NTFA(8 on 8)Flag Rules
I. Game
1. At the start of each game, captains from both teams shall meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who shall start with the ball. The visiting team shall call the toss.
2. The winner of the coin toss has the choice of getting the first offensive possession, going on defense or deferring until the second half. The loser of the coin toss has the same options for the second half.
3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its own 20-yard line and has four (4) plays or downs to get a first down.
4. The offense team gets a new set of downs every 20 yards.
5. If the offensive team fails to obtain a first down after 3rd down they may elect to declare a Punt. The offensive coach must inform the referee before the play clocks expire. The offensive coach must use a time out to change the decision once a punt has been declared. If the offense decides to change this decision, they must do so BEFORE the ref starts the walk-off.
6. Once a punt is declared the ball will be marked off 30 yards from the line of scrimmage. The declared punt will never be placed inside of receiving teams’ 20 yard line.
7. If the offense fails to score or get a first down in the event of going for a first on fourth down, the ball changes possession at the line of scrimmage or where the ball carrier is ruled down.
8. All possession changes beginning at the spot of the dead ball, except for punts which begins at the punt walk-off (never inside of the opponent’s 20 yard line).
II. Terminology
- Line-To-Gain – There are FOUR (4) on the field. These are at the 20 yard lines (2), and 40 yard lines (2). The offense gets a 1st down upon crossing these.
- Rushing Line – an imaginary line running across the width of the field three (3) yards (into the defensive side) from the Line of Scrimmage.
- Rusher - Any defensive player(s) assigned to rush the Quarterback or offense to prevent a pass or forward progress by pulling flags or blocking a pass. The rusher must be (3) yards from the line of Scrimmage at the snap of the ball.
- Downs (1-2-3-4) – the offensive squad has four attempts or “Downs” to advance the ball. .They must cross the Line to Gain (every 20 yards) to getanother set of downs or to score.
- Live Ball – the period of time that the play is in action. Generally used in regards to penalties, Live Ball Penalties are considered part ofthe play and must be enforced before the down is considered complete.
- Dead Ball – the period of time immediately before or after a play.
- Flag Guarding – an act by the ball carrier to prevent a defender from pulling the ball carrier’s flags by stiff arm, lowering elbow orhead, by blocking access to the runner’s flags with a hand or arm and flags not in proper position(on sides).
- Shovel Pass – a legal pass completed across the line of scrimmage by throwing the ball underhand or pushing it towards a receiver ina shot put type manner.
- Lateral– a backwards or sideways toss of the ball by the ball carrierbehind the line of scrimmage. Laterals are not allowed across the line of scrimmage.
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct – rude, confrontational or offensive behavior or language.
III. Equipment
1. The League(s) provide each player(s) with mouth pieces, jerseys and flag belts.
2. Players must wear Mouth pieces and shoes. Cleats are allowed, however cleats with exposed metal are not allowed and must be removed.
3. Official jerseys must be worn during play.
4. Players’ jerseys must be tucked into the pants if they hang below the belt line.
5. Flag color must contrast (be opposite or different) from players shorts.
6. No part of a player’s uniform may cover ANY PART of the flags or the belt.
7.Each player’s belt should be tight enough so the flags will stay on the player’s hips, or they can be called down at the point the referee notices the flags are not in the proper locations. Excessive belt length must be tucked in, wrapped or taped to prevent “dangling” like a flag.Check with each independent board before “cutting” excessive length.
IV. Rosters
1. Teams must field a minimum of seven (7) players to start and complete a game.
2. Teams should have (10) players, but no more than a maximum of (15) players.
V. Timing and Overtime
1. Games are played on two 20 minute continuous clocked halves. The clock stops only for timeouts and are called by coaches or a ref in the event of an injury.
2. Halftime is 8minutes long.
3. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.
4. Each team has 2- 60-second timeoutsper half.
5. Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.
6. In the event of an injury the clock will stop and then restart when the injured player is removed from the field of play.
7. If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes, an Overtime (OT) Period will be used to determine a winner. OT format is as follows:
A. Each team gets one series of four plays (and possibly more pending penalty enforcement) starting from the opponents20 yard line.
i. First possession choice will be determined by a coin toss.
ii. There is no Sudden Death; each team gets a minimum of one possession.
