Nashville Adult Flag Football League
7-Man
Eligible Screen– (No
Contact)
Tournament Play
7 Players per side. Less than 5 would result in a forfeit. You may start with 5 players.
Field 80X40 yards, First downs by crossing the 20-40-20.
Team areas-all coaches and players must be within the 20 yard lines.
League: All rosters are due by Week 1 game. Final rosters are due by the 4th game of the season.
Only the TEAM CAPTAINS may ASK the referee questions about rule clarification or interpretations. Players cannot question judgement calls.
Game Time
Periods (halves) will be 18 minutes with a running clock until the last 2 minutes of each half.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Spiking and aggressively throwing the flag after removal will constitute an unsportsmanlike foul.
Sliking, spinning or throwing the ball, other gestures to taunt opponents or to draw attention to oneself will be an unsportsmanlike foul.
Players are not allowed to wear hewelry. In each game the first player will be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Other players on that team violating this rule during the game or overtime(s) will be ejected and the team penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
TIE GAME
Tie games are decided by the shoot-out method. Each team is given the ball an equal number of times. Each team gets 4 downs from the 10 yard line. Defense may return the ball for a touchdown. Extra Points are attempted.
THE GAME
Winner of the coint toss can choose when to exercise their option (first or second half)
A. Overrtime coin toss-winner has the choice of ball, defense or goal to defend.
B. In additional overtime periods, choice is made alternately by teams.
THE FIELD, PLAYERS and EQUIPMENT
Two ball spotters will be used. The orange ball spotter will mark the forward most point of the football. The yellow ball spotter will mark the defensive scrimmage line. The ball spotters will always be 1 yard apart.
Jersey's must be long enough so they remain tucked in the pants during the entire down or short enough so there is a minimum of 4" from the bottom of the jersey to the players waistline.
Each player must wear pants which do not have belt loops, pockets, belts or exposed drawstrings. The pants must be different color than the flags. Players of opposing teams must wear contrasting colored jerseys without pockets.
Penalty for improper dress - the player cannot play.
KICKS/FREE KICKS
Kickoffs are to start the first half and second half only. After a touchdown is scored, the offense starts from their 15 yard line.
Only kicker and holder can be offsides between ready for play and kick.
Violations of above results in dead ball encroachment foul.
There are no onside kicks.
Kickoffs are from the 20 yard line. On fouls or kicks out of bounds, "R" team will have options of moving "K" team back 5 yards and re-kicking, taking the ball at the 35 yard line or taking the ball at the point where it went out of bounds.
A rolling or dead ball may be picked up and advanced by the receiving team.
PROTECTED SCRIMMAGE KICK
Must be announced by referee after asking the team captain on the fourth down how they want to play the down: Kick or run a scrimmage play.
There are no quick kicks-illegal kick
Protected scrimmage kick formation.
Kicking team must have at least four on scrimmage line. Kicker must be at least five (5) yards behind line to receive snap.
Kicker must kick immediately upon receiving the snap. If not, it is an illegal procedure (5 yards)
Neither kickers nor receivers can release until ball is kicked.
Scrimmage kicks that are not announced are illegal kicks (10 yards)
If a time-out is taken by either team, "K" team can change decision concerning a kick or an announced scrimmage play. Also, a decision can be changed if down is repeated because of penalty.
SNAP
One continuous motion to a back at least 2 yards behind scrimmage line on scrimmage plays and protected scrimmage kick. Ther CANNOT be a hand-to-hand center exchange on the snap. This would be an illegal snap.
Illegal snap is a dead ball foul.
DEFLAGGING/TAGGING
Runners must not guard flags with ball, hands or shoulders.
Flags must not be attached to runner in any way that one pull will not deflag the runner. (Flag tampering results in a 10 yard penalty and disqualification)
If a runner loses his/her flag belt, a one hand tag by the opposing team between knee and shoulder will end the run. Touching the head or below the knee will not stop the play.
Runner scoring a touchdown must raise hands so nearest official can deflag the scorer.
Intentional deflagging of an offensive by a defensive player results in a 10 yard penalty.
Deflagger may leave feet to deflag runner.
SCREEN BLOCKING
Screen Blocking only. The following fundamentals apply:
A) Blocker must set a screen, similar to a legal basketball "pick".
B) Arms must be at your sides or behind your back. Do not initiate contact with the opponent or you will be penalized 10 yards.
C) Any use of the hands, arms, elbows, legs or body to initiate contact is illegal.
D) Blocker may not take a position closer than a normal step when behind a stationary opponent.
E) Blocker may not make contact when assuming a position at the side or in front of a stationary opponent.
