FALL 2024

PLAYERS AND TEAMS FROM ALL TOWNS ARE ELIGIBLE

SEPARATE DIVISIONS BY GRADE
PK-K...K-1...1-2...2-3...3-4...4-5...5-6...6-7...7-8...8-9

2024 FALL LEAGUE STARTS SEPTEMBER 2024

Teams play one weekend game per week on fields located throughout North Jersey.
Flexible schedules can be made to not conflict with most other sports.

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 1, 2024

CLICK ONTO "REGISTER" TAB ABOVE TO REGISTER

SCROLL DOWN FOR  "F.A.Q."(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) FOR MORE INFO

Bring your team into our NFL Flag Football league
that plays on Saturdays & Sundays in North Jersey.

Fans of American football will love
to play and coach in this league.

The game features the much of the same
strategy and skills used in tackle football,
but without most of the contact.
The style is very similar to the "passing"
leagues and tournaments that the HS teams
play in during the summer, but flag football
offense includes running plays as well.

Competition in separate age divisions for grades PreK-9,
boys and girls teams are welcome.

Players and teams from these towns have played in this league:

Belleville, Bloomfield, Bloomingdale, Boonton, Butler, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Chester, Clifton,
Denville, Dover, Dumont, Dunellen, East Orange, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Englewood,
Essex Fells, Fairfield, Fair Lawn, Franklin, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Ridge, Glen Rock, Hackensack,
Haledon, Hamburg, Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Hawthorne, Hopatcong, Jefferson, Jersey City,
Kearny, Kinnelon, Kenilworth, Lincoln Park, Little Falls, Livingston, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Manhattan NY,
Maplewood, Maywood, Mendham, Midland Park, Millburn, Montclair, Montville, Morristown, Mountain Lakes,
Newark, North Bergen, North Haledon, Norwood, Nutley,  Oakland, Old Tappan, Orange, Paramus,
Parsippany, Passaic, Paterson, Pequannock, Plainfield, Pompton Lakes,  Pompton Plains, Prospect Park,
Queens NY, Ramsey, Randolph, Ridgewood, Ringwood, River Edge, Riverdale,  Rivervale, Rockaway,
Roseland, Saddle Brook, Sparta, Secaucus, Springfield, Staten Island NY, Stockholm, Teaneck, Totowa,
Union, Upper Saddle River, Verona, Waldwick, Wanaque, Wayne, West Caldwell, West Milford,
West New York,West Orange, Wharton, Whippany Park, Woodbridge, Woodbury NY, Woodland Park, 
and Wyckoff.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: HOW DOES A PLAYER REGISTER?

A:  From the menu across the top of this page,
click onto "REGISTER" tab above to register.

Registration fees can be viewed by clicking onto the registration link.

The registration fees depend on whether the player is new or returning,
needs or has a jersey and flags, and needs to be placed onto a team
or has been invited by a coach to join a team.

Q: WHAT IS INCLUDED THE REGISTRATION FEE?

A: The fee includes an official NFL Flag Football reversible jersey and flag
belt set to keep forever, and all field and game officials' fees for a
minimum of 10 weeks of flag football per season.

Q: WHAT IS THE GAME LIKE?

A: NFL Flag Football is designed as a non-contact form of
American football (no blocking or tackling permitted).
Instead of tackling the ball carrier, the defense must capture
(remove) one of two flags fastened on each player's waist.
There will be some incidental contact,
as in soccer or basketball, but players may not initiate contact.
There are no hard pads, no helmets, no blocking, no pushing, no hitting.
Players will run with the ball, throw and catch passes, score touchdowns,
make interceptions, learn to follow instructions and work as a team.
This program is not a clinic, it is an official NFL-sanctioned league,
with games, standings, playoffs, tournaments and championships. 

Q. WHAT ARE THE RULES?

A. Official league and tournament rules can be found on this website.
Use the menu on the left for links to rules. 

Q: WHAT EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED?

A: Players must wear their NFL Flag jersey & flag belt (provided),
football pants, baseball pants, or sweat pants without pockets,
molded rubber football or soccer cleats, and a protective mouth guard.
Soft knee pads are permitted. Players may wear hoods or soft hats,
baseball-style caps may be worn with brims facing backwards.

Q: WHERE ARE THE GAMES PLAYED?

A: Games are played on various fields located throughout North Jersey.

