Intramural Flag Football Rules
Six players are allowed on the field, with unlimited substitutions. One female must be on the field at all times.
Offensive play
The offensive play is the same as normal football with the following exceptions:
1. Any player is eligible to receive a pass.
2. Blocking is to be done through positioning not through brute force.
3. Blockers may not push forward but only keep the defender back as in pass protection in tackle football.
4. Blockers may extend their arms to keep a defender at a distance and may use their open hands.
5. A blocker may not hold onto the defender or his or her clothing and either push or pull him or her.
6. For safety reasons, the blocker may not leave his or her feet or trip an opponent. Blocking is more like a moving-screen in basketball than tackling the defender.
7. A ball carrier may not stiff-arm a defender.
8. PLAYERS WHO USE EXCESS FORCE WILL BE REMOVED FROM PLAY BY THE OFFICIALS.
Defensive Play
1. For safety reasons, a defensive player may not leave his or her feet to grab an opponent’s flag.
2. Any defensive player may rush the quarterback but must start 3 yards off the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped.
3. A defensive player must not hold a receiver or a receiver’s clothing.
4. A player may not run through a block but must attempt to go around it.
5. PLAYERS WHO USE EXCESS FORCE WILL BE REMOVED FROM PLAY.
5-yard Penalties
1. Member of the kick-off team offside.
2. Offside on a scrimmage line by either team.
3. Intentional grounding by the passer.
4. Handing off forward in front of the line of scrimmage (illegal forward pass).
5. Illegal motion (more than one offensive player moving at the time of the snap).
6. Too many players on the field.
10-yard penalties
1. Offensive pass interference.
2. Holding, pushing, pulling or shoving (in offensive blocking).
Special
1. Holding (defensive)- 5 yards and automatic first down.
2. Pass interference (defensive)- first down at the spot of the foul
· If foul occurs less than 5 yards from the line of scrimmage, the penalty will be enforced as a defensive holding call.
3. Unnecessary roughness – 15 yards from the spot of the foul
· After enforcing the yardage the referee may choose to offer a warning (like a yellow card) OR may choose not to offer a warning at which point the player will be removed from play. A second unnecessary roughness foul by a player with a warning will be and automatic expulsion from the game.
Kick-Offs & Punts
A team may decide to either punt or place kick to the other team to begin the game, begin the second half, after and extra point attempt, or after a safety. A kick will also be used to begin overtime.
- Kick-offs will be from the 40-yard line. All players on the kicking team must stay behind that line until the ball is kicked.
- When the ball is caught in the air a player may run, hand off, or throw a lateral pass. The ball remains in play until the carrier’s flag is removed. The receiving team will begin on offense at that spot.
- If the kick travels out of the end zone, play begins from the 20-yard line.
- There are no on-side kicks.
- If the kick-off goes out of bounds without being touched by the receiving team, the ball will be re-kicked from ten yards back (30-yard line).
Scrimmage Play
1. Centering the Ball
When the referee declares the ball ready, the ball must be centered within 25 seconds. The ball must be centered under the legs in one motion by the center to any backfielder. It is dead if it is fumbled or touches the ground.
2. Downs
The offensive team has four downs to advance the ball to the next zone or to score. If the team advances the ball to the next zone, a first down is earned. Failure to advance the ball to the next zone results in loss of possession and the other team taking possession at that point.
3. Punting
A punt may be performed on any down as long as it is announced.
There may be no fake punt!!