Co-ed Flag Football Rules
The Game
1. The game is played with either two 8 person teams or two 6 person teams depending on the league you have signed up for.
A. In the 8v8 League each team needs to have 3 women on the field. A team must have a minimum of 2 women on the field of play to avoid a forfeit but must play down one player.
B. In the 6v6 League each team needs to have 2 women on the field. A team must have 1 woman in the field of play to avoid forfeit but must play down one player.
2. There will be 1-2 first down markers, depending on field size.
3. The progress of the ball carrier stops when a defending player removes their flag belt.
4. Belts must be sized to fit each player. The flag belts are triple-threat type, which require the entire belt to be removed. All players must have flags.
5. There will be 2 halves of 20 minutes each, with a half time of 3 minutes
6. The game-clock shall be running time except:
A. Time-outs
B. During the last 2 minutes of the 2nd half play will stop for incomplete passes, stepping out of bounds, turnovers, or change of possession.
i. If one team is leading by more than 17 points inside of the two minutes, the clock does not stop for the above items. However, if a team scores points to be inside the 17 point deficit, the rules above re-apply.
C. Official Timeout which may include an equipment check, injury, or anything else deemed hazardous by the Referee.
7. Each team will be allowed 3 timeouts per half. Each time out will last 30 seconds.
8. A tie score is final except in the playoffs.
A. During playoffs, a tie game is broken in the following manner:
i. The winner of a coin flip will have the option of starting on offense or defense. The ball will be put into play at the 20-yard line.
ii. Each team will have 4 downs to advance the ball past the goal line. Each team may choose to go for 1 or 2 points following a touchdown. This process is repeated until there is a winner.
iii. Teams switch who plays offense and who plays defense after both teams have had a possession and there is still a tie.
iv. All teams must go for a 2-point conversion if the game is tied after each team has had one possession.
9. Substitutions are unlimited during the game. All substitutions must be made between plays.
10. Scoring
A. Touchdown = 6 points (Male); 9 Points (female)
B. Extra points: 5 yards out = 1 point; 10 yards out = 2 points
C. Safety = 2 points
D. Forfeits = 21-0 win
11. To start the game, a coin is tossed and the winner chooses one of the following privileges:
A. Offense
B. Defense
C. Defers decision to the second half.
12. Between halves the team with choice may elect to field preference.
13. Play will begin from the offensive team’s 10-yard line at the beginning of the game and at half time. Subsequent drives following a touchdown will begin from the 10-yard line.
14. A fumbled ball is dead, unless caught in the air by a trailing teammate (lateral). The ball is spotted at the spot of the fumble or where the ball hit the ground, whichever is less advantageous to the offensive team.
15. There must be a minimum of 5 players on the offensive line to start a play. There is no limit to how many players are allowed inside the box.
16. Offensively, everyone is eligible for a pass.
17. Shirts must be tucked in and all flags must be the same type for each team.
18. In the case of an inadvertent whistle the play will be replayed from the original line of scrimmage unless the whistle came after a reception or a turnover. If the reception occurred prior to an inadvertent whistle then the reception will stand and the ball will be placed where the ball carrier was when the whistle occurred. If a turnover occurred prior to an inadvertent whistle then the turnover will stand and the ball will be placed where the ball carrier was when the whistle occurred.
Players and Equipment
1. Jerseys of the same color are required and will be provided by Twin Creeks. All shirts must be tucked in so that the entire flag belt is visible. Referees should inform players to tuck in shirts if they notice it before a play. If the ball carrier’s shirt is un-tucked, he waives his right to a potential holding call and therefore should not expect a foul. This does not apply if a defender pulls the shirt out of the shorts of the ball carrier.
2. The official ball shall be of rubber/leather/synthetic construction and of high school size or larger for co-ed flag football. All teams are responsible for bringing their own regulation sized ball for competition.