Wayne League games will be played at fields located right off of Rt. 23
in Wayne Township.

Q. WHEN ARE THE GAMES PLAYED?

A. Sundays are the primary day, with an occasional
Saturday possible, if too many teams to fit on Sundays.

We play from youngest to oldest throughout the day,
game times are by current grade in school +/- one hour.
K=12pm, 1st=1pm, 2nd=2pm, 3rd=3pm, 4th=4pm, etc...+/- one hour.

Q: HOW MUCH OF A TIME COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED?

A: NFL Flag Football requires a minimal time commitment for players,
parents and coaches. Each team will play one game per week
which lasts one hour. 

Coaches may schedule the team for a practice during the week,
but most teams practice for an hour or less before their scheduled game,
or right after it.

Q: HOW ARE TEAMS FORMED?

A: This league is considered to be a "traveling" level league,
as several pre-formed teams from different towns play in this league.
Players can form their own teams consisting of up to 10 (ten) friends,
neighbors, classmates or family members. All teammates must be within one
school grade of each other. Players can register together as a team,
or individually to be placed onto a team with other players from their
school (if available).

Q: WHO COACHES THE TEAMS?

A: Pre-formed teams must provide their own coach.
Other teams are coached by parents or other volunteers.
Please do not hesitate to volunteer to coach your child's team.

Q. WHAT ARE THE AGE RESTRICTIONS?

A: NFL Flag Football includes boys & girls in grades PreK - 9.
Teams are broken into grade-specific divisions.
We have all-girls teams and all-boys teams in each division,
and co-ed teams are also permitted.

Q: ARE THERE ANY SIZE OR WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS?

A: There are no size or weight restrictions.

Q. CAN PLAYERS FROM OUTSIDE OF WAYNE PLAY IN THIS LEAGUE?

A. Players and teams from all towns are welcome. 

Players and teams from the following towns have played in this league:

Belleville, Bloomfield, Bloomingdale, Boonton, Butler, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Chester, Clifton, 
Denville, Dover, Dumont, Dunellen, East Orange, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Englewood,
Essex Fells, Fairfield, Fair Lawn, Franklin, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Ridge, Glen Rock, Hackensack,
Haledon, Hamburg, Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Hawthorne, Hopatcong, Jefferson, Jersey City,
Kearny, Kinnelon, Kenilworth, Lincoln Park, Little Falls, Livingston, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Manhattan NY,
Maplewood, Maywood, Mendham, Midland Park, Millburn, Montclair, Montville, Morristown, Mountain Lakes,
Newark, North Bergen, North Haledon, Norwood, Nutley,  Oakland, Old Tappan, Orange, Paramus,
Parsippany, Passaic, Paterson, Pequannock, Plainfield, Pompton Lakes,  Pompton Plains, Prospect Park,
Queens NY, Ramsey, Randolph, Ridgewood, Ringwood, River Edge, Riverdale,  Rivervale, Rockaway,
Roseland, Saddle Brook, Sparta, Secaucus, Springfield, Staten Island NY, Stockholm, Teaneck, Totowa, 
Union, Upper Saddle River, Verona, Waldwick, Wanaque, Wayne, West Caldwell, West Milford, 
West New York,West Orange, Wharton, Whippany Park, Woodbridge, Woodbury NY, Woodland Park, 
and Wyckoff.

Q: ARE GAMES PLAYED IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS?

A: In case of rain on game day, or rainy weather during the week before,
games may be cancelled if fields are too wet.
Players will be provided a phone number to call in case of rainy weather,
for recorded message about possible cancellations.

Q. ARE THERE ANY TOURNAMENTS BESIDES LEAGUE GAMES?

A. The NFL holds eight Regional flag football tournaments every November
at NFL cities representing each of their eight conferences.

The annual tournament competition are in three age divisions,

9-10, 11-12, 13-14...with separate divisions for boys & girls teams

Regional champions in each of four age divisions advance to the 
NFL Flag National Tournament at the Pro Bowl in February.

Q. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL?

A. The game of flag football can trace its roots to the late 1950's at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. 
NFL Official John Carrigan was refereeing an intramural touch football league at the Academy.
The aggressive nature of some play-ending "touches" became an issue.
Carrigan ordered the midshipmen to tuck bandanas into their belts.

Instead of touching, shoving, tackling or punching a ballcarrier or receiver,
the play would end when a defender captured his "flag".

