Association of Courthouse Recreation Flag Football Rules
ACHR PEE WEE
FLAG FOOTBALL
RULES
(July 2017 Revisions Highlighted in Yellow)
Table of Contents
RULE 1
The Game, Field, Players and Equipment
Section I GENERAL PROVISIONSPage 4
Section IITHE FIELDPage 5
Section IIIEQUIPMENTPage 5
Section IVPLAYERSPage 6
RULE 2
ELIGIBILITY FOR PLAYERS AND TEAMS
Section ICLASSIFICATIONPage 6
Section IIROSTERSPage 7
RULE3
PLAYING TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Section IFLAG FOOTBALLPage 7
Section IIBALL CARRIER MANEUVERSPage 8
Section IIIBLOCKINGPage 8
Section IVTERMS AND DEFINITIONSPage 8
RULE 4
PERIODS, TIME FACTORS, SUBSTITIONS AND OVERTIME
Section ISTARTING PERIODSPage 9
Section IIPLAYING TIMESPage 9
Section IIIINTERMISSIONSPage10
Section IVTIMEOUTSPage 10
Section VGAME DELAYSPage 10
Section VISUBSTITUTIONSPage 10
Section VIIOVERTIMEPage 11
RULE 5
BALL-IN-PLAY, DEAD BALL, AND OUT-OF-BOUNDS
Section IBALL-IN-PLAYPage 11
Section IIDEAD BALLPage 11
Section IIIOUT-OF-BOUNDSPage 11
RULE 6
SCRIMMAGE AND DOWNS
Section ITHE SCRIMMAGEPage 12
Section IIDOWNSPage 13
RULE 7
KICKING THE BALL AND FAIR CATCH
Section IFREE KICKPage 13
Section IISCRIMMAGE AND RETURN KICKSPage 14
Section IIIFAIR CATCHPage 14
RULE 8
SNAPPING, HANDLING, PASSING THE BALL
Section ISNAPPING AND HANDLINGPage 14
Section IIFORWARD PASSESPage 15 Section III PASSING BACKWARD Page 16
RULE 9
SCORING AND TOUCHBACKS
Section IMETHODS OF SCORINGPage 16
Section IISAFETYPage 16
Section IIITOUCHBACKPage 16
RULE 10
CONDUCT OF PLAYERS, COACHES & OTHERS
Section ICONDUCT OF PLAYERS COACHES & OTHERSPage 16
RULE 11
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS
Section ICOACHESPage 18
Section IIEQUIPMENTPage 19
Section IIIPLAYERSPage 19
Section IVGAMESPage 19
Section VFINAL SEASON STANDINGSPage 19
Section VIPOST SEASON SEATING / PLAYPage 19
RULE 12
ENFORCEMENT OF PENALTIES
Section IENFORCEMENT OF PENALTIESPage 20
RULE ONE
THE GAME, FIELD, PLAYERS AND EOUIPMENT
Flag football is played in a manner similar to either tackle football or touch football, with the exception of the method of stopping the advance of the ball carrier. This is accomplished by “De-flagging”, i.e., the capture of the flag belt, which areworn by the ball carrier.
SECTIONI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 1. Two teams of eight players each play the game. Each team is requiring a -minimum of eight players at the start of the game. A team unable to field seven players due to an injury after the start of thegame will be required to forfeit the game. The object is to score touchdowns by running or passing the ballover the opponents' goal line.
ARTICLE 2.Goal lines for each team shall be established at opposite ends of the field and eachteam shallbe allowed opportunities to advance the ball across their opponent’s goal line by running and/or passing.
ARTICLE 3. The team shall be awarded points for the following acts: Touchdown, Safety, and point(s) after the touchdown. The team accumulating the most points during regulation playing timeof the game shall be declared the winner. The game shall be immediately ended if one team has a forty (40)points or greater lead over the other. Note: This is the slaughter rule.It is assumed that the coaches will upon gaining a three (3) touchdown advantage play their 2ndteams and not try run up the score.
