EverplaySSC

Official Flag Football Men's 5v5 Rules 

Team:

  1. Team rosters shall include a minimum of 10 players.
  2. The maximum number of players on the field is 5.  Teams must have at least 4 on field to play.  Below 4, teams will forfeit.
  3. One team being short players for a full 5 on field does not obligate the opposing team to reduce their players on field.
  4. Players may be substituted for each other at any time between plays, provided the on-field gender requirement is met at all times.
  5. All players must be registered with the League to play with the team. Unregistered substitutes are not permitted. Any team found to be playing with an unregistered player will receive a 20 point penalty and the unregistered player will be removed.  Any team with multiple illegal players will forfeit the game.  In the Playoffs, any team with illegal players will suffer a forfeit.
  6. Team Captains reserve the right to do a Roster Check of the Opposing Team if there is suspected illegal players. 
  7. Late Registration: a team may add players to their roster through any team's scheduled 3rd game, provided the team captain approves, and the player has paid the pro-rated fee for the remainder of the season. All players must be formally registered with the League and paid in full prior to playing.

Officials:

  1. Each game shall be officiated by at least one League-assigned referee.
  2. Referees are responsible for:
    1. Keeping time.
    2. Enforcing all rules and penalties.
    3. Keeping and recording game score.
  3. The referee or Field Manager shall eject a player from the game if that player repeatedly violates rules, or repeatedly behaves in an unruly and/or unsportsmanlike manner.  

Field:

  1. The football field shall measure approximately 70 yards long and 30 yards wide, or as close to those measurements as the game field will allow, with cones marking each 5-yard line on both sides of the field.
  2. End zones shall extend an additional ten yards past the goal line. The dimensions may vary depending on the size and dimensions of the field.

Equipment:

  1. The League shall provide the following equipment:
    1. Official Varsity-Sized Football.  (Teams are allowed to use their own ball on offense or can share footballs with other teams, if both Captains agree).
    2. Field markers every 10 yards
    3. Flag belts and flags.
  2. Players must wear their League-provided t-shirts of the appropriate color for their team.
  3. Players must tuck in their shirts during play; no article of clothing may cover any part of the flag belt.
  4. Players must wear shoes.
  5. Steel cleats are prohibited.
  6. Players must play using only an official varsity-sized football.
  7. Players must wear the League provided flag belts and flags must remain at the sides and back of each player at all times.

Start of Game:

  1. The referee will flip a coin, heads or tails to be called in the air by one of the team captains. The winning team will choose one of the following options (winner may not defer to the other team):
    1. Choice of offense or defense
    2. Choice of end zone to start the game
  2. Possession and offense shall be the reverse as indicated by the coin toss at the start of the 2nd half.
  3. Play will begin at the 5-yard line of the team with possession.

Game Clock:

  1. Each game consists of two 20-minute halves, with a 2-minute halftime.
  2. Each team is allowed 1 thirty second time out per half. Unused timeouts in the first half do not carry over into the second half.
  3. The game clock shall be a running clock, except in these cases:
    1. A team uses one of their thirty second timeouts
    2. The difference in the score is 8 points or less and it is the last two minutes of the second half. In this case, the clock shall stop in the event of an incomplete pass, a team scores, if the ball carrier goes out of bounds, a change of possession, or a penalty. The clock shall be resumed upon the snap at the start of the next possession. The clock shall not be stopped in the first half except in the case of a timeout, regardless of the score.
  4. The point after conversion attempt shall be permitted after a touchdown regardless of the time on clock.
  5. There will be no overtimes in Regular Season Games.  Ties will end in Ties.

Line of Scrimmage:

  1. The referee shall use a chip/bag marking the line of scrimmage, neutral zone line. and place the ball in the middle of the field after the end of each play.
  2. The offensive team must have a minimum of 3 players set (2 players if fielding 4 players) at the line of scrimmage at the snap. Players in motion are not considered set.
  3. Any defensive players lined up inside the neutral zone at the start of the snap may not cross the line of scrimmage unless the ball changes possession from the QB to another player.
  4. The referee shall blow his or her whistle to signify the play may begin.
  5. The defense can cross line of scrimmage immediately at the snap provided they are behind the neutral zone line or the ball changes possession from the qb to another player. Any players not behind the neutral zone line may not cross the line of scrimmage until the ball changes possession. Defenders may not initiate contact with the offense. Violators will be warned with a 10 yard reckless play penalty and then ejected if necessary.
  6. The ball can be rushed by all offensive players, excluding the QB, immediately upon the Snap. The QB may not rush the ball unless the defense crosses the line of scrimmage. The Center must snap the ball, he can not snap it to himself and advance.
  7. The offense may not initiate contact with the defense. Violators will be warned with a 10 yard reckless play penalty and then ejected if necessary.

Passing:

  1. A pass is completed when the ball is caught by any player of the passing team who has at least one foot in-bounds.
  2. An eligible receiver becomes ineligible if he leaves the field during the play and remains ineligible until the ball is touched by an eligible receiver or any defensive player. However, if an eligible receiver is forced out-of-bounds he shall be considered eligible as soon as he returns inbound.
  3. If an ineligible receiver catches the ball the pass shall be considered incomplete.

 Downs:

  1. The offensive team will have four downs to achieve a first down.
  2. A first down is achieved by crossing the 25 yard line (midpoint of the field).

 Punting:

  1. There is no punting.  If a team chooses to punt, the ball is placed on the opponents own 5 Yard Line.  If a team turns the ball over on downs, the offense can either start where the ball is.