Admiral Carrigan's simple, innovative command, 
that football's battles shall be won by capturing flags,
has produced a new generation of brown-ball (American) football players.

The game of flag football spread throughout the US military bases and
institutions. Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth in NJ established the first
men's flag football leagues in the area. Town and County leagues for
civilian residents formed near the bases, and beyond.

The New Jersey Flag Football Association (NJFFA) was formed in 1972,
as an association of many independant men's leagues throughout the state.
The primary function of the NJFFA was to standardize rules among the
leagues, and conduct an annual NJ flag football State Tournament.

By the year 1990, the NJFFA included ten leagues,
and nearly 100 men's teams throughout New Jersey.

The National Football League began organizing youth flag football leagues and tournaments in 1998,
through their worldwide "NFL Flag" football program.
There are nearly one million children playing NFL Flag football throughout the world. 

The North Jersey NFL Flag League, founded at Packanack Lake in Wayne, 
has grown from a single game of 20 players on Super Bowl Sunday January 2000,
to rank among largest youth flag football leagues,
with over 2000 players participating on nearly 200 teams each year.

NJFFA LOCAL RULES FOR NFL FLAG FOOTBALL

A. EQUIPMENT

1) Teammates must wear jerseys of the same color, 
worn so that they do not interfere with the opponents’ 
opportunity to pull the flag.

2) The flags must be of contrasting color to the players’ pants. 
They must be worn as designed (sockets facing outward, 
one on each hip) and may not be altered in any fashion.

3) Socket assembly of flag belts must be visible. 

4) Should any player possess the ball behind the line of scrimmage,
with his flags worn in an illegal manner, play shall be stopped,
and the down shall be replayed from the previous spot. 

Should any player receive the ball within the range of the defense,
beyond the line of scrimmage, with his flags worn in an illegal manner,
the ball is dead at the reception spot, and the down counts.

5) All players wearing flags must wear football pants, 
or similar tight-fitting pants without pockets or belt loops. 
Pant legs must extend beyond the length of the flags. 

6) Football or soccer cleats are recommended.
- NO BASEBALL CLEATS!

7) Gloves and soft-brimmed hats are also permitted, 
as well as soft football leg & arm pads. 

8) Teams may provide their own ball, or share the opponent's ball.
Wilson NFL "Mini" sized ball or larger permitted for grades 3 & under.
Wilson "K2" sized ball or larger permitted for grades 4 & over.

The ball must be a different color than the team's jersey.

B. FIELD 

1) Dimensions approx. 70yds x 25yds as space permits

2) Field shall be lined with designated and visible
boundaries, goal lines and midfield line.

C. BASIC GAME RULES

1) No Deliberate Contact Allowed

2) No player may initiate contact with another player. 

3) No Blocking - No Screening , the offense may not attempt to engage
or otherwise obstruct the defense. 

4) Each team may use FIVE players on the field.

5) Teams must use a minimum of THREE players at all times. 

6) Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.

7) Minimum Play Rule - All players must play at least half of the game. 

8) Coaches permitted onfield during the play for offense only.
Officials may permit defensive coaches to remain on field
if positioned at least 20 yards down field after the snap.

9) A coin toss determines first possession. 

10) Team that wins coin toss chooses either possession,
or jersey color to avoid color conflict.

11) The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line
and has a series (4 plays) to cross midfield.
On 4th down, the team has the option to run another play,
or declare to punt.

12) Once a team crosses midfield, 
it has a new series to score a touchdown. 

13) If the offense fails to gain a first down, score a touchdown or punts,
the opponent gains possession at the point designated by the result of the previous play.

D. SCORING

1) Touchdown: 6 points 

2) Extra point: 1 point (played from 5-yard line), 
2 points (played from 10-yard line) 

3) Safety: 2 points 

E. TIMING

1) Games are played to 50 minutes running time.
Games may be shortened if required by time constraints. 

2) One-minute break after the first 25 minutes, 
teams change direction , but possession does not change.

3) If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, 
teams move directly into overtime. 
No overtime for regular-season games.

4) Each time the ball is spotted, 
team in possession has 30 seconds to snap the ball. 

5) Teams will receive one warning before a 
delay of game penalty is enforced. 

6) Each team has three 30-second time outs PER GAME.

7) Officials can stop the clock at their discretion,
including a longer break at halftime. 