B. All regulation period rules and penalties are in effect.
C.Each team will receive One (1) time out per period.
D. Each team will get one possession to score:
i.After scoring the team will be given the option of going for a 1 or 2 point PAT. If both teams score touchdowns and complete the sameamount of points in conversions, the process is repeated.
ii. After the first OT period each team will be required to attempt a 2 point conversion after each score.
E. If Team B (intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown, Team B wins. Team A is the team that begins a period of OT.
VI. Scoring
1. Touchdown: 6 points
2. PAT (Point After Touchdown) 1 point (5-yard line) or 2 points (12-yard line) .Note: 1 point or 2 point PAT can be run or pass.
3. Safety: 2 points
**A safety occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in offenses end zone. They can be called down when their flags are pulledby a defensive player, their flag falls out/off, they step out of bounds, go out of the back of the endzone or they hit the ground with their knee or arm. A safety also occurswhen there is an offensive penalty in the end zone.
4. A team that scores a touchdown must declare whether it wishes to attempt a 1-pt. conversion (from the 5-yard line) or a 2-pt. conversion(from the 12-yard line). Any change, once a decision is made to try for the extra point, requires the attempting coach to use a time out. The decision cannot be changed after a penalty. Interceptions on conversions can be returned for 2 points.
VII. Coaches
1. Coaches are typically volunteer parents or family members helping the players learn and enjoy the game. Parents are encouraged to support the coach at all time.
2. OneCoach per team is allowed on the field to direct players before the snap of the ball. Coaches must move 5yards behind the deepest player, offensive or defensive at the snap of the ball. Coaches are not allowed to touch any players directly prior to the snap or during live play or “coach”their players during a live play.
3. Coaches are expected to adhere to all coaching guidelines and codes of conduct.
4. Each team is allowedsix (6) coaches/helpers on the sidelines.
VIII. Live Ball/Dead Ball
1. The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead.
2. The official will indicate the neutral zone and line of scrimmage. It is an automatic dead ball foul if any player on defense or offense entersthe neutral zone. In regards to the neutral zone, the official may give both teams a “courtesy” neutral zone notification to allow their playersto move back beyond the line.
3. A player who gains possession in the air is considered in bounds as long as one foot comes down in the field of play.
4. The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals, by trying to confuse the offensive players, while the quarterback is calling outsignals to start the play.
5. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
6. Any official can whistle the play dead.
7. Play is ruled “dead” when:
A. The ball hits the ground.
B. The ball carrier’s flag is pulled.
C. The ball carrier steps out of bounds.
D. A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored.
E. The ball carrier’s knee, arm or body hits the ground.
F. The ball carrier’s flag is pulled or falls out.
G. A receiver catches the ball while in possession of one flag.
H.An inadvertent whistle is performed (at the spot where the ball was whistled dead).
8. In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:
A.Take the ball where the whistle blew.
B.Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.
Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.
IX. Running
1. The ball is spotted where the runner’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball carrier has the ball.If one foot precedes the other, the forward foot marks the spot.
2. The quarterback can directly run with the ball.
3. Direct handoffs and laterals behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple handoffs and laterals.
4. Absolutely NO down field laterals or pitches of any kind.
5. The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
6. Once the ball has been handed off (in front or behind the quarterback), all defensive players are eligible to rush.
7. Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball. Diving, leaping or jumping is considered flag guarding.
8. Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a flag pull.
9. Runners may leave their feet if there is a clear indication that he/she has done so to avoid collision with anotherplayer without a flag guarding penalty enforced.
10. The arms and hands may not be extended when screening (No Flagrant Physical Blocking is allowed).
11. Flag Obstruction – All jerseys MUST be tucked in before play begins. The flags must be ON THE PLAYER’S HIPS and free from obstruction.
Obstructed flags will be considered flag guarding.
X. Passing
1. All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage, and thrown forward.
2. Shovel passes are allowed, but must be thrown forward.
XI. Receiving
1. All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line).
2. Only one player is allowed in motion at a time. All motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmageand no motion is permitted towards the line of scrimmage.
