Rules Inspired by the American Flag Football League

 

The Field

The field is broken down into two games going on at once. Play begins at the 40 yard line, with the next 1st down marker being the 20 yard line. The 50 to 40 yard line container, highlighted in blue, marks the defensive endzone area, which means if an opposing team scores on an interception or safety, they will do so by reaching this defensive endzone.

General Rules

  • 7-on-7, fourteen person roster
  • 50 minute game, played over two 22 min 30 sec halves (5 minute half-time)
  • Running clock, with the possibility of one time-out per team, per half
  • Field divided into two twenty-yard boxes (40 to 20, 20 to end-zone). First down is awarded when offense reaches the 20.
  • The ball is reset to the 40 after each score and PAT attempt.
  • No blocking (including screen-blocking) kicking, or fumbles. A play is down on the spot when the ball is fumbled.
  • Only one lateral allowed per play
  • Substitution may take place between plays. If a team is short-handed, player(s) from other teams may participate.
  • The offense has 4 downs to go from the 40-yard line to the 20-yard line. And another 4 downs to score. Failure to score or secure a first down after the four tries (“downs”) results in a turnover, reset to the 40-yard line.

 

Post-Snap

  • Once the ball is snapped, the defense can rush from 7 yards from Line of Scrimmage, and the quarterback will have a total of five seconds to release the ball or cross the line of scrimmage
  • The quarterback cannot run until he is rushed by the defense.
  • All players are eligible downfield, including the center
  • North/south handoffs not allowed but pitches and handoffs to east/west runners permitted
  • A player receiving a lateral or hand-off is able to throw, but the throw-clock is not reset and still counts down from five seconds.

 

Scoring

  • 6 pts per TD under 40 yards, 7pts for TDs  on the 40-yard line
  • PAT’s are based on distance: scoring from the 10-yard line equals 1 point, and scoring from the 20-yard line equals 2 points.
  • A team returning an interception to the 40-yard line results in a 6 point touchdown for the defense, who are then eligible for a PAT.
  • If the defense returns the ball for a touchdown during a PAT attempt, it is equal points to the PAT attempt (1, 2 or 3 points).
  • Pulling a flag behind the 40-yard line is a defensive safety, good for 2 points. The defense is then awarded possession.

 

Penalties

  • Penalties result in an extra down for the offense, or a loss-of-down benefitting the defense.
    • Holding, grabbing the belt,  slapping down a hand from reaching the belt, blocking, offensive/defensive pass interference results in a gain or loss of down.
    • Tackling, which is strictly forbidden, results in the addition of three downs for the offense.
    • Personal misconduct, unnecessary roughness and behavior disruptive to the flow of the game results in the loss of three downs, or the removal of distruptive player from the game. Referee reserves the right to discretion.
  • If the loss-of-downs is greater than the number of tries the offense has remaining, a turnover is the result and defense is awarded possession (for example, if an offense commits a penalty on fourth down, or loses three tries on a second down or greater, this will result in a turnover).
  • A defensive penalty on the final play of the half or at the end of the game extends the offense’s downs according to the penalty.

Equipment

  • Players will be given flag belts.
  • Shirts or jerseys must not cover belts. A single flag pulled results in the end of a play.
  • Flags must be distributed evenly at all times.
  • Teams will use their own balls or shared ball between teams. Shirts must be tucked in enough so that the opponent is capable of grabbing flags.

Overtime

  • Overtime will only occur in the playoffs, in “shoot out“ style format, each team given 4 downs at the 20 yard line with PAT’s. A Round is considered when each team is given a chance to score. When one team no longer matches the other, the game is over.

Pre-Snap

  • The offense must have no less than 3 players on the line of scrimmage, and remaining players may line up either on the line or in back field.
  • Each team has a center hiking the ball, who is also an eligible receiver.
  • The ball and possession is reset to the 40-yard line after each score.
  • The offense has 25 seconds between each play to decide and be ready for the snap. A Delay of Game penalty results in a lost down.
  • Offensive offsides are not emphasized, however, if an offensive player is 2 feet, or 24 inches, past the ball, a penalty results in a lost down. If a defensive player is past the ball, a penalty results in a gain of down for the offense. Please respect staying on sides; this is a judgement call by the referree.

Catching

  • Players must contact the ground with ONE FOOT for a pass reception before going out of bounds. If possession of ball is lost simultaneously when they hit the ground, it is not a catch. If a forward pass is caught at the same time by members of opposing teams, the ball is dead at that spot and belongs to the team that snapped the ball.
  • If a player catches the ball while the ball still touches the ground, this is a catch.
  • If one of those eligible receivers is de-flagged prior to touching the ball on a pass thrown beyond the offense’s line of scrimmage, then he is to be touched by placing two hands on the opponent for an end to the play.

Forfeits

  • A team can agree to play a game if it is short-handed, but normal rules and stats will apply. A substitution player from another team may play (regular season only). They can choose to forfeit too.
  • When an entire team is deemed disruptive to the flow of the game and the evening’s activities, a referee may choose to forfeit the offending team.

Refereeing and Scorekeeping

  • A Volunteer Ref from the Later or Earlier Game will referee the game and man the clock / post-snap timers. The scoring team will flip the scoreboard following a score, lest a volunteer is available.

Playoffs

  • Playoffs for the Winter 2020 League will feature all 8 teams. The standings go as follows: Win-Loss Record followed by Points For, followed by Points Against. A 3rd Place game will be played at the same time as the championship, featuring the 2nd round losing teams.