3. Regular football equipment such as shoulder pads, kidney pads, and forearm pads are prohibited.
4. No casts of any kind are permitted.
5. All players must wear shoes. Cleats and turf shoes are allowed but must have no metal.
6. The flag belt must be clipped in such a manner that it will come off with one pull. It is illegal to create loops and knots with the belt to make it more difficult to pull off. Any player in violation will be warned, penalized 5 yards and a loss of down, and will be ejected from the game on a 2nd offense.
**Referees will check the equipment of all players before and during the game. Teams or players have the right to ensure that all equipment is eligible for play and notify the refs of any illegal equipment**
Rules – Offense
1. Downs: If the offense fails to advance the ball to the next zone in 4 downs, it shall lose possession of the ball at the spot where the ball is blown dead after the fourth down.
2. To start any offensive play, the ball must be passed between the legs of the center to a teammate. If any portion of the ball touches or crosses the line, the next zone is played.
3. Offensive players may move around before the snap. One player may be in motion moving parallel or backwards from the line of scrimmage, but may not be moving forward at all or it shall be a 5-yard penalty. This is considered a false start and down will be reset.
4. There will be a 25-second time limit between plays. The clock starts as soon as the previous play is whistled dead. If this time is exceeded, the play will be stopped and a 5 yard penalty will be assessed.
5. No hideouts are permitted. That is, the offense cannot intentionally try to hide a player on the sidelines. Only 8 players may be in the huddle. A 5-yard penalty will be assessed otherwise. Substitutions can be made during a huddle if a player is going and a player is coming out of the huddle.
6. On a fumbled snap, a handoff that is fumbled, or a lateral, once the ball hits the ground, it is immediately dead and put in play where the ball hits the ground. If the ball lands forward, the ball will be spotted where the ball handler initially lost control.
7. No intentional move with the hands, elbows, or shoulders shall be made by the ball carrier to prevent the defender from removing his flag. All moves are considered flag guards.
8. Any player whose flags fall off without a defensive player making an attempt to pull them off, will not be considered “down” and play will continue until touched.
9. The ball carrier may not run into a defender in an effort to prevent his flag from being removed. Charging or the lowering of the shoulder is not permitted and will result in a penalty. The ball carrier is responsible or avoiding the defender by any means.
10. The team that has the ball in play from the line of scrimmage may pitch a ball (backwards or parallel) to a player, who may then throw a forward pass. There may not be more than one legal forward pass during a down.
11. Blocking is not permitted. Running if front of the ball carrier intentionally is considered to be a block.
12. The ball is placed anywhere on the line of scrimmage.
13. The quarterback may run at any time. This is only allowed for 8 vs 8 coed.
A. If the line of scrimmage is between the 5 yard line and the goal line, a NO QB run zone will be designated. The QB receiving the direct snap from center is in- eligible to run. The option to run becomes available, if and if only, a handoff or lateral occurs in the backfield.
19. The quarterback may run only on a pitch back or lateral pass in 6 vs 6 coed.
20. Gender Play: At least once every 4 plays each team must target a pass to a female player that is beyond the line of scrimmage, hand off the ball to a female player for positive yards, or have the female player as the QB with a pass completion for positive yards. If after 3 plays you have not done so, a force gender play will be called. If any of the above scenarios fails, a loss of down will occur, and the next play will be from either the previous spot, or in the event of a run by a female player for a loss or sacking of a QB (male or female), the spot of his/her progress, and the gender play repeated. Completions or runs to or by male players by male QB will not count and a loss of down will occur and the forced gender play must be repeated.
Penalty Assessment on Gender Play
1. If the foul is on the defensive team, the offense will have one of two options:
A. Accept the penalty and repeat the gender play.
B. Decline the penalty and the next play will be open.
2. If the foul is on the offensive player, the penalty will be assessed and the next play will be a forced gender play unless declined by the defense.
Rules – Defense
1. Defenders shall always have right of way to attempt to pull the ball carrier's flags. They may wrap up the player if attempting to remove flags in the eyes of the officials. Excessive wrap could be considered a hold and will be penalized as such.
2. It shall be illegal to dive at the ball carrier from the forward plane. Side to side diving is allowed as an attempt to pull the flags, along from the behind.
