INDOOR FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT:

1. Jerseys - Need to be long enough so they remain tucked in the pants/shorts during the entire down or short enough so there is a minimum of 4" from the bottom of the jersey to the player's waistline.
2. Shoes- No black marking soled tennis shoes allowed.
3. Headgear- No headgear containing any hard, unyielding or still material (including billed hats).
4. Miscellaneous- No towels attached at the player's waist. No pads or braces worn above the waist.
5. Football- Footballs will be provided by the Intramural Department.
6. Pants/Shorts- Each player must wear pants/shorts without any belt(s) loop(s), pocket(s) or exposed draw strings. The pants/shorts must be a different color than the flags.

SCRIMMAGE LINE:

1. Seven players per team, can start with as few as 5, however, once there is less than 5 players the game will be called a forfeit.
2. Offense must have 4 players on the line of scrimmage.
3. Defense must line up 1 yard from the ball (Yellow marker).
4. Screen blocking only.
5. Offensive players must be within 10 yards of the ball at the time ball is snapped.

CLOCK:

Halves are 20 minutes
FIRST HALF- continuous running clock EXCEPT for time outs, and after a touchdown (clock stops for extra point and opposing team snaps the ball).
SECOND HALF- continuous running clock EXCEPT for same situations as first half and the following.
Three (1 minute) time-outs per game. Cannot be taken last 4 minutes of game.

CLOCK STOPS for the following in the last 2 minutes:

• official time-outs
• penalties
• incomplete pass
• change of possession
• player goes out of bounds

If clock is stopped, it starts on the SNAP of the ball.

KICK OFF:

Ball will be placed on the 20 yard line (volleyball sideline).

PUNTS:

1. Punts must be announced to the referee before the ball is put into play.
2. Both teams must have 4 players on the line.
3. No movement is allowed on the line until the ball is punted.
4. The kicker must be at least 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage to receive the snap. After receiving the snap, the kicker must kick the ball immediately and in a continuous motion.
5. Once the ball is touched (muffed) ball is dead. If the ball hits the ground on the snap, ball is dead and the other team's ball.

SCORING:

• Touchdown 6 points
  
• Extra point from 10 yards(VB sideline) 2 points
  
• Extra point from 3 yards (top of BB circle) 1 point
  
• Safety 2 points
  
• Safety- The team scored upon puts the ball in play at the VB sideline.

DEAD BALLS:

1. Ball carrier falls to ground
2. Ball carrier loses flag
3. Incomplete pass
4. Ball carrier goes out of bounds
5. Fumble is a dead ball, opponent cannot recover a fumble
6. Snap hits the ground
7. Snap hitting ground in end zone is a safety

COIN TOSS:

1. Winner chooses either to kick, receive or defend a goal.
2. 2nd half: loser gets same choice.

OFFENSE:

1. Has 25 seconds to put ball in play.
2. Ball may be centered either between legs or to the side of the center.
3. Offensive line must be motionless for 1 second.
4. At least 4 players on the line, no more than 5.
5. All players are eligible for a pass.
6. 1 forward pass BEYOND the line of scrimmage.
7. A player may hand the ball off forward of their position providing they are behind the line of scrimmage.
8. Ball carrier may NOT: hurdle opponent or stiff arm.
9. Ball is down where flag is removed.
10. Use of hands is prohibited at all times by the offensive line.
11. One foot down inside the field of play constitutes a legal pass catch.
12. Quarterback does NOT have to be rushed in order to run - they can run at any time.

BLOCKING:

1. Hands are kept in or behind back.
2. Any use of arms, elbows or legs to initiate contact is illegal.
3. Defense must go around offense and may not use hands or arms to go through opponents.

DIVING:

1. Diving is prohibited when attempting to advance the ball.
2. Players may dive to receive a pass only.
3. All other dives are marked "DOWN" at the take-off spot.
4. Players cannot dive to cross the goal line or the line of gain.

TACKLING:

1. Tackling is done by pulling the flags.
2. Physical tackling is illegal and rules as unnecessary roughness. Penalty is 10 yards.
3. Flagrant tackling, the offender will be disqualified.
4. Physical tackling is also ruled when defense puts arms around the runner in order to pull the offensive player's flag.

TIE GAME:

1. Begins with a coin toss.
2. Team advancing the ball the farthest or scoring in the least amount of downs wins.
3. If after both series of downs and both teams have the same yardage or score. Repeat same procedure for tie, beginning with the coin toss.

MERCY RULE:

If a team is 17 or more points ahead when the 5 minutes remaining of the second half, the game shall be over. The same rule applies if a team scores inside 5 minutes with the differential.

 

5 YARD PENALTYS:

Illegal Equipment

Delay of Game

Substitution Infractions

Punt formation

Encroachment

False Start

Illegal Snap

Not 15 yards of ball

Infraction of scrimmage formation

Player Out of Bounds on Snap

Illegal Motion

Illegal Shift

Intentional Throwing Backward Pass/Fumble Out of Bounds (Loss Of Down)

Illegal Forward Pass (Loss of Down)

Intentional Grounding (Loss of Down)

Helping the runner

10 YARD PENALTY:

Forward Pass Interference-Offensive (Loss Of Down)

Forward Pass Interference-Defense (Automatic First Down)

Illegal Secured Flag-Offensive (Loss of Down)- Defense (Automatic First Down)

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Strip or attempt to strip ball

Contact with Opponent on ground

Throw runner to ground

Hurdle a player Unnessary contact

Diver/run into player

Roughing the passser (Automatic First Down)

Illegal Offensive screen block

Defense use of hands

Flag gurarding

Stiff arm

 

DISQUALIFICATION:

Flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct

Flagrant personal foul

Tackle a runner