Flag Football Rules
LSW FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
Safety
A. ALL Participants must wear a mouthpiece. A player without a mouthpiece CAN NOT
Play! No exceptions can be made to this rule.
B. The wearing of Jewelry, including all chains and earrings, will not be permitted.
C. For players that wear glasses, safety glasses or goggles are highly recommended.
1. Basic Rules
A. Possession starts at the 10-yard line; First downs occur at the 25yd line and the
defensive 10yd line.
B. The offense has 4 downs to achieve a first down or declare their intent to PUNT.
If a decision to punt has been made, the offense must tell the referee ahead of time.
C. There are 4 different divisions with slightly different punting rules:
1. Freshman division - Ball is thrown
2. JV Division - Ball is kicked
3. Varsity and HS Division - Ball is Kicked
(Please note: There must be a snap on all kicks, which must be released within 3 counts.
Failure to do so incurs a delay of game penalty.)
D. A ball which hits the ground on a snap or during a play is DEAD, and subsequently
marked at the spot of contact with the ground. In the Freshman Division, if a ball touch’s
the ground BEHIND the line of scrimmage, the ball is brought back to the line of
scrimmage. This rule applies to field goal attempts.
E. If a Ball Carriers Flag Falls off on its own, the defense must touch the runner with at least 1 hand.
F. Scoring
1. Touchdown = 6 points
2. Safety = 2 points (Please see #8 for penalty)
3. Extra point from the 10 yd line = 2 points (Pass or run)
4. Extra point from the 3yd line = 1 point
5. Field Goal = 3 points – (No defensive rush on the kick attempts)
(Please Note: Freshman and JV divisions punt the ball on extra point attempts and
Field Goals. All Field Goals and extra Points must be kicked within a 3 count of
the holder catching the Ball, or there will be a penalty for delay of game.)
(Please note: The "1 player run per possession rule", applies to the extra point as well!
The extra point is an extension of the scoring possession!)
6. Run back of an attempted extra point (runs only) = 2 points
2. Game Rules - Offense
A. A team must have 3 players in the BOX, and a total of at least 5 players on the line of
scrimmage.
B. The BOX consists of a Center and 2 Tight End's on each side of the Center: The Tight
Ends can be NO more than 3yds from the Center in both directions.
C. Running the football is not allowed inside the BOX at any time during the play behind
the line of scrimmage.
D. Must be distinct distance between box and other receivers.
E. All Players are eligible receivers!
F. There is NO jumping or Diving to advance the Ball, or to avoid being downed. Any
offensive players who jump or drive will be penalized.
G. There is no guarding the belt with your hands - this is called FLAG Guarding and will
be considered a penalty.
H. There must be a snap from the center to another player at the start of the play. The
snap is very liberal and can be a direct touch, a direct toss, or a snap between the legs.
I. There is NO BLOCKING, NO TACKLING, and NO using your body to SHIELD off
an opponent: all of these are penalties!
J. The offensive player cannot "Charge", or lower their shoulder to run over,
or intimidate a defensive player from making a quality attempt at removing the ball
carriers flag; this will be penalized!
K. Although there are no ineligible receivers, intentional grounding will be called if the
passer does not attempt to throw to a receiver. (There is no beyond tackle consideration)
3. Game Rules - Defense
A. Once an offensive player takes a handoff, a forward pass, or goes outside the BOX
area, all Defensive players are free to rush.
B. Also, the Defense can rush from any position, with any number of players AFTER a
count of 3 by the referee. Once the Box has been broken, all players are free to rush.
C. A rushing defender Must be at least 3yds from the line of scrimmage to be
eligible to rush after a 3count by the referee. In situations consisting of less than 3 Yds to
go for a 1st down or a touchdown, the maximum yards to line of scrimmage will be the
yards to go! (Ex. If the ball is on the 1yd line, the rush line is now the 1yd line). The
referee will place a rush PUCK on every play, to identify the rush line.
D. There is NO Blitzing before a 3 count! Any player crossing the line of scrimmage
before a 3 count is considered offside.
E. A tackle is made when the flag is separated from the player with the ball in possession.
If a ball carrier has no flags or if the flag has fallen off, he or she is considered down.
F. The line of scrimmage is spotted by the location of the BALL, NOT the Flag.
G. There is absolutely NO pushing out of bounds; Doing so will result in a penalty. The
defensive player must grab the flag of the ball carrier, and NOT push the offensive player
out of bounds.
4. Game Administration
A. There are two, 25 minutes each, Running time halves except for injury timeout, a
scoring play (after a scoring play the clock stops until the 1st plays of the next series), and
the last 2 minutes of the 2nd half.