F. DEAD BALL

1) Unpossessed ball touching the ground. 
2) Ball carrier’s knee touching the ground. 
3) Ball carrier steps out of bounds. 
4) Ball carrier's flag removed or falls off.

5) Interception - Change of possession at the point of interception
when the offense runs its play from inside the "No Run Zone". 

6) Any score

G. POSSESSION

1) Point of possession (line of scrimmage) is determined by 
A) control of the ball and B) the position of the ball and both flags prior to a dead ball.

2) Officials shall mark point of possession.

H. FORMATIONS

1) Offense must have at least one player (the center)
positioned on the line of scrimmage at the snap.

2) Ball must be snapped between the center’s legs.

3) Only one offensive player may be in motion, 
away from the line of scrimmage, at the time of the snap.

4) All defensive players must be positioned at least
7 yards away from the line of scrimmage after the snap,
except when the ball is snapped from within 5 yards
of the midfield line or the goal line, at which time the defense
may use any formation.

5) Immediate rush for all defensive players that are 
positioned at least 7 yards from the line of scrimmage 
after the snap.

6) Immediate rush for all defensive players if the ball is 
handed off, pitched or passed.

I. RUNNING WITH THE BALL

1) A "No Run Zone" exists 5 yards before midfield,
and 5 yards before the goal line, in each direction,
where the offense may not run the ball
across the line of scrimmage, they must pass.

2) The quarterback may not cross the line of scrimmage with the ball,
unless he receives a handoff, pitch or pass from another player.

3) A QB run, or any run within the "No Run Zone"
shall result in a loss of down at the previous spot.

4) Unlimited handoffs, pitches and passes are permitted
behind the line of scrimmage.

5) Handoffs, pitches or passes are not permitted
once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage.

Handoffs to the center, between the center's legs, are not permitted.

6) Offensive players who take a handoff, pitch or pass 
may run across the line of scrimmage with the ball. 

7) Ball carrier may not lower his shoulder, nor deliberately run 
into a defender, nor straight-arm, nor shield or otherwise 
protect (guard) the flag. 

8) Spinning is allowed, but players who jump to avoid a defensive player
must remain upright and land on their feet (no diving). 

9) Jumping over players is only permitted in order to avoid
stepping on a player who is off his feet and on the ground.

J. PASSING THE BALL

1) Offensive player may hand off, pitch or pass the ball 
only if positioned behind the line of scrimmage. 

2) All players are eligible to receive passes 

3) A player must have control of the ball without any part
of his body out of bounds for a legal reception. 

K. KICKING

1) No kickoffs - kicking rules apply to punting the ball.

2) Offense may declare a punt before any snap.
Punts are permitted only if first declared by the offense.

3) Ball must be snapped to the punter from between the center's legs.

4) Only the player receiving the snap may punt the ball.
No handoffs, pitches or passes permitted on a punt play.

5) The punter must kick the ball immediately after the snap.

6) The punter may not advance the ball across the line of scrimmage.

7) Defense may not cross the line of scrimmage on a punt play.

8) Punt returns are not permitted. 
Ball is placed at the farthest point the ball travels from the punter,
touched or untouched by the defense.

9) Simulated punting - defense gains possession at their own 5 yard line.

L. DEFENSE

1) Defender must make an obvious attempt to deflag the ball carrier. 

2) Defender may not grasp or otherwise obstruct
the ball carrier while in the process of removing the flag.

3) Defender may not push ball carrier out of bounds. 

4) Defender may not attempt to strip the ball from the ball carrier.

5) Defender may not make contact with the passer’s throwing arm.

6) Defender must attempt to deflag the passer 
or deflect the ball without contact to the passer’s throwing arm.

M. SPORTSMANSHIP

1) FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. 

2) If the field monitor or referee witnesses any flagrant acts of blocking,
tackling, illegal contact, unnecessary roughness, 
or any unsportsmanlike act,
the game will be stopped and the player may be ejected from the game. 

3) Trash talking is illegal. 
Officials have the right to determine offensive language. 
(Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, 
opposing players, teams or spectators) 
If trash talking occurs, the referee will give one warning. 
A second offense will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.
If it continues, the player or players may be ejected
from the game. 


N. ENFORCEMENTS

1) All penalties will be called by the referee.

