INTERNATIONAL FLAG FOOTBALL FEDERATION

8 MAN RULES

Linemen Ineligible (Contact)
Center and Two Guards cannot catch a pass

OVERVIEW:

Ø       8 Players per side, less than 6 would result in a forfeit. You may start with 6 players.

Ø       Field 80x40 yards First downs by crossing the 20-40-20.

Ø       Team area-all coaches and players must be between the 20-yard lines.

Ø       All rosters are final after the first game. Max roster 16 players

KICKOFFS:

Ø       Toss choices-receive, kick, direction or defer.

Ø       All kickoffs must be from a tee or held. Kickoffs are from the 20 yd. line unless there is a penalty.

Ø       Both teams kick and receive from their own 20-yard line. A kick must travel at least 20 yards before

                the kicking team can recover; otherwise the ball is dead at the spot it is downed.  Kickoffs

                only to start game and 2^nd half and last 2 minutes of the game (onsite kick off rule)

Ø       Any kickoff that travels out of bounds is placed on the 35. Touchbacks are placed at the 20.

Ø       An untouched ball that has traveled over the receiving team's 40 yard line on the fly or bounce can

be possessed by the kicking team.

Ø       Receiving team must have 4 players on the 40.

Ø       No passing, except laterals are allowed on the kickoff.

 

Ø       During the last two minutes of the second half only, all free kicks that follow scores must be returned by R to R’s 20 yard line or further(after all penalties that occur have been assessed), or K shall receive ball at the 40 yardline,1^st down and the next zone line to gain.

PUNTING:

Ø       All punts are declared. It is a free kick. No fake punts.

Ø       Punter must be at least 3 yards behind the center. Defense must have 4 players on the line.

Ø       No one may move until the ball is kicked.

Ø       Penalty-Illegal procedure: 5 yards.

Ø       Open hands blocking is allowed by the receiving team.

EXTRA POINTS:

Ø       Extra point option: 2 points if run or pass from the 10 yd. line or 1 point if run or pass from the 3.

Ø       The captain must tell the referee which extra point option is desired.

Ø       Once declared, it costs a timeout to change this choice. You may not change the choice after a

penalty.

Ø       Defense can return an interception on the extra point for 2 points.

RULES ABOUT THE CLOCK:

Ø       Game consists of two 18 minute halves with stopped clock only after scores, and in the last 2 minutes

of each half.

Ø       25-second play clock is in effect.

Ø       Two timeouts per half.

Ø       Half time is 3 minutes.

Ø       In the last 2 minutes, the clock will stop on incomplete passes and player going out of bounds.

Ø       kickoff is a fair catch or there is a penalty.

Ø       After accepted penalties, the clock starts on the snap.

Ø       After a first down, the clock starts on the set of the ball.

TIE GAMES:

The shoot out method decides tie games:

Ø       Each team is given the ball an equal number of times.

Ø       Each team gets 4 downs from the 10 yard line.

·      Defense may return the ball for a touchdown.

·      Extra points are attempted.

SPECIAL RULES:

Ø       Offense must have 4 players on the line of scrimmage. TE must be a step in the backfield if receiver lines up on the line.

Ø       Offensive line must be balanced (Tkle-Ctr-Tkle)(One foot apart)
Defense Line needs to be head to head with Off Line (Tkle-Ctr-Tkle)(Silver & Bronze Div)

Ø       The ball is dead when it hits the ground. No fumbles.

Ø       Receivers must have 2 feet in bounds and can advance the ball after a diving catch unless he is touched on the ground.

Ø       If player inadvertently loses the flag belt, one hand touch prevails. If the player starts the play without a belt, the penalty is a loss of down.

Ø       No sleeper plays and no diving.
Ball Carrier is down when ball or his knee touch the ground.

Ø       Inadvertent whistles-play is blown dead. Ball is spotted at the most forward foot.

Ø       No lineman, except the center, can get into a three-point stance.
Ball is spotted where belt is, not the ball.(players cannot roll into the endzone)

Ø       OFFENSIVE PLAYERS MUST KEEP THEIR SHIRTS TUCKED IN THEIR PANTS, OR THE  REFEREE CAN RULE YOU DOWN.

EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS:

Ø       No metal cleats.

Ø       No pockets or belt loops on pants.

