HOUSTON SPORTSPLEX
OFFICIAL CO-ED FLAG-FOOTBALL
RULES
The Houston Sportsplex will follow T.A.A.F. Flag Football rules with some exceptions. Version 2
OVERVIEW
8 players on the field (5
Males/3 females)
Two 20-minute halves w/7 Play
Period – 2 Time Outs per half
Running clock for entire
game
Must cross one 20 yard
marker for a first down
6-point touchdowns
Choice of 1 or 2 extra
points on P.A.T.'s (3 paces/yards for 1 Pt., 10 paces/yards for 2 pts.)
NEW RULE: TWO
POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPTS MAY BE INTERCEPTED AND RETURNED FOR TWO POINTS
Dead ball on all fumbles
Quarterbacks cannot snap the
ball to themselves
A 5 second rush count will
be used and counted by the officials
NEW
RULE: EACH TEAM WILL HAVE 2 AUTOMATIC BLITZES PER HALF
A bubble zone is in effect
around the center (1 yd in front & 1 yard to either side)
PLAYERS ACTING AS OFFENSIVE
LINEMAN MUST HAVE HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACK WHEN PROTECTING THEIR QUARTERBACK
FROM PURSUING DEFENSIVE RUSHERS. THERE
IS NO CONTACT AT OR BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.
Four-Downs-and-Out format
applies for overtime.
Receivers need only on foot
in-bounds with possession of the ball to be considered “in bounds”
COIN
FLIP/BEGINNING OF GAME The team that wins the coin flip at the start of the game must choose
one of three options: 1) offense, 2) defense 3) direction. Teams flip flop
direction, and the team that lost the coin flip has the option of offense or
defense. There are no kick-offs. Play starts 20 paces/yards from the goal
line.
TEAM
SIZE
· If a team substitutes
players during the game, they must do so from the same sideline the entire game.
· There
is no maximum limit to the amount of females that must be on the field.
To ensure coed participation, a penalty will ensue if the offensive team fails
to use a female as an operative player within 3 consecutive downs.
An
Operative Player is defined as a player who:
· is the intended receiver in
the eyes of the official
· runs the ball as the primary
runner
· receives the snap as the QB
and must attempt to be the person who initiates the ball crossing the line of
scrimmage, either passing or running – unless she is sacked.
· receives the snap and
immediately spikes the ball at her feet
An
Operative Player is NOT defined as a player who:
· hands off the football
· snaps the ball into play
· receives a hand-off only to
give it back to a male before crossing the line of scrimmage
Examples:
· a pass deflected by a male
and caught by a female is a female play
· a pass intended for a female
(in the eyes of the referee) that is deflected by a female, and caught
by a male counts as a female play
· a pass thrown by a male,
received by a male and immediately pitched to a female (the “hook and ladder”) will
not constitute a female play - no matter how far the female advances
with the ball after the pitch
· a pass intentionally
grounded by a female in the last two minutes of the second half in order to
stop the clock counts as a female play
· if a female pitches the ball
to a male behind the line of scrimmage this will not result in a female play.
The
penalty for running 3 consecutive plays without a female as an “operative
player” will be a 5-yrd penalty and loss of down (i.e. if it was 1st
down during the penalty, it is now 2nd down) and the female must now
be the operative player on the next play. If on this play a male catches or
runs the ball: loss of down, the play is ruled "dead", and the ball
is marked back 5 yards, and the next play must be a female play.
Plays
utilizing a female and resulting in “loss of down” penalties will still be
considered “female” plays. Plays
utilizing a female resulting in a non-loss of down penalty will not count as a
gender play. The play never existed.
The slate is clean for extra points and punts and
everyone is eligible.
THE
DREADED SACK
If a male is the QB on a play which could either be
to a male or female and the QB is sacked the ball is spotted where he was
sacked and the play stands as a male play, no matter who was the intended
receiver. If a team was forced to use a female as the operative player
and the male QB is sacked the play stands as a female play and the offensive
team does not have to use a female on the next play.
TIME
Play will be divided into (2) 20-minute halves with a
running clock. Teams flip flop direction, and the team that lost the coin flip
has the choice of offense or defense.
The clock runs continuously with the exception of time-outs and serious
injury. Each team is allowed two (one-minute) time outs per half. If a team takes a time out after a
touchdown, prior to the extra point attempt, the clock will not start until the
defensive team takes over on offense and snaps the ball.