ARTICLE 4. The game is administered by a minimum of two officials. The game officials may bedesignated referees and/or league officials. Note: if a rule and/or situation are not clearly covered in this rule book it shall be left up to the judgment of the Head official.
ARTICLE 6. Team representatives, including players, coaches, supervisors, and group members, aresubject to the rules of the game and shall be governed by the decisions of the game officials. Note: Also see WARNING to spectators.
ARTICLE 7.ALL PLAYERS SHALL PLAY a MINIMUM OF TEN (10) PLAYS IN aGAMEtheyare available to play in. This may be monitored by league officials but is the responsibility of the teamcoaches. The coaches are also required to inform parents and the childbefore the game the reason(s) he/she will/may not get the minimum of ten (10) plays. Non attendance to practices or team meetings is not a reason to forfeit this requirementexcept in cases of three or more consecutive and unexcused absences (I.e., the coach was not notified in any form about the absences).Note: Ten (10) plays are roughly equal to a quarter of play; yet this allows the coach some flexibility to use a player in a way that best suits the individual player and team as a whole. Special teams shall not be included in the ten plays.
ARTICLE 8. Any teams in violation of article 7 without a warning will have to forfeit that or any gamesinvolving that article. If this should continue to occur the coach of said team will could subjected to suspensions or removal from the team as the director or recreation association see’s fit.
SECTION II. THE FIELD
ARTICLE 1.The field is 40 yards wide and 100 yards long including end zonesfor PEE WEE. The player / team box shall extendto the 20 yard line and extend five yards deep. All players and coaches shall maintain a minimum oftwoyards from the sidelines. This may or may not be marked on the field. Regardless coachesare requiredtoinsure that their players are abiding by this requirement to prevent player injuries. The only eligible occupants of the player / team box shall be the following: The players (of the currentgame), thehead coach, assistant coaches, and team statistician. The head coach shall be responsible for hissidelines, which includes the parents and relatives of the players on his team. No coaches or parents shallbe allowed in the end zone for coaching purposes except those conducting photography.
ARTlCLE 2.The lines bounding the sidelines and the end zones are outof bounds in their entirety, andthose lines bind the inbound. The goal and end lines shall be distinctly marked.
ARTICLE 3. A down marker shall be used to mark the spot of the ball. Upon 1st down, the next 10 yardline shall be established with the chainsas the "next zone tomake" for a 1stdown. Down marker and chains will be manned by volunteers from the home team. The home team will be listed 2nd on the schedule.
ARTICLE 4. Spectatorsshall remain a minimum of 5 yards from the boundaries’ at all times. Coaches shallbe responsible for the enforcement of such for their own team. League officials may also enforce such.
ARTICLE 5. Players, coaches, and team members shall remain in the Players Box during play.
EXCEPTION: Oneoffensive coach and one defensive coach may be on thefield with the team in the huddle but must stay 10 yards offthe line of scrimmage. A coach will receive a singlewarning after which he will be penalized 10 yards for Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Live ball foul).
SECTION III. EQUIPMENT
ARTICLE I. The equipment necessaryfor a regulation game includes: a regulation football (K-2), downmarkers, chains, yard markers on at least one side of the field,pylons to mark the end zone, and a kicking tee.
ARTICLE 2. The game flag-belt shall have three flags firmly attached to a detachable belt for each player on the field. The flag shall be equal in length approximately 2"x 16" long. Clip detachable belts providedby the league shall be the only belts allowed in game play.
ARTICLE 3. 1.A flag belt twisted, tucked, andor coveredin any manner which would impede thedefender from de-flagging the player is a penalty. PENALTY:10 YARDS for illegal Flag Attachment. Note: If this continues to occur with the same player he/she may be suspended with a game misconduct and subject to further punishment from the director as the director deems necessary.
ARTICLE 4. Players shall not wearscarves, or pads of any type (Cold weather gear must be approved by the game officials).
ARTICLE 5.All players are required to have a mouthpiece to play. No exceptions.
ARTICLE 6. Shoes may not have screw-in cleats, but should have a molded-sole cleat made of rubber that providesgood footing.