3. Use of the defensive forearm shiver technique on the line is forbidden. The Center must be allowed to stand up right after the snap of the ball for a one count. This is under the no contact guidelines.
4. Defensive players attempting to block a pass may not contact the passer, even if the ball has already been released.
5. It shall be a 10-yard penalty to tackle, hack, straight-arm, trip, push, hold or rough another player. Defenders may not contact an offensive player with extended arms. Bump and run or Press defense on any offensive player is NOT permitted at any time, however, they may stand in their path to alter their route.
6. Defensive players must line up within 1⁄2 yard from the spot of the ball. This zone shall be referred to as the neutral zone and an infraction shall be offsides.
7. Defensive players may not return an extra point conversion. Play is considered dead.
8. Defensive Players attempting to rush the QB must begin seven (7) yards behind the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball. There is no limit to the number of players that can rush the QB. The referee will provide the seven (7) yard marker from which the rusher must begin.
A. A second rusher may rush the QB from the line of scrimmage when the initial rusher has passed the line of scrimmage.
B. If there is a handoff/option, all defensive players are allowed to pass the line of scrimmage.
Penalties
1. The following penalties are 5 yards unless stated:
I. Offensive offsides-offensive players are lined up in front of the line of scrimmage-play is blown dead, and penalty assessed
II. Defensive neutral zone infraction-player lined up in neutral zone-play is blown dead and penalty marked off
III. Offensive Illegal shift-2 players moving at the same time in motion-play blown dead and penalty assessed
IV. Calling a timeout when the team no longer has any timeouts remaining.
V. Mimicking the snapcount.
2. The following penalties are 10 yards unless stated:
I. Offensive Holding
II. Defensive Holding
III. Offensive Pass Interference: Play results in 10 yard penalty from the Line of Scrimmage and Loss of Down.
IV. Defensive Pass Interference: Play results in a 10 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage or, half the distance to the goal if within 10 yards of the goal line and result in a first down.
V. A 2nd and any subsequent Intentional Defensive Encroachment penalties in one game.
VI. Flag Guarding-from the spot of penalty, 10 yard penalty, loss of down
VII. Illegal forward pass-from the line of scrimmage, 10 yard penalty, loss of down
VIII. Roughing the QB: 15 yard penalty, automatic first down
IX. Intentional Grounding is permitted and not result in a penalty.
X. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Play results in 15 yard penalty, loss of down, and possible ejection. 2 ejections in 1 season will result in automatic disqualification from the season
XI. Unnecessary Roughness: Play results in 15 yard penalty and either loss of down or automatic first down depending on who committed the penalty. It may also be combined with Unsportsmanlike Conduct if the official deems the play to be malicious. The player will automatically be ejected if this is the case.
Mercy Rule
If a team is trailing by 23 or more points at the 2-minute warning in the second half, the referees shall end the game immediately. There will be no exception to this Mercy rule. If a team is trailing by 45 or more points at any time in the second half, the losing team may elect to stop playing. Games may resume without refs unless the refs deem otherwise.
Punting
There is no punting allowed. On 4th down, a team may elect to give the ball to the opposing team on their own 10 yard line in lieu of punting.
Standings and Tie Breakers
Standings will be determined by the number of points. In the event of a tie, the following tie-breaking rules are used.
1. Points: Wins are worth 3, ties worth 1 point, losses 0 points.
2. Head-to-head: If the teams met during the regular season, the team with the better record versus the other wins. If the teams did not meet, head-to-head shall be considered a tie.
3. Win Percentage: The percentage of games that were won.
4. Points Against: The team with the lowest number of points scored against them wins.
5. Points For: The team with the highest number of points scored against opponents wins.
The top 4 teams in each league will make the playoffs.
All rules are enforced and interpreted by the referees. All calls and actions are under the referee's discretion and may not be argued. If a team or player wants an explanation, the referee may or may not offer one at the appropriate time. No disrespect of the refs will occur at anytime; this includes before during or after the game. this may result in ejections and game suspensions.
Fighting and/or alterations may be subject to forfeits or suspension. This is strictly prohibited.