Ø       Supply your own flag belts.  Flag A Tag SONIC Flags are the official Flags. We sell them through the

tournament information tent.

Ø       Teams must have numbered jerseys.

Ø       Each team will supply their own ball. We try to have some available for purchase at one of the

tournament tents.

Ø       No arm pads, hands or wrist pads. Soft kneepads may be worn on knee.

Ø       Baseball, football or golf gloves may be worn.

Ø       No caps with extended bills.

DEFENSIVE RULES:

Ø       Blocking-OPEN HANDS ONLY. Open means open hands extended from the elbow, not loaded-up from

the sides.  Allowed on kickoffs/ punts or any scrimmage play.

Ø       No slapping at the ball, when it is the ball carrier's hands. Penalty: Unsportsmanlike conduct: 15 yards and

first down or penalty can be tacked on to the play.

Ø       The defender cannot use contact to break up a pass. Penalty-Illegal contact: 10 yards and first down.

Ø       Only one bump/chuck is allowed and it must be within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage.

Ø       Do not make contact with the passer above his waist under ANY circumstance. Go for his flag. Penalty-

Roughing: 10 yards and first down or penalty can be tacked on to the play.

Ø       No defensive holding. Penalty-5 yards and first down.

Ø       No tackling. (10 yards + the play). Any tackle within 10 yards of the end zone or in a "last defender"

situation, officials can judge the play a touchdown.

Ø       No pushing ball carrier out of bounds. Penalty-Roughing: 10 yards and first down or tacked on to the end

of the play.

GUARDING THE FLAG BELT:

Runner shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull the flag belt. Penalty: 10 yards  & loss of down. Flag guarding includes:

A) Swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.

B) Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.

C) Lowering the shoulders in such a manner that the defender is shielded from the flag.

D) Holding the flag belt with the off hand.

E) Stiff arming or running directly into the defender.

* Inverted Flags are an unsportsmanlike foul, 15 yards from previous spot & loss of down.

PENALTIES:

Ø       5 yard penalties include (motion, offside, encroachment, defensive holding, illegal sleeper)

Ø       10 yard penalties include most of the other infractions such as (flag guarding, illegal block, defensive holding illegal contact, roughing the passer)

Ø       Note: 15-yard penalties are for unsportsmanlike conduct. All penalties not included in the flag/touch rules

will be enforced as in the N.F.L.

* defender must hand Flag back to opponent-10 yard penalty

Head Referee can overturn calls by the other officials.  Verbal abuse of the officials will not be tolerated. The player

will be ejected from the game and suspended from the tournament. If conduct persists from the same team, official has the right to declare a forfeit. This applies to fans as well.

Fighting will not be tolerated. If one player from your team is involved in a skirmish, he/she will be immediately ejected from the rest of the tournament.  If 2 or more players get into a shoving/wrestling match, THE ENTIRE TEAM will be ejected and suspended from the rest of the tournament, and all monies are forfeited. If any player/coach bumps assaults a referee, his team will forfeit all remaining games and all money will be forfeited.

Trash talking, racial or religious remarks will not be tolerated. Players will be ejected immediately.

We reserve the right to suspend any player or team for unsportsmanlike conduct. All money will be forfeited.

No littering on the fields. Excessive littering is grounds for disqualification. Please pick up your team’s trash, so we can avoid fines and use the fields in the future.

No alcohol is allowed on premises. Sounds like a commercial, but it's against the law.

Please remember that this is a recreational football tournament. The referees and tournament organizers will give all their effort to provide your team with comparable competition. Most importantly, have fun.

Protests - a coach has the right to protest an official's interpretation of the rules provided that the protest is made immediately before the next live ball. A coach may also protest a player's eligibility.  Protests are $25 each.

A player can only play on one team in a specific division. For example, you can only play on one or each: 8, 7 or 4-man team. If you are caught playing for another team within the same division, you may be kicked off both teams.

If your team forfeits any games, that team will be dropped from the tournament without any refund.

* All suspended players will not be permitted at the World Cup.
 

SPORTSMANSHIP:
13-1-Defender must hand flag back to ball carrier.(15 yard personal foul Penalty)
13-1-Onside Kick Rule- Last 2 Minutes of Game; the receiving team must return    the ball to the 20 or beyond (unless Touchback), or the defense gets the ball on the 40.
 

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