ARTICLE 7. All players' shirts must be tucked in prior to the start ofplay. The belt must be showing at all times. Areferee will tell the player to tuck in the skirt but this must be done within the play clock limits. A player violating this will be considered to have lost his flag and ifhe receives the ball it will be down at the spot.If it repeatedly occurswith them same player it will be a penalty. PENALTY: 5 YARDS for Delay ofGame.Note: If this continues to occur the coach will begiven an Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalty of 15 yards.
SECTION IV. PLAYERS
ARTICLE 1. The eight offensive player’s positions are: left end, left guard, center, right guard,right end, quarterback, and 2 running backs. The eight defensive positions are: defensive linemen,
linebackers,and safetymen.
ARTICLE 2. The offensive team must begin a play with five (5) men on the line of scrimmage and three(3) men in the backfield. The backfield is defined as one yard beyond the line of scrimmage. Anyconfiguration of the above is a legal formation. No unbalanced lines. The eligible receivers are all men in the backfield,and themen at the ends of the offensive line. PENALTY: 5 YARDS for Illegal Formation.
ARTICLE 3. The defense in the PEE WEE Division shall not rush more than five (5) players. Blitzes and line stunts are not allowed. All rushers must be on the line of scrimmage and set 1 full second prior to the snap of the ball. The defense must have a minimum of three and a maximum of 5 defensive linemen. All remaining players must be one yard behind the defensive line and may not blitz. Linebackers and safetymen cannot advance towards the line of scrimmage, unless the ball has been fumbled to the ground or, the play is considered to have ‘clearly developed”. A ‘clearly developed’ play occurs when a backfield player makes a clear and deliberate attempt to advance the ball either by run, pass, or handing off to another backfield player. If the end is split more than 2 yards than the line backer can advance once the ball carrier is outside the guard.
PENALTY: 5 YARDS for Illegal Defense.Note:Defensive lineman cannot line up in the gaps of the offensive line. They must line head up on offensive lineman. If the offense deploys a 5 man line with ends split more than 2 yards from the guards the defense may lineup outside the guards and rush provided the center and guards were covered head up by defensive linemen.
ARTICLE 4. The 3 or 4 point stance is not allowed in flag football. PENALTY: 5 YARD Illegal formation.
ARTICLE 5. The center is protected until he comes up to a blocking position. Dunking the center is notallowed. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for UnsportsmanlikeConduct.
RULE TWO
ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS AND TEAMS
SECTION 1. CLASSIFICATION
ARTICLE 1. The league age shall be basis to determine the division of play that a player will be placed in.The league age shall be the age of the player on September 1stof the current year. (Uponthe director'sapproval and on an individual basis a child may move up earlier to the next age classification)
ARTICLE 2. The PEE WEE (PW) Flag Division shall be comprised ofyouth's ages ranging -from six (6)to seven (7) years old without weight restriction.
ARTICLE 3.The season’s opening (1st) practice will be decided by Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Association according to the Virginia High School League (VHSL) schedule. All practices must take place at an authorized facility. Coaches holding practices at unauthorized locations will be subject to suspension / removal as coach, as the director deems necessary. The director will provide all coaches a list of authorized facilities.
SECTION II. ROSTERS
ARTICLE 1. Rosters shall be determined by returning players, special options to the team, the draft and byregistration assignment by the Director. Roster shall become final on September 1stof the current year and only the players listed may participate in the balance ofthe season and postseason. It shallbe the responsibility of the director to finalize team rosters; however it shall be the responsibility of the coach to provide a typed roster with team name, head coach, assistantcoaches, and players first and last names,and jersey numbers, to the director. This must be received by the director prior to the first scheduledgame.
ARTICLE 2. Returning players must register prior to draft day at scheduled registrations to be eligible toreturn to their previous team Otherwise the Director will assign themto a team.
ARTICLE 3. Teams found to have ineligible players will forfeit any games that these players participated in. Coaches of teams with ineligible players may be removed as coach of the team at the Directors discretion.
ARTICLE 4. The Division Director shall determine roster size for the teams in their division. Sixteen (16)shall be the maximum number of playersperteam.
