FLAG FOOTBALL RULES AND POLICY
Each team member is responsible for knowing all of the information in the rules summary and the USLA Flag Football Rules Handbook.
FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
1 – SPORTSMANSHIP
2 – ROSTER
3 – UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT
4 – START OF GAME – GAME CLOCK – OVERTIME
5 – FORFEITS
7 – OFFENSE
8 – DEFENSE
9 – SCORING
10- OVERTIME
11- PENALTIES
12- FIELD DIMENSIONS
DEFINITION OF THE RULE
SPORTSMANSHIP
1 UNITED SPORTS LEAGUES OF AMERICA has a zero tolerance policy and expects all participants to understand that unsportsmanlike behavior will result in that player being ejected from the game. An ejection may result in further suspension from participation in current and / or future USLA events. An ejected player(s) is required to leave the premises immediately. Any refusal to leave the premises may result in a team forfeit and / or increased length of suspension.
ROSTER;
1 There is a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 players allowed on your roster. Players will not be allowed to participate without signing the USLA roster/waiver form. If a player is not on the team roster, that person would not be considered part of the league and may not be covered by insurance in the event of injury. A player is eligible to play if he is at least 17 years old.
2 Teams have up until the midpoint of the season to add new roster players. If a team is under the league team maximum of 12 players, that team may add players up to the league maximum only after that player has signed a league team roster form. That player will be responsible for league fees not already paid. If a team is already at the league maximum of 12 players, the only way to add a new player to your roster is to first drop another player from its roster. The additional player must also observe the leagues uniform policy in order to play.
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
1 Only uniforms approved by United Sports Leagues of America are allowed to be worn during games. Any uniform not issued by the USLA must display the USLA brand logo / patch.
2 All players must wear matching team uniforms to participate in a game. Swapping uniforms during game play is not permitted, but a player may use the uniform of an absentee player or the uniform of a player no longer on the roster.
3 To maintain consistency to the look and brand of the USLA, decorations to the uniform are permitted but must first be approved by United Sports Leagues of America.
4 All team names, colors and logos must be approved by the USLA. Corporate logos are permitted as long as they do not cover any logos originally printed on the uniform.
5 No alterations to uniforms are permitted. NO CUT-OFF SLEEVES, NO CUT-OFF HEM LINES, NO CUT-OFF UNIFORMS PERIOD.
6 Players not in uniform are not permitted to play. No exceptions.
7 United Sports Leagues of America will have league approved game balls available, but teams may bring their own collegiate or NFL sized football.
8 The USLA suggests that players wear protective gear, but it’s not mandatory in the adult divisions of play. Players should take any loose jewelry, rings and earing off before game play to prevent injury.
9 The following equipment is NOT PERMITTED; Baseball Hats, Soft Brim Hats, Football Pads (Hard Foam or Plastic), Hard Protective Guards or Metal Cleats. This is a basic list and the league Official has the right to determine if a piece of equipment / wardrobe is a safety concern. Any player refusing to remove such an item will be ejected from the game. Hoodies must be tucked under the jersey. Soft arm and knee pads are allowed. Eye glasses must be secured to the player.
10 USLA will provide all field equipment and flags.
START OF GAME / GAME CLOCK / OVERTIME
1 The head official will be the games time keeper and will be responsible to announce the 2 minute warning. Games will start promptly at designated scheduled times. All games will begin and end on this official’s time clock.
2 Play will be divided into two 30 minute halves, with a three minute half-time. There will be a running clock maintained by the referee except for the last 2 minutes of each half. During the last two minutes of play, time will be stopped on incomplete passes, runs out of bounds, when a team has scored or if a team calls time-out. If either team scores, the clock will start when the opposing team snaps the ball, after the PAT attempt.
3 Each team has two (2) 25 second time-outs per half. Time will be stopped during the first 28 minutes of play and the last 28 minutes of play for called time outs and serious injuries only. If an injury occurs, that player must leave the game for one scrimmage play. If an injury occurs during the last two minutes of play, that team will be charged a time-out. If that team has no time-outs remaining, there will be a 10 second run-off. Any player on the field or coach on sideline can call time out.
4 In the event of a tie-score at the end of regulation play, a coin flip will be conducted. The visitor team will call the coin toss. The team winning the coin toss will chose first, second or direction. The ball will be placed at 15 yard line and the team will have 4 downs to score ( passing only ). Regular season one overtime procedure. In playoffs , need a winner.
5 Mercy Rule : At the 2 minute warning of the second halve , if a team is up by 11 points or more and has possession of the ball. Game Over
FORFEITS
1 A game shall be forfeited if: (a) A team fails to field five (5) or more players when the referee calls team captains for the coin flip, (b) A team fails to pay the official the required amount prior to the start of game ( $ 75.00 per team ), (c) If, in the opinion of the official, the manager does not have control of his team, (d) Continued harassment of the officials or opposing players, (e ) team does not show up.
2 All forfeit fees will be collected by the Commissioner, in the amount of $ 75.00.
3 All fines must be paid before your next scheduled game by either cash or check (made payable to "UNITED SPORTS LEAGUES OF AMERICA). If payment is not received by the next scheduled game, your team will be assessed a loss for this game. Teams will not be allowed to play any proceeding games until the fine is paid in full. Teams that have any fines from the last regular season game will not be allowed back into the USLA for any sport until these fines are paid in full.
