Coed Flag Football Rules

THE GAME:
1. A team shall consist of a maximum of eight players (4 men, 4 women), a minimum of six (3 men, 3 women).

2. Length of field: 50 yards = (2) 5-yard end zones and (2) 25-yard halves.

3. Length of game: (2) 18-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime. During each half, the first 16 minutes is running time, stopping the clock only for a: touchdown, safety, or team timeout.

A two-minute verbal warning is given by the IM supervisor. During the final two minutes of each half, the clock will be stopped any time the play is dead.

4. Possession: Each team is given four downs to advance the ball over the center line. If this is achieved, four additional downs are given to score.

5. Timeouts: (2) timeouts per half of one-minute in duration per team (not accumulative).

KICKOFFS/PUNTING:
6. Kickoff: At the beginning of each half and after touchdowns or safeties, kickoff from the 10-yard line by a a place kick. The kicking team must stay behind the 10-yard line until the ball is kicked. The receiving team must have a minimum of four receivers behind the center line.

7. On a kickoff, if the ball touches the ground before it is caught,the ball is declared dead with the receiving team getting the ball wherever it touched the ground first.

8. Only a female may advance the ball forward from the kickoff. (Penalty: 5 yds. from spot of start of male advance.)

9. Punting: Before the down, the offensive team must inform their opponents of the intention to kick.

10. A ball kicked out-of-bounds is either a foul (penalty 5 yards from kick) or rekicked. The receiving team has the choice of which penalty will be enforced.

11. Following a touchback, the ball is placed at the 10-yard line.

12. A muffed catch (touched ball not caught) is marked dead on that spot WITH THE RECEIVING TEAM GETTING THE BALL.

13. A male may advance the ball forward from a free kick a minimum of two steps. He may carry the ball backwards or sideways for any length. (Penaly: 5 yds. from spot of male advance is more than 2 steps.)

NEUTRAL ZONE:
14. A rush count will be seven seconds (hippopotumses).

15. A defensive team must have a minimum of five players on the line of scrimmage.

16. The offensive line players must remain stationary for one second prior to the snap.

17. The player receiving the snap may be no more than 2 yards from the line of scrimmage.

18. If a snap hits the ground it is dead.

19. Two offensive players must touch the ball before it is advanced.

PASSING:
20. All players are eligible to catch a pass.

21. One foot must come down inbounds on a pass.

22. Pass interference will be penalized with a first down. Pass interference constitutes an obvious attempt to impede (such as hands on the face).

23. The ball must cross the line of scrimmage for pass interference to be called.

24. A male may complete a pass to another male only ONCE per series of downs. (Penalty: 5 yds. from spot of release and loss of down.)

BLOCKING:
25. On defensive blocking, hands may only touch the opponent inside the shoulders on the chest. No pushing.

26. On offensive blocking, hands and arms may be use for protection but elbows must be held in. No stiff-arming.

DEFLAGGING:
27. The flag belt must be worn legally attached.

28. An offensive player cannot guard the flag belt with his body. To avoided being deflagged, you may spin or jump.

29. A ball carrier who has fallen to the ground, even though not legally deflagged, is down; the play has ended.

30. If a player's flag falls off mistakenly during a play and that player is advancing the ball, he/she must now be "deflagged" with a two-hand touch.

SCORING:
31. Touchdown: 6 points (scored by man) or 9 points (scored by woman). Safety: 2 points. PAT: 1 or 2 points

32. A player scoring a touchdown must be able to legally detach his/her belt and show the IM supervisor.

33. Mercy Rule: If a team is 23 or more points ahead when the 2-minute warning is announced for the second half, the game shall be over.

34. Point After (PAT): Ball placed three yards from the goal for 1 point or 10 yards for 2 points. The team gets one chance to advance the ball for a PAT with either a run or pass. A PAT attempt can not be run back for points if the ball is interceptedor recovered by the defensive team. The ball would then be dead on a turnover during a PAT.

35. Overtime: if the game ends in a tie, each team shall have one series of four downs to score from the 10-yard line. If successful, the PAT may then be attempted. If the game is still tied after the first extra set of downs, this ends
the first overtime. A second set of extra down is then awarded to each team. The game is scored a tie if the score remains tied after two overtimes.

• Sportsmanship Rules: IM Rule #36 will be strictly enforced. Rosters will be checked regularly. Unsportsmanlike action will not be tolerated.
• One NO SHOW will put your team on probation. Once on probation, either one additional no show or one forfeit will remove your team from competition.
• Additional players may be added UP TO game time on the day of your scheduled event. Roster additions forms are in the Dow Center main office, the IM Office, and on the IM website to morrison@hope.edu (www.hope.edu/student/development/intra).
• Check the IM Hotline (x7888) and the IM website to learn of cancellations due to rain.