Stetson University Intramural Sports
7 on 7 Flag Football Rules*
(Revised 9/09)
The Game
1. The Players The game shall be played between 2 teams of 7 players each. All players are eligible receivers.
2. Team Captains Each team shall designate to the Referee the team captain or captains. If more than one player is designated, a speaking captain must be designated to make all decisions and be the sole spokesperson for the team. The captain's first choice of any penalty shall be final.
3. The Field The playing field is 40 yards wide by 100 yards long (4 x 20 yard zones and 10 yard end zones).
4. Referee's Authority The Referee has authority to rule promptly and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules. On questions of rule interpretation, not judgment calls, a captain may appeal (in a sportsmanlike manner) to the IM supervisor for ruling.
Equipment
1. Uniforms
Jersey All players on a team must wear matching jerseys, without pockets, hood, or draw strings. Players of opposing teams must wear different colored jerseys. In case of similarity of colors, a coin toss will be preformed by the supervisor to determine who must change jerseys.
Jersey's must be;
- Long enough so they remain tucked into the pants/shorts during play. Or
- Short enough to have 4" from the bottom of the jersey to the player's flag belt.
Pants/Shorts Each player must wear pants or shorts without any belt(s), belt loop(s), pocket(s) or exposed drawstrings. The pants or shorts must be a different color than the flags.
Flag Belts Each player must properly wear an IM provided flag belt. After every Touchdown or Conversion the scoring player must have flag belt removed by an official before the score will be counted. Penalty = Delay of game.
If a player's belt is illegally removed by an opponent or falls off inadvertently a one-hand touch below the neck will down the player.
Footwear Athletic shoes or cleats must be worn. Sharp metal cleats or footwear dangerous to player or opponent are not permitted. Penalty = unsportsmanlike conduct and removal from game until corrected.
Gloves Players may wear gloves which consist of a soft pliable, nonabrasive material.
Headwear Hats with bills or any headwear with hard or unyielding material is not permitted.
Eyeglasses Players may wear pliable non-rigid eyeglasses, including sunglasses.
2. Illegal Equipment
A player wearing illegal equipment shall not be permitted to play. This applies to equipment which, in the opinion of the referee or supervisor, is dangerous or confusing. In addition to the equipment stated in section 1, illegal equipment includes:
a. Jewelry of any kind
b. Pads or braces worn above the waist.
c. Leg or knee braces made of hard, unyielding material and not covered with a ½" padding made of rubber or material with similar properties.
d. A flag belt secured in any other way except for the clip.
e. Any slippery or sticky foreign substances on any equipment or exposed part of the body.
f. Towels attached at the waist.
g. Any clothing with knots, hoods, or loose ties.
When any required player equipment is missing or when illegal equipment is found on any incoming player, correction must be made before participation. An official's time out may be declared, when appropriate, to permit prompt repair of equipment which becomes illegal or defective during play.
3. Game Ball Teams may use their own regulation football or the IM provided ball; however, any ball put into the game must be available for both teams to use. The offensive team is responsible to bring the ball to the line of scrimmage.
Time clock
1. Playing time Two 20 minute halves, with 5 minute intermission.
2. One minute warning - Approximately one minute before the end of second half the Back Judge shall stop the clock and inform both captains of the playing time remaining in the half. The clock restarts on the snap.
3 During the last minute of the second half the clock will stop after every play for the officials to reset the line of scrimmage markers and to announce the down, line to gain, time remaining, and when the clock will restart.
For all game situations (in NCAA football) when the clock would continue to run or when it would restart on the ready for play, the clock will restart on the ready-for-play whistle.
For all situations (in NCAA football) when the clock would restart on the snap, the clock will restart on the snap.
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The clock will restart on the ready-for-play whistle (assuming flag pulled in the field of play) If stopped for: |
The clock will restart on the snap If stopped for:
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First down |
Incomplete pass |
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Penalty and administration |
Out of bounds |
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Referee's time out |
Score (TD or safety) |
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Team attempting to conserve time illegally |
Team time-out |
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Inadvertent whistle |
Delay of game |
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Change of possession |
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Team attempting to consume time illegally |
4. Time Outs - Each team is entitled to two time outs per game, which can be taken at any time.
5. Overtime procedure (Play-offs only) Kansas tie-breaker from the 10 yard line.
Play
1. Coin Toss winner of toss has choice of 1. starting on offense or defense or 2. defending either end zone in first half. Teams switch ends at the half and the team which started the first half on offense is on defense. No deferred option.
2. Line to Gain - 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. In such a case, the original zone in advance of the ball at the beginning of the series of downs is the zone line to gain. The most forward point of the ball, when declared dead between the goal lines, shall be the determining factor.
2. Kick-offs To start each half and to restart after a score, the ball will be put in play from the offense's 14 yard line.
3. Punt - Prior to making the ball ready for play on 4th down, the Referee must ask the offensive captain if punting. The Referee must communicate this decision to the team B Captain and the other officials. The Team A captain may request a punt on any down. After such announcement, the ball MUST be kicked. EXCEPTION: If time out or a penalty is called, the team may change their decision.
4. The Snap - All plays from scrimmage must be started by a legal snap from the midfield point between the sidelines. The ball may be moved with approval by the Referee due to poor field conditions. The player receiving the snap must be at least 2 yards back from the line of scrimmage (No direct snap).
