Spring 2013 Co-Ed Flag Football League

Upper Merion Township Park and Recreation

ROSTER:

1. Rosters are limited to 15 players.
2. Rosters must be submitted to the league director.
3. Rosters are finalized after week 2.

CAPTAIN

1. Each team shall have one captain, or designated captain, who will be responsible for the team.
2. The captains are the ONLY members of the team who may discuss calls with the officials.
3. Captains will make all team decisions, including making choices on penalty situations

TEAM

1. There will be 2 teams consisting of 7 player.
2. A player can only play for one team regardless of division
3. Each team must have 1 female player on the field at all times.
4. If no female player is available, a team can play with a minimum of 6 players to avoid a forfeit.  A team may play without a female only in the event of an injury
5. Every team is required to play one female.  Teams without a female player will result in an automatic forfeit during the playoffs.   

GAMETIME

1. There are two halves per game consisting of 20 minutes.
2. Each team has 2 time outs per half.
3. The final 2 minutes of each half will be 2 minutes of stop time.
4. The clock will stop after the following events:
   1. When a player carries the ball out of bounds
   2. Incomplete pass
   3. Change of possession
   4. After a touchdown
   5. After the conversion attempt following a touchdown
   6. Team timeout, official’s timeout
   7. Player injury

 COIN TOSS

1. Initial possession shall be determined by a coin toss.
2. The home team shall request heads or tails during coin toss.
3. The winning team will have the choice to receive the ball or let the other team start with the first possession.
4. THERE ARE NO KICKOFFS.
5. All possessions start with the first cone in the offensive team’s end of the field.
6. For the 2nd half, the teams will switch sides, and the team that did not receive the initial possession shall receive possession to begin the 2nd half.

FLAGS

1. The flag belt must be worn at all times. The belt buckle must be in front—middle waist of the player. No part of the belt can be tucked into a player’s clothing. The belt CANNOT be tied.
2. If the belt is not worn properly the offending team will be assessed a 10-yard penalty from the point the first opposing player attempted to grab flag.
3. All players must wear like-colored shirts tucked-in, and have no clothing which could impede the removal of the flag belt. Cleats may be worn, but no metal spikes are allowed.
4. Flag belts will be provided.

 
 EQUIPMENT

1. No player will use metal cleats.
2. No padding or other football equipment is allowed. EXCEPTION: Athletic knee pads and elbow pads may be allowed. The head referee prior to each game must approve use of additional padding or equipment due to injury.
3. No player may wear a cap or visor of any kind. EXCEPTION: Head bandanas and winter hats are allowed.
4. No jewelry allowed. EXCEPTION: Wedding bands and post earrings are allowed.
5. Each team must provide its own football.
6. Each player during the game must wear flags correctly at the sides.
7. Only league flags may be worn during the game. NO EXCEPTIONS.
8. No pants or shorts with stripes going down the legs will be allowed.
9. Players’ jerseys must be tucked into pants if they hang below the belt line.

FIELD

1. The field size is 50 yards by 80 yards (between the end zones) with two 10-yard end zones and a midfield line.
2. There are NO RUN ZONES 10 yards before each end zone. While in the no run zone, teams may not run the ball in any fashion. All plays, including those that begin with a handoff, must be pass plays. A loss of yards on any previous offensive play is still considered a no run zone on the next play.

UNIFORMS
   1. Each team will have its own unique color shirts or jerseys.
   2. Each player is required to wear a team jersey or shirt during games.
   3. ALL players’ jerseys must be tucked in.
   4. Waivers for shirts/jerseys may be given to new teams only, contingent upon their promise to obtain team jerseys or shirts as soon as possible.


GAMEPLAY
   1. No diving or hurdling is allowed. Players can leave their feet for a pass or to make a football move.
   2. NO blocking down field (in the defensive background) is allowed.
   3. NO Offensive blocking behind the line of scrimmage is allowed.
   4. No running picks or downfield blocking is allowed.
   5. On blocking infractions, penalties are assessed from the original line of scrimmage.
   6. Unnecessary roughness on the part of the defensive rusher or the offensive blocker will result in a 15-yard roughing penalty.
OFFENSE

1. All players must start play with flag belt properly worn. Refer to the section on penalties for more detail regarding the flag.
2. When a flag is pulled, the ball will be placed at that location, NOT the location of the ball. First downs and touchdowns are scored only when BOTH the ball and 1 flag of the flag carrier crosses the line.
3. The offensive team must start with at least 4 players on the line of scrimmage (anywhere across the entire width of the field). Once the center has placed his hands on the ball, no offensive player may enter the neutral zone. Violation will result in OFFSIDES.
4. Only 1 player may be in motion at the snap, and he/she may not be moving towards the line of scrimmage it is a 5 yard penalty, repeat down.
5. The center must snap/toss/hand-off the ball to the quarterback. A hand-off to a Quarterback to start a play is a free blitz for the defense.
6. A female must "touch" the ball (run the ball/quarterback/receive a pass attempt) every 3 downs. A first down, loss of possession, or a score resets this rule.
7. Free kicks are not allowed.
8. There are no fumbles. If a ball is fumbled on an offensive play, defensive play after an interception, or punt—the fumbled ball is dead where it hits the ground.
9. A player is allowed to touch the ground for a catch or reception and continue to run. Once the offensive player has touched the ground defensive player must only touch the player to stop the play.

