NFL Flag Rules

NJ Elite Flag Football Rules NJ Elite Flag Football League Rules

Game Start & Possession Rules (Quick Summary)

Coin Toss: Both teams meet at midfield. The visiting team calls the coin toss.
- Winner chooses offense or defense.
- Loser chooses direction.
- No option to defer. Teams switch sides at halftime.
Starting the Game:
- Offense begins at their own 5-yard line.
- Teams have 4 downs to cross midfield.
- After crossing midfield, they get 3 downs to score.
4th Down Options (Before Midfield):
- Punt: Other team starts at their 5-yard line.
- Go for it: If they fail, the other team takes over at the spot of the 4th down play.
- Coaches must declare 'Punt or Play' immediately when asked. Delay of game can be called if not.
- A timeout can be used to change the decision before the play clock runs out.
After Crossing Midfield:
- If the offense fails to score in 3 downs, the ball changes possession and the other team starts from its own 5-yard line.

Equipment Rules (Quick Summary)

Required Gear:
- Official NFL FLAG belt and flags (must contrast with shorts).
- Mouthguards must be worn at all times.
- Age-appropriate footballs will be provided.
Footwear:
- Sneakers/cleats are mandatory. All games will be played on the turf field.
- No metal cleats allowed.
Optional Gear:
- Players may wear gloves, elbow/knee pads, soft-shell helmets, halos, and sunglasses (must be secure).
- Forearms, hands, and fingers may be taped.
- Prescription glasses allowed (strap optional).
Prohibited Items:
- No jewelry, hats, or metal braces on the field.
- Jerseys must be tucked in.
Shorts/Pants:
- No pockets or belt loops recommended.
- Games will not pause for players to tape pockets.
Additional Notes:
- Players should bring their own belts and mouthguards (extras may be available to purchase).
- Electronic communication between players and coaches/spectators during play is strictly prohibited and results in immediate disqualification.

Timing & Overtime (Quick Summary)

Game Length:
- Games are 40 minutes total – split into two 20-minute halves.
- Running clock unless there’s an injury, halftime, or official timeout.
- Halftime is 2 minutes.
Play Clock:
- Once the ball is spotted, teams have 40 seconds to snap.
Timeouts:
- Each team gets three 30-second timeouts for the whole game.
Mercy Rule:
- If a team gains a 35-point lead, the game ends.
- Teams may choose to continue playing (score will not change).

Overtime Rules

If the game is tied at the end of regulation, overtime is played.
Coin Toss:
- Home team calls the toss. Winner chooses offense or defense.
- Teams alternate this choice in each additional OT round.
Field Position:
- Referee decides which end of the field is used for all overtime.

Overtime Format:

1st Overtime:
- Each team gets 1 play from:
  - 5-yard line for 1 point, or
  - 10-yard line for 2 points.
- If Team A scores, Team B must match or beat it. If not, game is over.
2nd Overtime:
- Each team must go for 2 points from the 10-yard line.
3rd Overtime:
- Each team gets 1 play from their 5-yard line.
- The team that gains the most yards wins and is awarded 1 point.

Additional OT Notes:

No timeouts in overtime.
Each team gets 1 coach’s challenge (must be a rule misapplication, not a judgment call).
Interceptions can be returned for 2 points and end the game in any OT round.

Scoring Guide (Quick Summary)

Touchdown: 6 points
Extra Point (PAT):
- 1 point – from 5-yard line (must be a pass)
- 2 points – from 10-yard line (can be a run or pass)
Interceptions:
- Returned during regulation = 6 points
- Returned on extra points or in overtime = 2 points
Safety: 2 points
- Occurs when a ball-carrier is downed in their own end zone due to:
  - Flag pulled
  - Stepping out of bounds
  - Knee or arm touching ground
  - Flag falling off
  - Fumbled or mis-snapped ball in the end zone
PAT Decision:
- Must be declared immediately after a touchdown.
- Changing the decision requires a timeout.
- No changes allowed after a penalty.
Mercy Rule:
- Game ends if one team leads by 35 points.
Forfeits:
- Scored as 35-0 in favor of the winning team.

Coaching Guidelines

Coaches, officials, and scorekeepers must verify the final score sheet after the game.
If a coach does not verify, the scorekeeper's record will stand as final.

Live Ball & Dead Ball Rules (Quick Summary)

Live Ball:
- The ball becomes live at the snap and remains live until whistled dead by an official.
Line of Scrimmage / Neutral Zone:
- Officials mark both.
- Entering the neutral zone early is an automatic dead ball foul.
- Officials may give a courtesy warning to allow players to adjust.
In-Bounds Catch:
- A player catching the ball is considered in bounds if they land with one foot or body part (except hands)inbounds while maintaining possession.
Substitutions:
- Allowed any time the ball is dead.
No Signal Mimicking:
- Defense cannot simulate offensive signals to confuse players.
- Violations result in unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Head Coach.
Who Can Stop Play:
- Any official may whistle the play dead.

