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.

4) Intentionally grounding the ball to avoid loss of yardage
is an illegal pass.

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