MOVING THE BALL
1 Possessions at the start of game, start of second half and after all punts, the offense always begins at the 20 yard line. The offense has 4 downs to advance the ball beyond the first down marker ( there will be a first down cone on both 20 yard lines and both 40 yard lines in order to get another set of downs. If the offense fails to get a first down within the first 3 downs of an offensive series, they can elect to punt and the opposing team will get the ball at 20 yard line. If a team attempts to make a first down and fails, the opposing team will get the ball at the last completed spot.
2 Each team will have 25 seconds to snap the ball once it has been marked ready for play.
3 The Official starts a verbal count loud enough for both teams to hear on the snap of the ball from center. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw or handoff the ball. After the 4.0 second count the defense is allowed to rush the QB.
4 A forward pass is completed when caught by any player of the passing team who has at least one foot in-bounds. If there is a simultaneous catch it belongs to the offense at the spot of the catch.
5 Run plays are allowed on any down unless the offense is in the frozen zone. The frozen zone is considered the five (5) yards before the first down mark and the five (5) yard line. If an offense is declared to be inside a frozen zone and due to penalties starts a play outside the frozen zone, that team is still considered to be inside the frozen zone and a run play is not permitted.
6 A Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when a flag has been pulled or falls off the belt, the jersey covers the flag or any part of his body touches the ground ( except his hands and feet ).If the player has the ball in his hand and has control and the ball touches the ground it is legal.
7 Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. On a snap and the ball hits the ground, the QB can pick it up and the play continues. ( it is not a fumble )
8 The offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new scrimmage spot. Any delay by offense in retrieving and returning the ball to the referee or to the spot will result in a delay of game .
9 The referee will spot the ball and mark it ready for play. After a play, the line of scrimmage is determined by the location of the BALL when the flags are pulled.
10 Contact is not permitted and it is also the offenses responsibility to avoid contact with the defense. There will be no blocking, lowering the shoulders or deliberate bumping. ( basketball picks only)
OFFENSE
1 The ball carrier may not stiff arm, flag guard or dive to avoid a defender from pulling the flag. There is no hurdling. ( hurdling is when a ball carrier attempts to jump over a defender , when the defender only has his feet on the ground )
2 ALL players are considered receivers and eligible to receive passes from the QB. All players EXCEPT the center are allowed to run the ball. No team player may run a ball while declared to be in the frozen zone. When in the frozen zone, the pass must cross the line of scrimmage.
3 The center is the only player allowed to snap the ball to the QB, and the QB is the only player allowed to receive a snap. A snap may be between the legs, a direct handoff or an underhand toss from the center. A silent count is permitted as long as the referee has determined the ball ready for play and the entire offense is set.
4 All offensive players (except motion player) must be set for one full second before ball is snapped. The man in motion must be continuing in a parallel motion or backward motion to the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap. All remaining players must be on the line or behind their backfield line.
5 A player must have Possession and at least one (1) foot inbounds for it to be a catch.
6 The offensive team must declare punts on fourth down. If a team elects to Punt, the opposing teams starts the offensive series at their own 20 yard line. There is NO KICKING of the ball.
DEFENSE
1 Contact is not permitted and it is also the defenses responsibility to avoid contact is with the offense. These actions will result in a penalty at the end of the play (10 yard penalty from spot of foul or end of the play ).
2 Defense players are permitted to dive at the runner in an attempt to grab the flag only. Defense player may also jump in the air in an attempt to knock the ball down or away from the receiver, or in the case where the defense is going for an interception. During a simultaneous catch by both the offense and defense, the ball is awarded to the offense if the ball has been declared a legal catch
3 No taunting or trash talking is permitted from either side of the ball.
SCORING
Touchdown = 6 points (The ball & at least one foot must cross the goal line)
Extra Points
- 5 yard line = 1 point ( Pass only )
- 10 yard line = 2 points ( Run or Pass )
- 15 yard line = 3 points (Run or Pass )
- 25 yard line = 4 points ( Run or Pass )
THE BALL IS LIVE ON A POINT AFTER ATTEMPS, AND CAN BE RETURNED THE DISTANCE FOR 6 POINTS!
Safety = 2 points ( after the safety the offense starts on 50 yard line )
GENERAL RULES & SUMMARY
1 All players on a team must be on the roster in order to play. All players must be at least 17 years old prior to the start of first game. It is suggested that each player carry picture ID in the event an opposing team challenges the eligibility of a player.
2 All players must submit all required league forms to the USLA Office, By Fax, Email, Snail mail or in person before being declared eligible to play. If a player is found to be playing illegally, the player, as well as the team manager may be suspended for the remainder of the season.
3 All players are required to wear league approved uniforms. The USLA does not approve of any jersey that has been altered by cutting off hem lines of shoulder. All players are required to use the same league issued flag belts. Belts are to be worn with flags hanging straight down at the proper locations. If a jersey is long enough to be tucked into the players pants, than the jersey should be tucked in. In the case where the jersey hangs at the belt line, the jersey should be worn outside the players’ pants.
4 No "blocking" ( except basketball pick ) is allowed in the USLA flag football league. This includes downfield "blocking" during an offensive play. No contact is allowed at the line or downfield by any defensive player guarding a receiver (bump and run). All players must try to avoid contact with any player on the football field.
5 The team manager shall conduct all grievances. Any unusual tactics, profanity, or derogatory remarks by a player or manager shall result in eviction from the game and facility. Any player who physically abuses an official will be banned from further competition in any UNITED SPORTS LEAGUES OF AMERICA events, and will be legally held responsible. Team managers and/or coaches are responsible for informing all of their players of all rules and information regarding the league. A team is also responsible for the fans they bring to a game and anyone standing on their sideline.