When the Ball is Dead:

Play ends when:

The ball hits the ground (from a snap, lateral, or pitch – ball is spotted where it lands).
The flag is pulled.
The ball-carrier steps out of bounds.
A touchdown, PAT, or safety is scored.
The ball-carrier's knee, shin, leg, forearm, or arm touches the ground.
The ball-carrier’s flag falls off.
A receiver catches the ball with 1 or 0 flags attached.
The 7-second pass clock expires.
There is an inadvertent whistle.
The ball-carrier dives, jumps, or hurdles another player (exception: diving to catch a pass or pull a flag is allowed).

Fumbles:

Ball is dead at the spot where it contacts the ground after loss of possession.

Inadvertent Whistle Options:

If the whistle is blown accidentally:

Take the ball where the whistle blew and let the down count, OR
Replay the down from the original spot.

If this happens on the last play of a half or game, the offense gets one untimed down with the same options.

Timeout for Rule Questions:

A team may use a timeout to question a rule.
- If the ref's call is correct, the timeout is charged.
- If incorrect, the timeout is not charged and the correct ruling is enforced.

Running Game Rules (Quick Summary)

Spot of the Ball:
- The ball is spotted where it is when the flag is pulled.
Quarterback Rules:
- The QB may not run across the line of scrimmage.
- The QB is defined as the player who receives the snap.
Hand-Offs & Laterals:
- Allowed only behind the line of scrimmage.
- Once a handoff, pitch, or lateral occurs:
  - The 7-second pass clock ends.
  - The defense can rush.
- If the ball is handed off and then crosses the line of scrimmage, and possession is lost, the play is dead at that spot.
- “Center sneak” handoffs to the center are not allowed.
No-Run Zones:
- Runs are not allowed within:
  - 5 yards before midfield (first down zone)
  - 5 yards before the goal line (scoring zone)
Jumping/Leaping:
- Not allowed while advancing the ball.
- Play is stopped and ball is spotted where the jump occurred.
- Allowed only for:
  - Avoiding contact
  - Jump cuts or spins
  - QB passing motion
Possession Rules:
- Once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage, only the ball-carrier may have possession.
Blocking / Screening:
- Not allowed at any time.
Off-Ball Movement:
- Offensive players near the ball-carrier must stop moving once the play crosses the line of scrimmage.
Flag Obstruction:
- Jerseys must be tucked in and flags must be visible and unobstructed.
- Deliberate obstruction = flag guarding penalty.
Legal Handoff:
- Defined as a complete transfer of possession between offensive players.

Passing Rules (Quick Summary)

One Forward Pass per Play:
- Must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.
- The ball must cross the line of scrimmage to be legal (unless touched by a defender).
Shovel Passes:
- Allowed if thrown forward from behind the line and caught beyond the line of scrimmage.
No Intentional Grounding:
- The QB may throw the ball anywhere beyond the line of scrimmage to avoid a sack.
7-Second Pass Clock:
- QB must pass within 7 seconds of the snap.
- If not, the play is dead, the down counts, and the ball returns to the line of scrimmage.
- The 7-second rule ends after a handoff, pitch, or lateral.
Illegal Forward Pass:
- If the QB throws and then catches their own pass, it's ruled incomplete and the play is dead.

Receiving Rules (Quick Summary)

Eligible Receivers:
- All players are eligible to catch passes, including the QB if the ball has been handed off or pitched first.
In-Bounds Catch:
- Receiver must land with at least one foot or body part in bounds while maintaining possession.
Simultaneous Possession:
- If offense and defense both catch the ball at the same time, the offense gets possession.
Interceptions:
- Returnable for 6 points during regular play.
- Returnable for 2 points during PATs or overtime.

Rushing the Passer (Quick Summary)

Rushing Basics:
- Only 1–2 players may rush the QB per play.
- Rushers must start at least 7 yards from the line of scrimmage.
- Rushers must raise a hand pre-snap to identify themselves and must rush immediately at the snap — no delayed rushes allowed.
- Tiny Elites (Grades K-2), no rushing is allowed.
After a Handoff or Lateral:
- Once the ball is handed off, pitched, or lateraled backward, any defender may cross the line of scrimmage.
Rush Line Marker:
- A 7-yard rush line will be marked by an official or visible marker.
- Check with the official to confirm proper position before each play.