B. During the last 2 minutes of the 2nd Half, the Clock stops as it would in HS Football –
I.E., after an incomplete pass/out of bounds/1st Down (until the ball is set) / and a
defensive penalty (an offensive penalty the clock runs after the administration of the
penalty).
C. 4-time outs per team, for the entire game (Each time out is 1 minute each).
D. Play starts when the snapped ball touches the 2nd player.
E. The Offensive team has 35 seconds to snap the Ball, after the setting of the line of
scrimmage by the referee. (Freshman Division has 40 seconds)
F. On attempted kicks, the offense must declare to the referee their intent, and
successfully attempt the play in time (35 second snap, and referee's holder 3 count)- The
offense cannot fake a kick or punt, and the defense is not allowed to rush the kicker.
G. Only 1 Foot is needed in bounds to be a complete catch.
H. The referee can stop the clock on excessive time stops - Injury, equipment
malfunction, weather, etc.
5. Sportsmanship Rules
A. A Player can run with the ball only 1 time per set of downs. After running with the
ball, this player can catch an unlimited number of forward passes (beyond the Line of
scrimmage), however lateral passes are considered runs.
B. A team leading by more than 18 points CAN NOT achieve a 1st down. They must
score on 3 downs or are forced to punt on the 4th down. This rule only applies in the 2nd
half.
C. A team who is trailing by more than 24 points after a score, retains possession at the
spot of 4th down.
D. Interceptions by a team leading by more than 24pts are automatically considered dead
balls, with the trailing team retaining possession at the line of scrimmage with a 1st
down.
E. Parents/Fans of a team are not allowed to yell or be unruly towards the opposing team or refs. Refs will be Able to give warnings and /or enforce a 15-yard Penalty.
6. MISCELLANEOUS
A. Each team can have 3 (Total of 1 head coach, and 2 assistant coaches) active coaches
participating in every game. All non-participants must be on the opposite side of the field
as the players and coaches. A Penalty will be accessed for extra Coaches or Parents on
your sideline!!! It is the Head Coach's responsibility to clear the sideline; NOT THE
REFEREES.
B. Coaches on the field are as follows:
1. Freshman - 3 coaches, 1 on the field all season
2. JV - 3 coaches, 1 on the field all season (must go to sideline for play)
3. Varsity – 3 coaches, 1 on the field pre-season only
4. Middle School 3 coaches
5. Additional HS volunteers will be permitted by league approval.
C. Coin Flip Choices - Ball / Direction or Defer. If you defer choice in the 1st half, you
get choice in the 2nd half.
7. Coaching regulations
A. All Players must play at least 1/2 a game (It is advisable to have 1 coach who is
responsible for substitution only!)
B. All teams make the playoffs – Therefore, allow all the players to run, catch and
fully participate in the game; Herein lies the fun of flag football!!
C. Have written Plays so while in the huddle you can Flash a play and get in and out fast!
Referee's will call delay of game.
8. Penalties
A. Offside – Offensive and Defensive; 5yds lost or gained respectively.
B. Delay of Game – Occurs when a 35 second clock expires, or after a 3 count expires -
5yds lost by the Offense.
C. Diving or jumping - 5yds from the spot of the dive/jump and the loss of a down.
D. Pass interference - Defense – Ball placed at the spot of the foul; Offense - 5yd loss,
and the loss of a down.
E. Blocking / Tackling / Shielding /Charging/ or pushing out of bounds - 10yds from the
spot of occurrence.
F. Personal foul – To be taken extremely seriously! 10yds - usually dead ball (In the case
of 2 personal fouls on each team, yards are offsetting BUT both players sit out the series!)
G. QB over line - 5yd loss - loss of down.
H. Flag guarding - 5 yd loss from spot of occurrence, and the loss of a down.
I. Intentional Grounding - 5 yd loss from the line of scrimmage, resulting in the loss of a
down.
J. Taunting - 10 Yard Penalty. To be handed out extremely liberally to avoid escalation.
K. Fighting - Automatic ejection, suspension for the next game. The Commissioner must
be made aware of any fights and the surrounding circumstances!
L. Flag Belt obstruction - Either knotting, tucking or securing the belt to inhibit the flag
from being removed - 15yd penalty. The perpetrating player is out for the full series, and
forewarned of second time game suspension.
M. Flag placement- The flag must be connected in front of the player with
The flags on side and back of the player. First time is a warning second time is
a 5yd loss form the line of scrimmage repeat the down. (One warning per team)
N. Offense running through the "box" – 5yd Penalty loss of down.
O. Safety – punt from your own 5-yard line.
No overtime until playoffs
