; however, contact to the QB, unless ruled incidental by the official, would result in a roughing the passer penalty.

4. The offense cannot impede the rusher in any way. The rusher has the right to a clear path to the QB, regardless of where they line up prior to the snap. 

The PATH is set pre-snap from the rusher or rushers directly to the QB.  PATH does not move once the QB moves. If the “path or line” is occupied by a moving offensive player, then it is the offense’s responsibility to avoid the rusher.  Any disruption to the rusher’s path and/or contact will result in an impeding the rusher penalty.  

If the offensive player does not move after the snap, then it is the rusher’s responsibility to go around the offensive player and to avoid contact.

5. A sack occurs if the quarterback’s flags are pulled behind the line of scrimmage.   The ball will be spotted where possession of the ball is once the flag is pulled.

a.  Safety is awarded if the sack takes place in the offensive team’s end zone.

XIV. Flag Pulling

1. A legal flag pull takes place when the ball-carrier is in full possession of the ball.

2. Defenders can dive to pull flags but cannot tackle, hold or run through the ball-carrier when pulling flags.

3. It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball-carrier’s possession at any time.

4. If a player's flag inadvertently falls off during a play while that player has possession, the player is down immediately and the play ends. The ball is placed where the flag lands. 

5. If a player who has one or no flags in their belt takes possession of the ball, the play is dead at that spot.

6. A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in possession of the ball.

7. Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball-carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping the head, hand, ball, arm or shoulder or intentionally covering the flags with the football jersey.

XV. Formations

1. Offenses must have a minimum of one player on the line of scrimmage (the center) and up to 4 players on the line of scrimmage. The QB must be off the line of scrimmage.

   1. Teams may shift formations prior to the snap as long as they are set for at least 1 second before the ball is snapped. 

   2. One player at a time may go in motion at least 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage.

2. Movement by a player who is set or a player who runs toward the line of scrimmage while in motion is considered a false start. 

3. The center must snap the ball to a player in the backfield, and the ball must completely leave his/her hands.  You do not have to hike the ball through the legs.

XVI. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

1. If Officials witnesses any acts of intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game. The decision is made at the referee’s discretion. No appeals will be considered. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!

2. Offensive or confrontational language is NOT allowed. If offensive or confrontational language occurs, the officials will determine if a warning or immediate ejection is warranted.

3. Players may not physically or verbally abuse any opponent, coach or official.

4. Ball-carriers MUST make an effort to avoid defenders with an established position.

5. Defenders must give free releases off the line of scrimmage to offensive players and are not allowed to run through the ball-carrier when pulling flags. ROUGH PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

6. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties:

   1. Defense + 10 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down

   2. Offense - 10 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down   

XVII. Penalties 

General

1. The officials will call all penalties.   

2. Officials determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.  All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage, except as noted. (Spot fouls)

3. Games or halves may not end on a defensive penalty unless the offense declines it.

4. Penalties are assessed live ball then dead ball. Live ball penalties must be assessed before play is considered complete.

5. Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal yardage when the penalty yardage is more than half the distance to the goal.

6. Spot fouls in end zone: Defensive (Ball on one-yard line, first down)/Offensive (Safety) 

         Defensive spot fouls

Offensive spot fouls

Defensive penalties

Offensive penalties