 PASSING

1. All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage, thrown forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.
2. Shovel passes are allowed, but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
3. The quarterback has a 15 second “play clock”. If a pass, hand off, or quarterback run across the line of scrimmage (outside the No Run Zones) does not occur within twenty-five seconds, play is dead, the down is consumed and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off, the fifteen-second rule is no longer in effect

 DEFENSE

1. Defensive players may line up anywhere beyond the line of scrimmage. There are no restrictions on their movement as long as they remain outside of the neutral zone. A defensive player may enter the neutral zone as long as he/she is clearly outside the neutral zone at the time of the snap, and does not contact an opposing player. Violation of this rule will result in an OFFSIDES or ENCROACHMENT penalty.
2. A defensive player may not contact a member of the receiving team beyond the line of scrimmage unless the offensive player has touched the ball. If a defensive player comes into contact, or removes the flag of a receiver prior to that receiver touching the ball, it will be penalized as PASS INTERFERENCE.
3. Incidental contact will be determined by the referees. In an attempt to remove the flag belt from a runner, avoid contact with the body and shoulders, under no circumstances should there be contact with the face, neck, or any part of the head of an opponent with their hands. A player may not hold, push, or knock down the runner in an attempt to remove the flag belt or break up a pass. Excessive contact will be penalized as Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
4. No player is allowed to strip the ball from an opposing player. This will be penalized as STRIPPING.
5. When rushing, hands must be kept within the width of the body. No holding or grabbing of clothing is allowed. This will be penalizing as HOLDING> intentionally removing an offensive player’s flag will be penalized as OBSTRUCTING THE FLAG.
6. No male player can cover a female using one-on-one coverage. They must play a zone coverage scheme.

 RUSHING THE PASSER

1. All defensive players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage.
2. Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.
3. A special marker, or the referee, will designate a Rush Line seven yards from the line of scrimmage. Defensive players should verify they are in the correct position with the official on every play.
4. Offense cannot impede the rusher in any way. The rusher has a CLEAR PATH to the QB and any interference that would impede his/her path to the QB will be considered screening.
5. Any contact with the Quarterback during passing his/her throwing motion above the waist is considered “Roughing the Passer” Roughing the Passer is a 10 yard penalty and an automatic first down

GENDER RULES

1. Each offensive team will have "GENDER POSSESSIONS' which requires that a female must run the ball, play quarterback, or receive a pass attempt every 3 downs.  A first down, loss of possession, or a score resets this rule. If a woman is not used as the intended receiver of a pass or to  run the ball once every 3 downs, without a 1st down, change of possession, or a score  in-between, the result is a change of possession at the line of scrimmage.
2. On Gender Possessions each team is required to have 2 females on the field during that possession. If a team only has 1 female present then both teams are only required to have only one female during that possession.
3. No pitch or handoff to a male player is allowed when a female is playing the quarterback position.  The female Quarterback must make an attempt at a forward play.
4. On “GENDER POSESSIONS”, completion of gender rules is at the discretion of officials.

PLAYOFFS
   1. Playoff dates and format will be announced and are subject to change:
 KICKING

1. No field goals or kicks-off allowed. Ball will be placed at 1st zone at start of possession or half
2. Punting - A punt may be performed on any down as long as it is announced. There may be no fake punt!! All punts that are not fielded by the receiving team will be blown dead once the ball hits the ground. The receiving team may perform handoff and pitches but blocking and screening of the defense is not allowed.

 FLAG GUARDING/RUNNING TO AVOID CONTACT

1. The offensive player with the football shall NOT obstruct the defensive player from attempting to grab the flag and must avoid initiating contact with the defense. Violation of this rule will result in a FLAG GUARDING penalty.

STANDINGS

1. Overall winning percentage
2. Head-to-Head record
3. Total points scored, minus total defense, between the two tied teams.
4. Coin Toss

OBSTRUCTION OF THE BALL CARRIER

1. A defensive player shall not hold or otherwise impede the forward progress of the receiver or runner while attempting to remove the flag. This will be penalized 10 yards from the point of infraction.

 OVERTIME:
Winner of the coin toss in regulation selects coin in overtime
 SCORING
Touchdowns= 6 points
Conversions at the one yard line= 1 point
Conversions at the ten yard line=2 points
Safety=2 points
Conversion turnover resulting in a touchdown=2 points








DEFENSIVE PENALTY
 
OFFENSE CAN:

• Accept - Enforce penalty yards from line of scrimmage and replay the down.
• Decline - Current spot of ball and next down is played.

 
OFFENSIVE PENALTY
 
DEFENSE CAN:

• Accept - Enforce penalty yards from line of scrimmage and replay the down.
• Decline - Current spot of ball and next down is played.

PENALITIES

 Automatic Ejection/Expulsion from league
1. Physically/verbally abusing officials or Coordinator staff 
2. Team Fight (More than one person) 
3. Spitting on field