Turnovers and Stoppage of Play:

  1. Possession will change from one team to the other when:
    1. A team scores. Play will start again at the 5 yard line.
    2. Four downs are counted without obtaining a first down. Play will start at the previous line of scrimmage.
    3. A forward pass is intercepted (play does not stop).
  2. Play will stop when:
    1. One of the ball carrier's flags is removed by an opposing player or falls off.
    2. Receiver catches the ball while not having all flags attached.
    3. The ball carrier leaves the field of play.
    4. A team scores a touchdown or extra point.
    5. The ball touches the ground because of a fumble or incomplete pass.
    6. The ball carrier is considered down by the officiating crew.
    7. A defensive player intercepts an extra point pass attempt.
    8. A referee inadvertently blows his whistle. In this case the offense will get the choice of replaying the down or taking the result of the play.

Penalties:

  1. All penalties may be declined by the opposing team should the penalty be to their detriment.
  2. All penalties will be imposed at the line of scrimmage unless the ball is in possession beyond the line of scrimmage, in which case, it will be applied at the spot of the foul. Should the full imposition of the penalty carry the line into an end zone, the ball will be spotted at the one-yard line.
  3. The following shall incur a ten-yard penalty:
    1. Any player:
      1. Running into an opponent, including using a “stiff-arm.”, without having made a reasonable effort to avoid contact.
      2. Reckless play. Players must make every effort to avoid contact.
      3. Blocking. Players may not use their hands, elbows, or any other part of their body to block opponents.
      4. Flag guarding. Players may not intentionally block access to any flag, including those worn by teammates.
      5. Stripping the ball from the ball carrier.
      6. Intentionally removing an opponent's flag who has not yet taken possession of the ball (enacted spotted at location of catch, and an automatic first down).
      7. Intentional foul.
      8. Unsportsmanlike conduct.
      9. If a Player is ejected for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, they are also suspended the Following Week.  If in Playoffs, they are done for the Night.  If 2 Ejections occur, they are suspended for remainder of Season.
    2. Defense:
      1. Holding. Defenders may not touch the receiver prior to catching the ball.
      2. Face guarding. Players may not use their hands to block the sight of the receiver.
      3. Pass interference. Given that no player shall be obligated to give up a position once gained, a defender shall not deliberately obstruct an intended receiver from obtaining a position to catch the ball.
    3. Offense:
      1. Offensive pass interference. No player shall obstruct another player from obtaining a position from which to go to and catch the ball, given that neither shall any player be obligated to give up such a position once gained.
  4. The following shall incur a five-yard penalty:
    1. Defense:
      1. Offsides. A defensive player is off sides when any part of his body crosses the line of scrimmage unless they started the play behind the neutral zone or the QB has changed possession of the ball to another player.
    2. Offense:
      1. Delay of game. The offensive team has 25 seconds from the referee's whistle to snap the ball.
      2. Illegal participation. Teams may not have more than 4 players on the field.
      3. Illegal cadence. The player calling the cadence must receive the snap.
      4. False start. At least 3 players (or 2, if only 4 players or less are on the field) must be set at the line of scrimmage for a minimum of one full second prior to the snap.  Play is blown dead when False Start occurs.
      5. Illegal motion. No player is permitted to move forward toward the line of scrimmage at the snap.
      6. Illegal forward pass. The ball may be passed forward only once and only from behind the line of scrimmage. A forward pass must cross the line of scrimmage. Lateral passes are permitted at any time.
      7. Intentional grounding. A passer may not throw the ball without a realistic chance of completion, with the exception that a passer may ground the ball to stop the clock with less than two minutes to play in the game. It is a loss of down and either a 5 yard penalty or at spot of foul (whichever holds a bigger penalty)
      8. Diving. Diving is not permitted unless attempting to catch a pass. Diving as a ball carrier will result in a 5 yard penalty.

Scoring:

  1. A player shall score when and only when the ball and the player's entire body has crossed the plain of the goal line. The ball crossing the goal line is insufficient for a score. 
  2. All touchdowns shall count as 6 points.
  3. A 5-yard conversion shall count for 1 point.
  4. A 10-yard conversion shall count for 2 points.
  5. A "safety" counts for 2 points.

Mercy Rule:

  1. A game shall be immediately called whenever a team achieves a 50-point or more advantage.

Forfeits:

  1. Teams must be ready to play and meet game start requirements at the posted game time. Any team not ready to play at this time, after a 5 minute grace period, shall forfeit, and the opposing team shall take a default win.
  2. If neither team is ready to play, both teams shall forfeit.

Playoff Tie Breaker:

  1. Ties are not permitted in playoff games. If a regulation game ends in a tie, it shall be broken using the following method: The winner of a coin flip will have the option of starting on offense or defense. The ball will be put into play at the 20-yard line. Each team will have 4 downs to advance the ball past the goal line. If a team does not score by four downs, their total yardage is counted. If a team loses possession of the ball, the opposing team takes over on offense and the ball will be placed again on the 20-yard line; all the opposing team will have to do is advance the ball past the yardage mark where the team who had the ball first ended their possession. If there is an interception that results in a touchdown, that team will win. If the ball is intercepted and not returned for a touchdown, the opposing team will just have to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage from where the ball was thrown from. A team that loses possession does not regain their downs. In the playoff tiebreaker, when a team scores there will not be 1 or 2 point conversions. If both teams score, the team that scored in the fewer amount of plays wins. If both teams scored in the same amount of plays, the tiebreaker will be repeated including a new coin flip.

Cancellation Policy:

  1. Email is primarily used to inform participants of canceled games due to inclement weather and field conditions.  These cancellation decisions typically don't occur before 3pm the day of the game. Participants should always assume their game is being played as scheduled unless they hear otherwise.
  2. Everplay Sport & Social Club will make all efforts to reschedule up 2 weeks of games per season due to weather related cancellations.  Any cancellations after that, may not be made up due to time and scheduling constraints.

 

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