SAN DIEGO

FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

TEAM

Teams consist of nine players on the field.  A team must have six eligible players ready to play at game time or a forfeit will be declared. The offense must have at least five players on the line of scrimmage prior to the snap.  (5 yards)

 

FOOTBALL

Each school is responsible for supplying its own football.  The ball may be junior, intermediate or official high school football. There are now some footballs that are the same size as an intermediate but have different names.  If this is the case and the balls are approximately the same size as an intermediate ball, then the balls are legal. The referee shall decide whether the ball meets proper specifications.  The referee's decision is final.

 

PLAYER EQUIPMENT

·      Shirts or upper parts of the uniform shall not hang in such a way that covers the flag belt.  The referee will require that all shirts be tucked into the pants to avoid this situation.  Should a player continue to intentionally ignore this rule an unsportsmanlike penalty must be assessed (15 yards). Each school will supply game flags.  These flags will be the "Triple-Threat Type".

·      All watches and other jewelry must be removed while the player is on the field. 

·      Shoes must be worn at all times. Shoes may be smooth or have molded cleats.  Removable cleats are not legal footwear.  

·      All players must wear a protective mouthpiece.  

·      Knee pads are permissible.  A player shall not wear any pad which covers the forearm, thighs, or hips.  Any substance such as leather, rubber, plastic, or fiberglass which is hard in its final form and worn on the elbow, hand, wrist, or forearm, even though covered with a soft material is illegal.

·      The referee will determine if any equipment is confusing or dangerous and will have the responsibility and authority to have the player either remove the equipment in question or leave the game.

·      Failure to comply with these policies may result in an unsportsmanlike penalty and/or, removal from the game (at the discretion of the referee).

 

GAME CLOCK AND TIME

·      The official time will be kept on the field by one of the game officials.  

·      All games will be divided into two twenty-minute running clock halves except for an official's time out, a team time out or a major Injury

·      During the last 2 minutes of each half the clock will be controlled per NFHS Rules.  

·      Halftime will be 8 minutes.  No 3-minute warm up period.

·      A team is entitled to 3 timeouts per GAME. A timeout will last one (1) minute. 

·      THERE IS NO OVERTIME.

 

COIN TOSS

The winner of the coin toss at the beginning of the game shall choose whether to start on offense or defense. In the second half, the teams will change sides and the team that started the first half on defense will be given the ball. 

 

FREE KICK 

There will be no kickoffs. At the start of each half, the ball will be placed at the 30-yard line.

After a touchdown or safety, the ball will be placed at the 20-yard line.

 

SCRIMMAGE KICK

If a punt is declared

 

-The defense must have six players on the line at the snap and may not cross the LOS.

 

-The ball is declared dead if the receiving team muffs the ball or the ball hits the ground without being touched.

 

-If the kicking team drops the snap, the kicker may pick up the ball and punt.

 

-The kicking team can only release downfield after the punter kicks the ball.

 

-Under no circumstances will the kicking team be awarded the ball after the punt.

 

EXTRA POINT(S)

A team may elect to run or pass for an extra point try.  One (1) point is scored if the ball is advanced from the 3 yard line.  Two (2) point are scored if the offensive team advances the ball from the 10 yard line.  The defense may penetrate the line of scrimmage on any run or pass try.

 

A team may also elect to score one (1) extra point by kicking the ball through the goals posts (if goal posts are present).  The ball will be placed on the 3 yard line.  The rules that apply for a scrimmage kick will apply.  The defense may not penetrate the line of scrimmage. 

 

FIELD GOAL

A team may attempt a field goal under the following conditions and rules:

·      The offensive team must notify the referee prior to the snap of the ball.

·      All rules governing the "scrimmage kick" apply in this situation (no rushing).

·      If the kick fails, the ball will be spotted either on the 20 yard line or the point of the kick, whichever is the greatest distance.

 

PENALTIES

All penalties are enforced in accordance with NFHS rules except when the field is 80 yards or less.  In that case, all 15-yard penalties become 10 yards and 10 yard penalties become 5 yards.

 

BLOCKING

A player may never leave his feet to throw a block (no crossbody blocking or chop blocks).  All other rules for legal blocking are contained in the National Federation Rule Book. No lining up over the center. Defense must line up one body length to the side.  Players may be in a two or three point stance but may not punish an opposing player by driving into him/her.

 

TACKLING

It is illegal to tackle a player. It is considered tackling if a player wraps his arms around a ball carrier prior to attempting to pull a flag, or if a player blocks a ball carrier prior to attempting to pull a flag.  (15 yards)

 

Spinning is legal. 

 

FLAGS

Pulling the flag of a player who does not have the ball will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct. (15 yards)

 

To advance the ball a player must be wearing flags.  The play will terminate when an inbound ball carrier's flag(s) have been pulled. If a ball carrier's flags(s) inadvertently fall, the play will be considered stopped at the point where the flag(s) fell.  A player who attempts to advance the ball without flags will be ruled downed at the point where he originally received the ball.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Only the 2 outermost players on the line of scrimmage are eligible to receive a forward pass.

 

Each coach is responsible for the conduct of his players as well as the conduct of his team's spectators. A team may be assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for behavior or actions that distract from the spirit of good sportsmanship.

 

When enforcing an infraction or foul, the referee will inform the coach of the nature of the foul and the number of the player committing the violation (if numbers appear on the jersey).

 

Prior to the game, the referee will gather the captains at mid-field for the coin toss.  The team that wins the toss will choose an option in accordance with CIF rules.  

 

Additional general rules

1.) Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their schools parents, fans and players.  Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.  A team may be penalized,  a player and/or coach thrown out of the game and/or a team will forfeit the game if the referee deems necessary. 

2.) If a school has two teams in the same division, they can't borrow players from their other team within that division.  If a varsity team is going to be short players, they may borrow players from the same schools JV team, in an effort to avoid a forfeit. No players can be borrowed for playoff games.

3.) The top 8 teams in each division will compete in the end of season playoff tournament.  There will be two playoff brackets - (teams 1-4) will compete in the gold bracket and (teams 5-8) will compete in the silver bracket.  If there are less than (8) teams in the division, the top (4) teams will compete in the playoff tournament. 

4.) If necessary, the following tie-breaker system will be used for playoff seeding.... A) head to head - who won when the teams tied in the standings faced off during the season. B) best win - which team beat the higher ranked opponent.  C) coin flip - A coin flip to determine the higher seed.

5.) Each team should gather in prayer before every game.

 

 OVERTIME (Only in Playoffs)

In the playoffs, overtime may be used multiple times to determine the winner of the game (see below for procedure).  The overtime period begins immediately with the coin toss to see who gets possession or who defends their goal first.  There is no game clock in overtime, only the normal play clock. The team that gets possession first receives the ball on its opponent’s (10) yard line.  One time out per team in playoff overtime games. The team can keep possession of the ball until one of the following happens:

1. They score a touchdown

2. Attempt a field goal

3. Turn over the ball

Once the first teams possession is over the second team gets possession and follows the same format. If the first team scored a touchdown and an extra point, then the second team must do so in order for the overtime period to continue. If not, the game is over when the second team losses possession.

Double overtime

If both teams score the same amount of points, by touchdown or field goal, then a second round of overtime is played following another coin toss.   Same procedure, except the ball starts on the (20) yard line.

Triple overtime

If a third overtime is needed, then teams are forced to convert a 2-point conversion following a touchdown. They cannot kick an extra point.

The one and only way for the overtime period to end without one team getting an offensive possession is if the first team turns the ball over and the defense is able to convert a touchdown on the turnover. Otherwise, each team is afforded the same number of possessions.