DEFENSE: 

2) Offsides -- 5 yards and repeat the down.
-- Enforced from previous spot (line of scrimmage)

3) Pass Interference - automatic first down at spot of foul

4) Illegal Contact (holding, blocking, etc.) 
-- 10 yards and automatic first down
-- Enforced from previous spot

5) Obstruction of ball carrier 
-- 10 yards and automatic first down
-- Enforced from end of run
-- If runner is tackled or held by last defender
a touchdown can be awarded to runner by referee

OFFENSE: 

6) Penalty in own endzone -- defense awarded safety

7) Penalty on 4th down -- Replay the down if accepted

8) Illegal Procedure (substitution, formation, motion, snap)
-- 5 yards & repeat the down
-- Enforced from previous spot (line of scrimmage)

9) Illegal Run (QB run, run within the "No Run Zone")
-- Loss of down at spot of foul

10) Illegal Pass, Pitch or Handoff 
-- Loss of down at spot of foul

11) Illegal Contact (holding, blocking, etc.) 
-- 10 yards and loss of down
-- Enforced from spot of foul 

12) Offensive Pass Interference 
-- 10 yards and loss of down
-- Enforced from previous spot (line of scrimmage)

13) Flag guarding 
-- 10 yards and loss of down
-- Enforced from spot of foul

14) Delay of game -- clock stops, 10 yards and loss of down. 

15) Unsportsmanlike Conduct -- 10 yards
-- Enforced from end of run

O. OVERTIME - Total Yardage Rules

1) If a game is tied after regulation time, the teams move directly into overtime.

2) The team which had the last possession in regulation time 
receives the first possession in overtime at midfield.

3) Each team is awarded a series of 3 offensive plays.

4) A news series (first down) may be awarded by penalty.

5) The midfield "No Run Zone" does not apply.
The goal line "No Run Zone" does apply.

6) Interception returns are not permitted in overtime.
Should the defense intercept a pass, the offense's series is over,
the defense receives the ball at the spot of the previous snap,
and their series begins if necessary.

7) If a team scores a touchdown, they may attempt a PAT.
After PAT attempt, their series is concluded and
the other team begins its series at midfield.

8) If both teams score equally on their series, each team receives another series.

9) If neither team scores on its series, 
the team with the most total yardage in overtime wins the game.

OVERTIME - Shootout Rules

1) A coin toss shall determine first possession in Overtime.
Team winning the coin toss may choose offense or defense to start.

Teams alternate first possession after the first overtime period.

2) The ball is placed on the 15 yard line at the start of the overtime period

3) The offense begins a series (4 downs).
A new series (first down) can be awarded as a result of a penalty.

4) All regulation game rules apply in overtime, with exceptions stated below.

5) If a team scores a touchdown, they may attempt a PAT.
After PAT attempt, their series is concluded and
the other team begins its series.

6) If both teams score on their series, each team receives another series.

7) If neither team scores on its series, each team receives another series.

8) If the defense intercepts, their series begins at the 15 yard line.
Interception returns are not permitted in Overtime.

P. PEEWEE RULES

Playing rules that have been adopted for Division 3 and below.

1) DIVISIONS 2 & 3 - Teams may use 6 players on the field.

Simulated punting - defense gains possession at their own 5 yard line.

All other rules remain the same.

2) DIVISION 1 - Teams may use 6 players on the field.

The "No Run Zone" does not apply.

Simulated punting - defense gains possession at their own 5 yard line.

All defensive players must be positioned at least
7 yards away from the line of scrimmage after the snap,
except when the ball is snapped from within 5 yards
of the midfield line or the goal line. 

All other rules remain the same.

3) DIVISION K - Teams may use 6 players on the field.

The "No Run Zone" does not apply.

Simulated punting - defense gains possession at their own 5 yard line.

All defensive players must be positioned at least
7 yards away from the line of scrimmage after the snap,
except when the ball is snapped from within 5 yards
of the midfield line or the goal line. 

The Quarterback may pick up a fumbled snap and continue the play.
No other player may pick up a ball from the ground during the play.

All other rules remain the same.

INDEX
BASIC GAME RULES - C
DEAD BALL - F
DEFENSE - L
ENFORCEMENT - N
EQUIPMENT - A
FIELD - B
FORMATIONS - H
KICKING - K
PASSING - J
PEEWEE RULES - P
POSSESSION - G
OVERTIME - O
RUNNING - I
SCORING - D
SPORTSMANSHIP - M
TIMING - E