Legal vs. Illegal Rush

✅ Legal Rushes:

1–2 players rushing from the 7-yard marker.
Any defender rushing after a handoff, lateral, or backward pitch.

❌ Penalties (5 yards & 1st down):

Illegal Rush: Rusher leaves early or isn't 7 yards back at snap.
Encroachment: Any defender crosses the line before the snap.
Impeding the Rusher: Offense blocks or moves into the rusher's pre-snap path.
Jumping the Rush Line: Not a penalty unless rusher crosses the LOS before a legal ball movement.

💡 Note: Teams are not required to rush the QB due to the 7-second pass clock.

Sacks & Contact Rules

Sack:
- QB’s flag is pulled behind the line of scrimmage.
- Ball is spotted where possession is at the time of the flag pull.
Safety:
- If a sack occurs in the offensive end zone, it results in a 2-point safety.
Blocking the Pass:
- Rushers may attempt to block a pass without making contact.
- Unintentional contact may be excused, but otherwise it’s roughing the passer.

Flag Pulling Rules (Quick Summary)

Legal Flag Pull:
- Only allowed when the ball-carrier is in full possession of the ball.
Defensive Conduct:
- Defenders may dive to pull flags but cannot tackle, hold, or run through the ball-carrier.
- Stripping the ball is not allowed.
Fallen or Missing Flags:
- If a player’s flag falls off during a play, they are down immediately at the spot where the flag lands.
- If a player gains possession with only 1 or no flags, the play is dead at that spot.
Illegal Flag Pulls:
- Pulling flags from a player who doesn’t have the ball is not allowed.
Flag Guarding (Not Allowed):
- The ball-carrier cannot block access to their flags using:
  - Hands, arms, ball, head, shoulder, or jersey
  - No stiff arms or jersey covering

Formations & Offensive Rules (Quick Summary)

Offensive Formation:
- Must have at least 1 player on the line of scrimmage (usually the center), up to 4 allowed.
- The quarterback must line up off the line.
Motion Rules:
- Only 1 player may be in motion at the snap.
- Motion must be parallel or backward, and the player must be off the line of scrimmage.
Shifting:
- Players may shift positions, but all must be set for 1 full second before the snap.
Snap Requirements:
- The center must snap the ball between the legs in one continuous motion.
- The ball must completely leave the center’s hands.
False Starts:
- Any movement simulating a snap by a set player is a false start.

Conduct & Sportsmanship Rules

Zero Tolerance for Physical Play:
- Intentional contact (tackling, elbowing, blocking, cheap shots) = ejection.
- No appeals on ejections.
Language & Behavior:
- No offensive or confrontational language allowed.
- Officials may issue unsportsmanlike penalties or ejections based on behavior.
- No verbal or physical abuse toward anyone.
Ball-Carrier Responsibility:
- Must avoid contact with defenders who have an established position.
Defensive Conduct:
- Must allow free release off the line for offensive players.
- Cannot run through the ball-carrier to pull a flag.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties

Defense: +10 yards & automatic first down
Offense: -10 yards & loss of down

2 unsportsmanlike penalties = ejection (with possible additional discipline)

Defensive Spot Fouls:

Foul	Penalty
Defensive pass interference	Automatic first down
Holding/ illegal contact	+5 yards and automatic first down
Stripping	+5 yards and automatic first down

Offensive Spot Fouls:

Foul	Penalty
Screening or blocking	-5 yards and loss of down
Charging	-5 yards and loss of down
Flag guarding	-5 yards and loss of down
Holding/ illegal contact	-5 yards and loss of down

Defensive Penalties:

Foul	Penalty
Defensive unnecessary roughness	+10 yards and automatic first down
Offensive unsportsmanlike conduct	+10 yards and automatic first down
Offside / illegal substitution	+5 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down
Illegal rush (Starting rush from inside 7-yard marker)	+5 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down
Illegal flag pull (Before the receiver has the ball)	+5 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down
Roughing the passer	+5 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down
Taunting	+10 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down

Offensive Penalties:

Foul	Penalty
Offensive unnecessary roughness	-10 yards and loss of down
Offensive unsportsmanlike conduct	-10 yards and loss of down
Offside / false start / illegal substitution	-5 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down
Illegal forward pass (Any pass received or lands behind the line of scrimmage or throwing a pass after crossing the line of scrimmage)	-5 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down
Offensive pass interference	-5 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down
Illegal motion (More than one person moving)	-5 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down
Delay of game	-5 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down
Impeding the rusher	-5 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down
Illegal Procedure	-5 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down
Taunting	-10 yards from line of and loss of down