***THE CLOCK DOES NOT STOP ON FIRST DOWNS OR FUMBLES.
For
the entire game, the offensive team has 30 seconds to snap the ball once
the referee spots the ball. If the referee feels that this is being taking
advantage of, they can:
·
On
the first recognized abuse - Stop the clock.
·
On
subsequent abuses - Stop clock, and penalize the offense 5 paces/yards.
** If a team is up by 17 points or more, the clock
runs continuously during the last two minutes of play.
TIE
GAMES
The Four
Downs & Out Format applies in overtime.
Please refer to the OVERTIME section for details. Touchdowns are awarded
6 pts. Extra points: 3 paces/yards off the goal line = 1 pt., 10 paces/yards =
2pts.
NEW RULE: Two point conversion
attempts may be intercepted and returned for two points with the defense
retaining possession at the 20-yard line.
One-point attempts may not be intercepted and returned.
FIRST
DOWNS
Each team shall have 4 downs to either score or earn
another first down. First downs are achieved when a team crosses one 20 yd.
marker based on their original field position. If a team fails to score or earn
a first down, possession will go to the other team. Offensive teams may
elect to punt on fourth downs
PUNTS
A punt must be declared and cannot be faked. All
punts are "free" punts. A team need not snap during a punt, a dropped
snap during a punt is not a fumble. Punts
must be kicked. Punts cannot be thrown. Punts are “open” plays meaning,
there are no Male/Female rules for punts. The punting team need not have a minimum number of players on the
LOS. The returning team must have at
least 5 players within 5 yards of the LOS.
NO DOWNFIELD BLOCKING or BLOCKING AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. Neither team may cross the line of scrimmage
until the ball is kicked.
The receiving team may not raise hands or jump to
block a punt. If a punt is “shanked”
and caught it is a live ball and is returnable. The return team may field the ball off the ground if done so
cleanly. A punt through the end zone
comes back to 20 yards off the goal line. If a player drops the ball in the end
zone, the ball is again spotted 20 yards out from the goal line and is not
counted as a safety.
CONTINUANCE
OF PLAY
Play
shall continue until:
· Ball-carrier has at least
one flag pulled by an opponent (see flag specifics for the few
exceptions/additions concerning flag pulling)
· Ball-carrier leaves the
field of play
· Ball-carrier scores
· Ball touches the ground as a
result of a fumble or incomplete pass (the ball is not an extension of the
arm. If the ball is pinned between the
ground and the ball carriers hand, the play is dead)
· Ball-Carrier’s knee touches
the ground
SPOT
OF THE BALL
The
ball will be spotted where the ball-carriers hips are at, at the time his/her
flag is pulled. Ball extension does not
apply.
TURNOVERS
A change
of possession can only occur due to downs, an interception on a forward pass,
or a lateral that is picked off in mid-air by the defense. A fumble is not a
turnover. The ball is dead at the point of the fumble and the offense retains
possession.
NO
CONTACT AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
Players acting as offensive lineman must
have hands behind their back when protecting their quarterback from pursuing
defensive rushers. There is no contact
at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Offensive lineman can position their body at any particular angle in an
attempt to the direct the rushers to a particular area, but they may not
physically direct them.
PENALTIES
Normal rules and penalties of T.A.A.F. apply unless
exceptions have been made herein.
Some Common Examples of Penalties:
Illegal
Contact - At or Behind the Line of Scrimmage:
·
In
cases where the person(s) acting as the offensive lineman, initiates any
contact (at the ref’s discretion), it will be ruled a 5 yard penalty from the
line of scrimmage and we will replay the down. If this contact is deemed
excessive by the ref, an “unnecessary roughness” penalty of 10 yards can
be assessed.
Illegal
Contact - Down Field:
·
5
yards from point where ball carrier is at the time of infraction.
Off-sides (Offensive):
·
5
yards, play is ruled dead immediately, no option to decline, down is replayed.
Off-sides
(Defense):
5 yards, offense has option to decline.
Illegal
Motion:
Players may not be in motion towards the line
of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
This will result in a dead ball, five-yard penalty and repeat the down.
Offensive
Picking/Interference:
· The
offensive team may not initiate a pick/block while in motion. A pick/block will
result in a 5-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage, loss of down (i.e. if it
was 1st down during the penalty, it is now 2nd
down). If a catch is made after a clear
pick, it will be ruled no catch, 5-yard penalty from line of scrimmage, and
loss of down.
Remember: Some acceptable incidental contact will
occur while running routes and within the normal course of play, and will not
be called.