3. A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
4. In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense.
5. Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the point of interception.
6. Interceptions are returnable.
XII. Rushing the Passer
1. All players who rush must be a minimum of three (3) yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage.
2. Once the ball is handed off, the three (3)yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.
3. A special marker, or the referee, will designate a Rush Line three(3) yards from the line of scrimmage.Defensive players should verify they are in the correct position with the official on every play.
A. A legal rush is:
i.Started from a point three (3) yards or further from the line of scrimmage.
ii. A rush from anywhere on the field AFTER the ball has been handed off by the quarterback.
iii. If a rusher leaves the rush line early, they may return to the rush line, reset and then legally rush.
iv. If a rusher leaves the rush line early and the ball is handed off before they cross the line of scrimmage,they may legally rush.
B. A penalty may be called if:
i. The rusher leaves the rush line before the snap and crosses the line of scrimmage before ahandoff or pass – Illegal Rush/Offsides.
ii.Any defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped – Illegal Rush/Offsides.
iii.Any defensive player,not lined up at the rush line crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball ispassed or handed-off – Illegal Rush/Offsides.
C. Special circumstances:
i. Teams are not required to rush the quarterback.
ii. Teams are not required to identify their rusher before the play.
iii. If rusher leaves the 3-yard line before the snap, he/she may drop back to act as adefender with no offside penalty if he/she doesn’t cross the line of scrimmage.
4. A Sack occurs if the QB’s flags are pulled (or) fall off behind the line of scrimmage. The ball is placed where the QB’s feet are when the flag is pulled.
**A Safety is awarded if the sack takes place in the offensive team’s end zone.
XIII. Flag Pulling
1. A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.
2. Defenders cannot intentionallyDive, Trip, Hold or Run Through a ball carrier to pull flags. A Dive is defined as:Leaving one’s feet in the act or process of pulling an opponents flag.
3. It is illegal to attempt to strip, pull the ball awayor to attempt to knock the ball from the ball carrier’s possession at any time. (Unsportsmanlike like conduct)
4. If a player’s flag inadvertently falls off during the play, the player is down immediately upon possession of the ball and the play ends.
5. A defensive player should not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in possession of the ball.
6. Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping of head, hand, armor shoulder, or intentionally covering flags with the football or jersey.In the event that a defender is in the “vicinity” (within arms length) of a ball carrier and his/her flags are not on the hips, it is considered Flag Guarding and such penalty should be assessed.
XIV. Formations
1. The offensive team must have a minimum of Four (4)players on the line of scrimmage.The center and three (3)additional players. The quarterback must be off the line of scrimmage.
A. One player at a time may go in motion 1-yard beyond and parallel to the line of scrimmage.
B. No motion is allowed towards the line of scrimmage.
2. Offensive players must come to a complete stop for one second before the ball is snapped unless he/she is the one player in motion.
3. Movement by a player who is set or a player who runs toward the line of scrimmage while in motion is considered a false start.
4. The center must snap the ball with a rapid and continuous motion between his/her legs to a player in the backfield, and the ball mustcompletely leave his/her hands. In the event that the center / quarterback exchange results in the ball touching the ground, (being dropped) the ball is dead and results in a loss of down for the offense.
XV. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
1. If the referee witnesses any acts of intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act,the game will bestopped and the player will be ejected from the game. The decision is made at the referee’s discretion. .No appeals! FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
2. Offensive or confrontational language is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If offensive or confrontationallanguage occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player/coach(es) and/or players/coach(es) will be ejected from the game.
3. Coaches/Players may not physically or verbally abuse any opponent or official.
4. Ball carriers MUST make an effort to avoid defenders with an established position.
5. Defenders are not allowed to run through the ball carrier when pulling flags.
6. Fans must also adhere to good sportsmanship:
A. Yell to cheer on your players, not to harass officials or other teams/players/coaches.
B. Keep comments clean and profanity free.
C. Compliment all players.
7. Fans are required to keep fields’ safe and kid friendly:
**Keep younger kids and equipment such as coolers, chairs and tents away from the sidelines.
XVI. Penalties
I. General:
1. The referee will call all penalties.
2. Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.