RULES & EQUIPMENT
THE BASICS
PLAYERS/GAMES
PLAYER PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT: In an effort to ensure balanced playing time for all FNL players and to ensure that all games are being managed on a level playing field, the following minimum participation time will be followed in all FNL games.....regardless of a players attendance at practices.
9 Player Roster: * Coaches will adhere to the following 9 player substitution policy - 1st Qtr: 3 players play offense only, 3 different players play defense only and the other 3 players play the entire quarter - 2nd - 4th Qtr: 3 different players sit each quarter
8 Player Roster: * Coaches will adhere to the following 8 player substitution policy - 2 different players will sit each of the 4 quarters.....therefore each player will play 3 out of 4 quarters.
TIMING/OVERTIME
SCORING
RUNNING
RECEIVING
PASSING
DEAD BALLS
RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
SPORTSMANSHIP/ROUGHING
PENALTIES (ALL PENALTIES CAN BE DECLINED)
DEFENSE:
OFFENSE:
Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play. All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage!!
Only the team captain may ask the referee questions about rue clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgment calls.
Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
STANDINGS
Official league standings and playoff seedings* are determined based on the following:
*NOTE – For playoffs, all 1st place teams get top seeds, then rule above is applied.
ATTIRE
NOTE: THERE ARE NO KICKOFFS, AND NO BLOCKING IS ALLOWED
RULES & EQUIPMENT
“FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS” (FNL) Flag Football is a 6 on 6 game filled with fun and action. The offensive team plays for a first down at midfield and a touchdown in the end zone. Running and passing plays are allowed, although there are “no running zones” at midfield and near each goal line. The defensive team covers receivers, rushes the passer and pulls flags to make “tackles”. It is intended to be a “non-contact” sport….HOWEVER, INCIDENTAL CONTACT DOES HAPPEN FREQUENTLY.
THE BASICS
PLAYERS/GAMES
Teams must field a minimum of 5 players at all times. There is no limit to the number of players on the roster – 6 on the field, with unlimited substitutions.
TIMING/OVERTIME
Games are played with 10 minute running quarters (40 minutes), 1 minute water break between quarters and a 5-minute halftime. If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes, teams move directly into overtime. The following tie-breaker system will be used for all overtime games.
Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams may receive one warning before a delay of game penalty is enforced.
2 timeouts/team, per half and they do not carry over to 2nd half if unused.
1 TIMEOUT/TEAM IN EACH OT
SCORING
Touchdown= 6 points
Extra Point:
1 point (played from 5 yard line) or
2 points (played from 12 yard line)
Safety = 2 points
RUNNING
RECEIVING
All players are eligible to receive passes (including the QB, if the ball has been handed off, lateraled or pitched behind the line of scrimmage as per NFL Rules). As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time. A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
PASSING
DEAD BALLS
**NOTE: THERE ARE NO FUMBLES (therefore NO STRIPPING OF THE BALL). THE BALL IS SPOTTED WHERE THE BALL HITS THE GROUND**
**NOTE: BALL IS NOT DEAD IF BALL CARRIERS HAND TOUCHES GROUND
RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
All players who rush the QB must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage (as marked by ref) when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the QB. Players not rushing the QB may defend on the line of scrimmage only until the ball leaves QB hands.
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. A special marker, or the referee, will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage. Remember, NO BLOCKING, TACKLING, OR STRIPPING OF THE BALL IS ALLOWED.
SPORTSMANSHIP/ROUGHING
If the field Official/Referee or Commissioner witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or ANY unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player/coach or fan may be ejected from the game. The penalty if called is a dead ball at point of infraction and automatic 1st down. If penalty is against the offense, then 10yds + loss of down, from original line of scrimmage. It will ALWAYS benefit the other team.
**FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED**
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 may give one warning and if it continues, the player(s), coach’s and fans will be subject to ejection from the field and premises. The game will not continue until the ejected party has left the premises. If they do not leave, the ref will forfeit the game immediately and award the Win to the opposing team.
Anyone ejected from a game (player, coach, fans), for any reason, will not be allowed on the premises for the next game. If they are ejected a 2nd time during the tournament, they will not be allowed on the premises for the remainder of the Tournament.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT BY ANYONE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!
PENALTIES (ALL PENALTIES CAN BE DECLINED)
All penalties will be called by the referee.
DEFENSE:
Offsides:
5 yards and automatic 1st down
Interference:
10 yards and automatic 1st down.
Illegal Contact:
(Holding, blocking, etc)
10 yards and automatic 1st down.
Illegal Flag pull
(before receiver has ball)
10 yards and automatic 1st down
Illegal rushing
(starting rush from inside 7-yard marker)
10 yards and automatic 1st down.
“Last Man Standing”
(last defender tackles ball carrier instead of pulling flag or intentionally pulls flag early to prevent a TD)
Automatic Touchdown + potential unsportsmanlike penalty and ejection from game.
OFFENSE:
Illegal motion
(more than one person moving, false start, etc.)
5 Yards and loss of down
Illegal forward pass
(pass thrown beyond line of scrimmage)
5 yards and loss of down
Offensive pass interference
(Illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender)
10 yards and loss of down
Flag guarding
10 yards (from line of scrimmage and loss of down)
Charging (Intentionally running over defender)
10 yards and loss of down
Delay of Game
Clock stops, 10 yards and loss of down
Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play. All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage!!
Only the team captain may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgment calls.
Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
ATTIRE
Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes. Inspections will be made. All players must wear a protective mouthpiece; there are no exceptions!!
Official FNL Team jerseys and FNL Flags must be worn during play. If a team does not have Official FNL Team Jerseys, a team must have matching T-shirts or a different kind of jersey.
Flags must be of a different color than the shorts. Shorts must be of a solid color. No stripes or pockets are allowed on the shorts. If a team does not have an official FNL flags, then the tournament will provide official FNL flags.
FNL commissioners and/or referees will determine if there are any uniform violations. Any violation of the attire rule should be rectified ASAP. If violation continues the Head Coach is subject to a 1 game suspension and game is subject to forfeit as determined by the FNL Commissioners.
NOTE: THERE ARE NO KICKOFFS, AND NO BLOCKING IS ALLOWED
COACHES COACH – PLAYERS PLAY – REFEREES REF – FANS CHEER