Unnecessary
Roughness:
· This includes any illegal
tag such as grabbing jerseys or excessive pushing etc. This behavior will
result in a 10-yard penalty from point of the infraction and automatic first
down. Extreme roughness will result in
ejection from the game and or league if deemed necessary by the referee and
league staff.
Defensive
Pass Interference:
· 5-yard penalty from the
point of infraction and offense is awarded an automatic first down. If the pass interference is in the end zone,
the ball comes out to the 1-yard line and it will be 1st down.
Defensive Holding:
·
5-yard
penalty from line of scrimmage, replay down. Offense can accept or decline the penalty.
Defensive Checking:
·
5-yard
penalty from line of scrimmage, replay down.
The “bump and run” will not be allowed. No player may initiate contact
at the line of scrimmage. There is no 5-yard “Bump Zone”.
Safeties:
·
A
safety will be scored if a player is:
1. Tagged down in their own end
zone (not on a punt return)
2. Runs out of bounds in their
own end zone
3. Snaps the ball out of the
end zone
4. If the offense fumbles the
ball in their own end zone
As a result, the team on defense receives 2 points,
and the team on offense must now punt a “free” kick from their own 20-yard line.
Also,
a player having intercepted a pass or received a punt in the end zone cannot be
tagged in the end zone for a safety unless he/she has previously crossed the plane
of the end zone with the ball.
Intentional Grounding
v This penalty will be called
when a passer facing an imminent loss of yardage because of pressure from the
defense, throws a forward pass, without a realistic chance of completion. 5-yard penalty from the point of
infraction. This will also result in a
loss of down (i.e. if it was 1st down during the penalty, it is now
2nd down).
Miscellaneous:
·
If
the QB crosses the line of scrimmage and then throws a forward pass the defense
can either decline the penalty or it will be a 5-yard penalty from the line of
scrimmage and loss of down (i.e. if it was 1st down during the
penalty, it is now 2nd down).
·
The
quarterback may field the ball off a bounce during the snap if done
cleanly. A snap that is muffed by or
goes past the quarterback will be down where it lands.
v The QB may NOT snap the ball
to him/herself. If the QB does snap to
him/herself, play will stop immediately and it will result in a 5-yard penalty
and repeat the down.
·
Loss
of down penalties, which occur on fourth down, will result in change of
possession.
FLAG
SPECIFICS
1)
No flag guarding *** Will result in a 10 yard penalty from the spot of
infraction. A defensive player
returning an interception who flag guards, will be penalized 10 paces/yards
from the spot of infraction.
2)
Shirt must be tucked in and flags must be securely attached. Loose hanging
articles (i.e. sweatshirts, long T-shirts, etc.) that are held/ripped will not
result in a holding penalty, unless in ref’s eyes player was not attempting to
go for flag.
3)
Any
ball carrier whose flags are (in ref’s opinion) not accessible to be pulled
will be down at 1st point of contact with the defense.
4)
Any
ball carrier who has a flag or both flags missing for whatever reason (falls
out, accidentally pulled before reception, not noticed before snap, etc.) will
be down at the first point of contact.
5) Players may leave their feet to pull a flag.
6) Spin moves will be allowed.
7) Belt grabbing will result in a 5-yard
penalty from end of play.
·
Any
belt grabbing at the end of a half or game will result in a 5 yard penalty from
point of infraction and replay of down.
If this penalty occurs within 5 yards of the end zone, the ball will be
spotted at the 1-yard line and the offense will receive one play.
OVERTIME
The Four-Down & Out format will apply to
overtime. The winner of the OT coin
toss will choose 1) offense or 2) defense.
The loser of the coin toss will choose which direction both teams will
go. Teams will attempt to score in the
same end zone. Each team will have 4 downs to score from 10 yards from the goal
line. If a team scores, they will have the opportunity to go for one or two on
the PAT. A female must be used once
within the first three plays or on the 1st and 4th downs when applicable. An
interception will result in a team losing its possession. The game will be
decided when one team scores more points in the rotation. No first downs will be awarded in overtime
except in the case of a penalty. Interceptions will result in a turnover and
may not be returned for any points.
MISCELLANEOUS
·
Receivers
need only one foot in bounds for a reception.
If in the referee’s eyes a receiver would be able to legally catch a
pass but was pushed out of bounds by a defender while in the air, a catch will
be awarded.
·
Receivers
intentionally leaving the field of play are ineligible to receive a pass. This includes the back of the end zone.
·
Excessive
roughness can get a player/team ejected from the game and or league.