F) Blocker may not take a position so close to a moving opponent that his/her opponent cannot avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. The speed of the player to be screened will determine where the screener may take his/her stationary position. This position will vary and may be 1 or 2 normal steps or strides from the opponent.
No interlocked interference by grasping or encircling one another in any manner.
PENALTIES THAT RESULT IN LOSS OF DOWN
Illegal forward pass in all cases except after change of possession illegal pass.
Illegal forward handling
Backward pass out of bounds to stop clock
Illegal backwards pass.
FOULS THAT CREATE AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWNS
Defensive pass interference
Roughing the passer
An Illegal secured flag belt
P. Rule decisions are final after ball is next legally snapped.
Inadvertant Whistle
Replay down if ball is loose on pass or kick.
Replay down or take player resuklts option to team whose player is in possession at time of whistle.
OVERTIME
Each team is given four downs from the 10 yard line
Toss is made for:
A. Defense of offense first or:
B. End of field overtime will be played
Choice on other overtime periods is made on an alternate basis. If red won the toss, blue has second overtime choice.
If a team scores on first down, their series of downs is over.
If the defense intercepts the ball and scores a touchdown the game is over. If interception does not result in a touchdown, overtime is over if defense has played its series in the overtime; Otherwise the defense gets their series of plays.
Extra points will be played if the contest has not been decided.
One overtime, if necessary will be used in regular season play. After on overtime, a tie game is recorded. Tournament play overtime will continue until winner is decided.
GAME TIME
Playing time shall be 36 minutes divided into two halves of eighteen minutes each. The intermission between halves shall be five minutes. When overtime is used there will be a three minute iuntermission.
The clock will start when the ball is legally snapped or the kickoff is legally touched. It will run continuously for the first sixteen minutes unless it is stopped for:
A. Score (touchdown or safety) - starts with snap at fifteen (15) yard line if no penalty is enforced.
B. Team time out - starts on the snap
C. Referee's Time out - starts based upon referee's play.
Approximately two minutes (2) before end of each half the referees shall stop the clock and inform both captains of the playing time remaining in the half. Whether the clock starts depends on the previous play. The back judge will announce the remaining time to both team captains after each play in the last two (2) minutes.
During the final two (2) minutes of each half, the clock will stop for a:
A. Incomplete Pass - starts on the snap
B. Out-of-Bounds - starts on snap
C. Score (touchdown or safety) - starts when the kickoff is legally touched.
D. Team time out - starts on snap
E. First Down - dependent on previous play.
F. Fair Catch - starts on snap
G. Penalty and administration - dependent on the previous play. (Exception: delay of game-starts on the snap)
H. Referee's time-out - starts at his/her discretion
I. Touchback - starts on the snap
J. Change of Possession - dependent on the previous play
K. Teams attempting to conserve time illegally - start on the snap.
Penalties:
5 yard penalties include (motion, offside, encroachment, defensive
holding, illegal sleeper).
10 yard penalties include most of the other infractions such as (flag
guarding, illegal block, illegal contact, roughing the passer, defensive
holding)Note: All defensive fouls include first down.
15 yard penalties are for unsportsmanlike conduct. All penalties not included in the flag/touch rules will be
enforced as in the NFL.
Head referee can overturn calls by the other officials.
Verbal abuse of the officials will not be tolerated. The player may be ejected from the game and suspended for an
additional 2 games. 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. 1)If
2 players get into a shoving/wrestling match, they may be ejected.
2) If punches are thrown, they will be ejected and may be
suspended 2 games. 3)Any
players leaving the sidelines may be ejected and in all situations
listed fines may be enforced.
Trash talking, racial or religious remarks will not be tolerated.
Players will be ejected immediately.
If any player/coach bumps or assaults referee, his team will forfeit all
remaining games and all money will be forfeited. League reserves the right to suspend any player or team for
unsportsmanlike conduct. ALL
money will be forfeited.
Teams may be put on warning for verbal abuse, fighting, littering or any
action that is deemed unsportsmanlike by the referees or the league.
Teams are not required to get a warning, your warning is stated
at the league meeting prior to each season.
No littering on fields. Excessive
littering on the grounds for disqualification from future games and
fines. Please pick up your
teams trash, so we can use the fields in the future.
No alcohol is allowed on premises.
It is illegal. Thank
you.
Please remember that this is a recreational football league.
The referees and league will give all their effort to provide
your team with comparable competition.
Most importantly, HAVE FUN.
Protest – 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.
The protest fee is $25.00
A Player can only play on one team in a specific style, unless it is a
forfeited game. For
example, you can play on a 8-Man, 5-Man, 4-Man and a Co-ed style. If you are caught playing for another team in the same style,
you may be kicked off both teams. You
may play in all 5 leagues if the schedule permits.
If your team forfeits any games the team may be dropped from the league
without any refund.