RULE THREE
PLAYING TERMS AND DEFINlTIONS
SECTION 1. FLAG FOOTBALL
ARTICLE 1. Flag football is played in a manner similar to either tackle football or touch football, with theexception of the method of stopping the advance ofthe ball carrier. This is accomplished by "De-flagging,"i.e., the capture of the flag belt, which are worn by the ball carrier.
ARTICLE 2. The game flag belt shall have three flags attached to a detachable belt. See Rule One Section IV ARTICLE 2 for flag description.
ARTICLE 3. De-flagging" is any capture of the ball carrier's flag by a defensive player.
ARTICLE 4. The flag must be taken cleanly from the ball carrier. If, in attempting to take the flag the defensive player holds the ball carrier while trying to remove the flag it is a penalty. PENALTY: 10YARDS for Holding.
ARTICLE 5. If a defensive player knocks the ball carrier down and is not attempting to capture the ballcarrier's flags it is a penalty. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for Tackling. CLARIFICATION: Players must lead with their hands when attempting to pull an opponent’s flag belt. Note: The defensive player mustattempt to "de-flag" the ball carrier and may not push the ball carrier down or out of bounds. This is thesame as tackling.
ARTICLE 6.Ifthe ball carrier is intentionally tackled or pushed out of bounds by the last defender it is apenalty. PENALTY: 1st down and goal to goal from the one yard line for a Break Away Tackle.
ARTICLE 7. It is considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct for a player to intentionally "de-flag" anotherplayer prior to that player receiving the ball. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
ARTICLE 8. A player missing flag(s) may receive the ball but may not advance it.
SECTION II. BALL CARRIER MANEUVERS
ARTICLE 1. The ball carrier may maneuver by any means to advance the ball except as listed elsewhere inthis section.
ARTICLE 2.The ball carrier may not improperly us his/her hands;arms, shoulder or anyother part of the bodyor the ball in anymanner, which impedes the defender from "de-flagging". Stiff-Arming is includedPENALTY: DEAD AT THE SPOT PLUS 10 YARDS FROM SPOT for Flag Guarding.
ARTICLE 3.The ball carrier may not intentionally charge into the defender to attempt to knock the defender down. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for Charging.Note: A ball carrier may spin while trying to avoid a defender but may not place his/her hands on the defender in my manner while doing so.
ARTICLE 4. A ball carrier may not intentionally hurdle a player to advance the ball. PENALTY: 10YARDS for Hurdling
ARTICLE 5. The defense may not strip the ball, when the ball is in the possession of the player.
PENALTY: 10 YARDS FROM THE POINT OF THE INFRACTION for Stripping the Ball
SECTION III. BLOCKING
ARTICLE 1. Players may use the open palm to block the opponent. The "Chicken Wing Blocking"technique is not permitted. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for an Illegal Block.Clarification:The forearm must be extended out in front of the elbows.The shoulders and chest may be used in conjunction with the open palmbut the initial contact must be made with the hands.
ARTICLE 1.1. Offensive linemen may use the palm, chest and shoulder method of blocking in the freeblocking area on the initial scrimmage rush. The Free Blocking area is defined as the area 12 yards wideby 2 yards deep within the line of scrimmage.
ARTICLE 2. Blocking shall occur only between the shoulders and the waist of the defender's front andorside. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for Clipping.Note: Chop or roll blockmay not be used.PENALTY:10 YARDS for an Il1egal Block.
ARTICLE 3. The blockers may not leave the ground to block. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for an Illegal BlockNote: 1. Chop, Roll, and Crack back blocking is not permitted. 2. This is not meant to imply that a blocker cannot be running at the time of the block.
ARTICLE 4. Players may not intentionally trip otherplayers. PENALTY: 10 YARDS for Tripping.
ARTICLE 5. Offensive Holding is when the offense impedes the defense by grabbing. PENALTY: 10YARDS AND REPLAYS THE DOWN for Offensive Holding.
ARTICLE 6. Defensive Holding is when the defensive impedes the offense by grabbing. PENALTY: 5YARDS AND AN AUTOMATIC 1" DOWN for Defensive Holding.