5. Encroachment - Once the snapper has placed his hand on the ball, it is encroachment for any player to break the scrimmage line. When two or more encroachment fouls are committed during the same dead ball interval, the penalty will be 10 yards for subsequent fouls.
6. Line of Scrimmage/Neutral Zone The defensive line of scrimmage will be 3 yards from the ball or the line to gain, if less than 3 yards. The offense must have at least 4 players on the scrimmage line at the snap. A player in motion can not be one of the four on the scrimmage line. On punts both teams must have at least 4 players on their line of scrimmage and no players may leave or cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.
7. Mercy Rule - If a team is 19 or more points ahead at the 1-minute warning of the 2nd half or if a team scores, after the 1-minute warning, to create a 19-point or more differential, the game ends.
8. Fumble/Dead Ball - Except for a punt in the field of play that has not been touched by a player from either team, anytime the ball touches the ground, the play ends and the ball is dead at the point of contact with the ground or where it crosses the side line. If the ball is fumbled or muffed forward the ball is dead at the point of fumble or muff.
9. Fouls and Penalties - Team A shall be awarded a new series of downs when an automatic first down foul is accepted. Dead ball fouls following a touchdown are penalized on the try. Live ball fouls committed by either team after team B gains possession during a try shall be enforced at the succeeding spot. Dead ball fouls following a successful try will be penalized from the succeeding spot.
SUMMARY OF FOULS AND PENALTIES
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Loss of 5 yards 1. Delay of game (dead ball) 2. Illegal Shift, formation, or procedure (dead ball) 3. Encroachment (dead ball) 4. False Start (dead ball) 5. Illegal Snap, including player receiving snap within 2 yards of scrimmage line (dead ball) 6. Offensive player not within 15 yards of ball between ready for play and the snap (dead ball) 7. Illegal forward pass or handling (+loss of down) 8. Intentional Grounding (+loss of down) 9. Required equipment worn illegally 10. Unfair tactics 11. Substitution infractions 12. Helping the runner |
Loss of 10 yards 1. Unannounced punt 2. Kick catch interference 3. Two or more consecutive encroachments during the same interval 4. Offensive pass interference (+loss of down) 5. Defensive pass interference (+automatic 1st down) 6. Roughing the passer (+automatic 1st down) 7. Steal or attempt to steal the ball 8. Unnecessary/illegal contact of any nature 9. Illegal screen blocking 10. Flag guarding 11. Illegal Participation 12. Illegal flag belt removal 13. Illegally secured flag belt (+loss of down) 14. Unsportsmanlike conduct 15. Pretended/unfair substitution |
Scoring Touchdown = 6 points
Conversion = 1 point from 3 yard line
2 points from 10 yard line
3 points from 20 yard line
Safety 2 points
* Rules and interpretations not expressed in these rules will be subject to the rules and guidelines of the NIRSA Flag Football Rulebook.
CORECREATION FOOTBALL RULES SUMMARY
The Game:
The game shall be played between 2 teams of 8 players, 4 men and 4 women. Never more men than the number of women +1.
The Ball:
The regular, intermediate, youth, or junior size football shall be used.
Minimum Line Players:
The offensive team must have at least 5 players on their scrimmage line at the snap.
Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards
Male Runner:
A Team A male runner cannot advance the ball through Team A's scrimmage line. There are no restrictions during a run by a male runner once the ball has been beyond Team A or K scrimmage line; during a run by a female runner; and after a change of possession.
Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards
Male-to-Male Completion:
During the offensive team's possession there may not be 2 consecutive legal forward pass completions from a male passer to a male receiver. This rule applies to the Try. If a male passer completes a legal forward pass to a male receiver, the next legal forward pass completion must involve either a female passer or a female receiver for positive yards. The spot where the ball becomes dead by Rule must be beyond the Team A scrimmage line (first ball spotter). There are no other restrictions concerning a male passer completing legal forward passes to a female receiver, or female-to-female, or female-to-male. A legal forward pass caught jointly by male and female teammates is considered a female reception.
Penalty: Illegal Forward Pass, 5 yards from the spot where the second consecutive male-to-male completed legal forward pass is released, and a loss of down. Any foul, whether accepted or declined, shall have no effect on whether the next play is "open" or "closed."
Illegal Forward Pass:
If a female passer completes a forward pass to a male receiver behind Team A scrimmage line (first ball spotter) on either an "open" or "closed" play, and any Team A male runs beyond this scrimmage line, it is an illegal forward pass.
Penalty: Illegal Forward Pass, 5 yards from the spot of the pass and loss of down.
Open/Closed Play:
Following a male-to-male pass completion all plays will be "closed" to a male-to-male completion until a positive yardage pass completion involving a female passer or receiver has been made. Once a female-to-male or male-to-female positive yardage pass has been completed all plays will be "open" until a male-to-male pass is completed.
Mercy Rule:
If a team is 25 or more points ahead when the Referee announces the 1 minute warning for the second half, the game shall be over.
If a team scores during the last minute of the second half and that score creates a point differential of 25 or more points, the game shall end at that point.
Touchdown Value:
If a female player scores a touchdown, the point value is 9. If a female player throws a legal forward pass and a touchdown is scored by any Team A player, prior to change of possession, the point value is 9.