Rules subject to change before July 17th.
Tournament will be played
based on the NIRSA Flag Football Rules below and will govern play for any rules
not mentioned in the following MFL Rules:
Captains will be the only
ones allowed to speak with referees. Any unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated
and will result in disqualification.
Uniform/Equipment
1.
No shorts/pants with pockets or belt
loops; cannot be worn inside out; no zippers, no buttons, no tape, no
sewing.
2. No Jewelry/watches;
shirts must be tucked in; towels cannot hang from belt or interfere with flags.
3. No cleats with metal
spikes.
4. Regular men’s official
size ball will be used. The field is 75 x 35 yards + 10 yard endzones.
GamePlay
5.
Games will be played 7 vs. 7. Team must
have at least 4 players on the field on time to start game or else game will be
forfeited.
6. Two 20 minute halves.
·
Clock runs continuously. 25-second
play clock once ball is spotted.
·
After the 20 minute game clock expires, there will be THREE untimed
plays after the first half and FIVE untimed plays after the second half.
Half-time is 5 mins.
·
Timeouts – each team is allowed ONE 1
minute timeout for the whole game. This will NOT stop the game clock. A timeout will add two untimed plays to the end of the half.
7. “Home” Team will
choose the coin flip. The winner will choose to receive, defend or defer their
choice to the second half, in which case they will choose the side they wish to
defend. The loser of the coin toss will have the choice of side to defend and
the choice to receive or defend at the start of the second half, unless the
winner of the coin toss deferred their choice to the second half, in which case
the loser will choose to receive or defend at the start of the game.
8.
Beginning
each half and after touchdowns or touchbacks, the ball is placed at the 15 yard line. No
kickoffs.
9. PAT (extra point)- 1
point – 3 yard line; 2 points – 10 yard line; 3 points – 20 yard line.
Defensive team is not allowed to score.
10. Substitutions are
allowed anytime between plays. Team area is between the 25 yard lines, 2 yards
off the sideline. Every player must play at least 5 minutes per game.
11. No overtimes during
seeding games, ties will be in effect. During playoffs, the "Visiting" Team will choose the
coin flip in overtime. Both teams will play on the same side. If there are
multiple overtimes, the choice to receive or defend will alternate. Each team
will get 2 downs to score a touchdown from the 10 yard line. No
extra point will be tried after a score. From the 2nd overtime onward, "extra points"
will be tried until there is a winner. The teams will have a choice to try a 1,
2 or 3 point score. Teams will have the opportunity to match.
Offense
12. Any offensive player
may receive the snap, but they must be a minimum of 2-yards behind the
scrimmage line and directly behind the center.
13. The snapper is the
only player required to be on the line of scrimmage. All players are eligible
to receive the ball unless they voluntarily go out of bounds. A catch only
requires the first foot to be in bounds.
14. Only one player may be
in motion parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage when the ball is
snapped.
15. Screen Blocking - no
contact (except that which is unavoidable) - cannot advance in the direction of
the defensive player, making purposeful contact. The offensive blocker may keep
his position in between a runner and a defender without using hands, arms, elbows,
legs or body.
16. Player may not throw
a forward pass after front foot has passed the line of scrimmage- even if they
come back past the line.
17. Runner may not
charge nor contact an opponent in their path or run between 2 opponents unless
the space is reasonable.
18. No flag guarding,
stiff arming, etc. No hurdling or diving.
19. If ball carrier
loses their flag belt, or if flags are not to the players sides (unless defensive
player moves them) - one-hand tag constitutes the offensive player down. Belts
must be worn tight. Any player with loose belts will be one-hand tag. Ball is
spotted at front foot of ball carrier.
20. 4 downs to reach
“zone line to gain”; 1st down anytime ball is
advanced past either 25 yard line zone.
21. Ball is dead anytime
it hits the ground-except punt return. No fumbles. Runner is down when anything
but hands or feet touch ground.
22. "Punts"
are allowed on fourth down and must be announced. Ball
will be automatically placed on opponents 15 yard-line. No kicking.
23. Offensive team is
responsible for bringing back the ball to the line of scrimmage. Referee will
whistle when ball is ready for play. No hurry-up offense. Defense will be
allowed 10 seconds from dead ball to get set.
24. In the second half,
the offense can choose to try an "onside play," if they are losing.
After a touch down and the subsequent extra point try, they would announce
their decision and the ball would be placed on their own 15 yard line. They must
reach midfield
(37.5 yard line) in one play in order to continue with possession of the ball (4th
and 22.5). The defense would
get the ball where the offense was stopped in the case of an unsuccessful try.
Defense
25. Rusher(s) must line
up at least 1 yard from line of scrimmage. They are not allowed to have ANY
contact with the thrower’s arm, upper body or ball- they must reach for the
flag only. Defenders cannot cross the line of scrimmage until the referee says
“Go,” about 3 seconds after the snap, unless the QB leaves the pocket (more
than 1 step right or left of center) or if any other player receives
the ball via handoff or pass (not on play action).
26. Defender is not
allowed to hold the ball carrier when attempting to de-flag.
27. Defender is not
allowed to push player out of bounds nor allowed to attempt to strip ball -
must attempt to de-flag.
28. Defender is not
allowed to intentionally de-flag an offensive player who does not have the
ball. Defender must hand flag back to player after de-flagging.
29. Offensive/defensive
players are not allowed to initiate contact with opposing players at any time,
especially off the line of scrimmage.
30. Whether a pass is
catchable or uncatchable has no bearing on offensive and defensive forward pass
interference.
Important Penalties
5 yard penalty
1. Delay of game
2. Offensive player
illegally in motion
3. Illegal forward pass (also
loss of down- no replay of down)
4. Intentional grounding
(also loss of down- no replay of down)
5. False start; offside;
encroachment; illegal snap
10 yard penalty
6. Unsportsmanlike
conduct; Kicking, spiking or throwing ball during dead ball
7. Strip or attempt to
strip the ball
8. Contact before or
after ball is dead; Defensive/Offensive use of hands
9. Drive, charge or run
into an opponent, hurdle any player, diving to the ground
10. Forward pass
interference- Offensive (also loss of down- no replay of down); Defensive (spot
foul if more than 10 yards, plus automatic 1st down)
11. Roughing the passer
(automatic 1st down)
12. Illegal offensive
screen blocking
13. Guarding the flag belt
(Flag Guarding); stiff arm; etc.
14. Obstruct or holding
the runner; push runner out of bounds; Illegal flag belt
removal
15. Unnecessary contact,
throw runner to ground, tackle player (will also be disqualification)
Keeping in mind the changes noted above, you may watch this video to get a general sense of how to play:
