HOCKEYTOWN USA FLAG FOOTBALL RULES updated August 5, 2011
Any situation, which may
arise not covered in these rules, will be ruled at the discretion of the
official.
A.
All players must
wear flag belts. PLAYERS MUST SUPPLY
THEIR OWN FLAG BELTS. HOCKEYTOWN WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR A FEE OF $4.00 PER
BELT.
B.
Players are
responsible for making sure their flag belt is properly secured before each
play. If the belt falls off during play, the ball carrier is down at that spot.
A pass receiver who loses their flag belt is down at the point the ball is
caught.
C.
Matching
D.
Elbow, knee and
forearm pads may be worn. Mouthpieces are acceptable
E.
No watches,
bracelets or loop earrings may be worn. Necklaces must remain tucked under the
shirt at all times.
F.
No baseball caps
are allowed. Knit or stocking caps may be worn.
G.
Athletic sneakers
only – no cleats allowed.
H.
The official ball
shall meet the recommendations of size and shape for NFL/Professional football.
Each team must provide their own football. During the game each team
must use a legal ball of its choice when in possession. The referee shall be the
sole judge of any ball offered for play and may change the ball during play at
his/her discretion.
A.
The entire arena
surface will be utilized with the boards and plexi-glass acting as out of bounds
B.
The goal line is
marked with a white line, 15 ft from the end boards.
C.
In the event a
pass hits the roof or netting the pass is ruled incomplete.
D.
A line across the
center of the middle court will act as the first down line.
E.
Extra point
conversions will originate from a spot approximately 7 ft form the goal line.
F.
The playing field
is rectangular shaped - measuring 120’ long and 75’ wide
A.
A team must have 5
players to start a game. If during a game a team drops
below
5, the game may be forfeited according to the official’s judgement. A
team with an opportunity to win a game may not be denied that opportunity.
B.
Each team must
designate a player as their team captain. This player will be the team
representative in discussions with all officials.
C.
Teams consist of
10 player maximum. 5 on the field and 5substitutes.
D.
No incoming substitution or replaced
player shall be on the field simultaneously while the ball is in play.
E.
A substitution may
be made whenever the ball is dead, however a substitution shall not be attempted
after the official has declared a ball ready for play.
F.
An injured player,
whose injury caused a free or excess time out charged to his team, shall leave
the game until the succeeding play.
G.
All players must
be recorded on the team roster and game sheet as well as have a valid i.d. card
and signed injury waiver.
H.
No more than 3
Advanced Division players will be allowed on teams in the Intermediate and
Novice Divisions.
A.
The game consists
of two 22 minute halves.
B.
The clock runs
until the last minute of the game which will be stop time. The clock stops on
incomplete passes, first downs, penalties, and when the ball carrier goes out of
bounds.
C.
The game begins
with a coin flip with the winner either taking the ball or defending a goal.
D.
There is no
punting or kickoffs.
E.
The ball is placed
on the extra point line to begin the game and after scores.
F.
The offense has
three downs to reach either the first down line, which runs across the center of
the field, or the goal. The defense takes over after the unsuccessful 3rd
down.
G.
A touchdown counts
six points. The point after takes place from the designated line, with a forward
pass caught over the goal line will be worth two points and a run or pass
completion and then run will count one point,
H.
If on an extra
point try, a pass is intercepted, the defense may run the ball back for two
points. If the player has their flag pulled before reaching the end zone, the
ball goes back to the extra point line where intercepting team goes on offense.
I.
Receivers must
have both feet inbounds for a completed pass. The boards and the glass are out
of bounds.
J.
The foot of the ball carrier must touch
the first down line or the goal line. (no diving).
K.
A player is ruled down when the defense
pulls a flag or the flag belt falls off.
L.
The offense has 15 seconds from the time
the huddle begins (official’s judgement) to move to the line of scrimmage.
Failure to snap the ball in a reasonable amount of time will result in a five
foot delay of the game penalty. If a team is leading in the last minutes or
seconds of the game, and in the judgement of the officials, the offense is
purposely not snapping the ball, the officials may stop the clock.
M.
Fumbles are dead
balls unless it is caught in the air. In this case the ball can be advanced. The
ball is dead at the spot it hits the ground including fumbled snaps. The offense
retains possession unless it’s the 3rd down or a safety.
N.
A two point safety
results when a ball carrier is downed in the end zone or if a snap hits the
ground in the end zone.
O.
Each team gets two
time outs per game. Clock stops during all time outs.
P.
The ball becomes
dead, anytime the ball touches the ground, the ball carrier touches the ground
with any part of the body except the hands or feet, the ball carrier’s flag is
pulled, falls off, or the ball carrier touches any part of the boards or glass
without having both feet on the ground. The ball is also dead if caught
simultaneously by opposing players.
Q.
Putting the ball
in play.
1.
There will be a 3
yard neutral zone separating the offensive and
defensive
lines at every point on the field, except goal line.
2.
The offensive team must have no more than three players on the line of
scrimmage during the snap.
3.
After the official puts the ball in play, & blows the whistle, the
offense
has 25 seconds to initiate the play. (snap the ball)
4.
Both teams (offensive and defensive) are responsible for returning the
ball to the line of scrimmage for the next play. The referee does not
have to physically place the ball ready for play.
5.
The snap from center may be between the centers legs or may be a side
snap, however, the snap must be one continuous motion from the
ground to the
release or a false start penalty will occur.
6.
Only one offensive player may be in motion, not towards the line of
scrimmage prior to the snap.
All other players must come to a complete stop and
remain still for one second prior to snap.
7.
All players are eligible to touch or catch a pass.
Passer’s feet must be
behind the line of
scrimmage. Only one forward pass per down.
8. No spins or jumping
allowed, play dead at spot.
9. Encroachment- Following
the ready for play whistle, and until the snap
no player on defense
may enter the neutral zone.
10.
No
offensive player shall make a false start or simulate the start of
a play.
11.
The zone line to
gain in any series shall be the zone in advance of the
Ball, unless distance has
been lost due to penalty or failure to gain.
In such case, the original zone in advance of the ball at the beginning
of the series of downs is the zone line to gain.
R.
An illegal forward
pass is when the passer’s foot is beyond the line of
scrimmage when the ball is
released, if intentionally thrown to the ground or out of bounds to save loss of
yardage, when a passer catches his/her own untouched forward or backward pass,
or if there is more than one pass per down. Loss of down, 10 yard penalty or if
passer crosses line of scrimmage and then returns behind line and passes.
S.
During a down in
which a legal forward pass crosses the offensive line of
scrimmage, contact or action that interferes with an eligible receiver
who is beyond the line of scrimmage is pass interference. It is also pass
interference if an eligible receiver is deflagged prior to touching the ball.
T.
Runners shall not
flag guard by using their hands, arms or the ball to deny
the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove the flag belt. A
runner may not lower his/her head, use straight arm tactics, or run in a bent
over fashion which hinders the opponent from pulling a flag. He/she must employ
a natural running motion.
U.
The defensive
player shall not hold, grasp or obstruct the forward progress of a runner when
in the act of removing the flag belt.
V.
A runner shall not
charge into nor contact an opponent in their path. If a runner in progress has
established a straight path, he/she may not be crowded out of that path, but if
a defensive legally established position, the runner must avoid contact by
changing direction.
W.
The offensive
screen block shall take place without contact. The screen
blocker shall have his/her hands and arms at his side or behind the
back.
Any use of the hands, arms, elbows, legs, or body to initiate contact
during an offensive players’ screen block is illegal. A blocker must be on
his/her feet before, during, and after the screen.
X. Only 1 (one) player is
allowed to rush the quarterback, but only after a 3
(three)
5.
Penalties
A. Delay of game
5 feet
B. Offsides
5 feet
C. Illegal formation
5 feet
D. Linning up in neutral
zone
5 feet
E. Substitution infraction
5 feet
F. Illegal motion
5 feet
G. Illegal equipment
5 feet (removal of equipment)
H. Illegal snap
5 feet
I. Illegal block
10 feet
J. Two or more consecutive
encroachments
10 feet
K. Intentional grounding
10 feet
L. Stripping the ball
10 feet
M. Flag guarding
10 feet
N. Illegal belt removal
Automatic first down
O. Roughing the passer
15 feet. Automatic first down
P. Protecting the flag
10 feet back from spot of foul
Q. Excess contact with ball carrier
10 feet from the spot of the foul
R.
S.
T. Pass interference in the
end zone
Ball placed two feet from goal line
U. Unsportsmanlike contact
15 feet
V. Illegally secured flag belt on touchdown
Lose of down on offense: First down on defense
6.
Ties
A coin flip will determine which team gets the ball first.
The ball is placed on the extra point line. One play from scrimmage is
run. If the offensive team scores, the other team gets to run a play with a
chance to tie the game. If the offensive team is stopped, the other team gets
the ball with a chance to win the game. This process is repeated until a winner
is determined.
7.
Ejections
A.
Any player ejected
will automaticly be suspended for a minimum of the
next scheduled game.
B.
Any player ejected
will be reviewed by the commissioner for further
suspension if necessary.
C. The following are a few of the possible infractions that may result in
ejections as determined by the official:
1.
Unsportsmanlike
Behavior
2.
Verbal Abuse
3.
Unnecessary
Physical Contact
4.
Fighting (Striking
or attempting to strike)
5.
Threatening
Behavior (verbal or physical) towards an official or supervisor
6.
Individual playing
under an assumed name
7.
Individuals
playing after the consumption or suspicion of consumption of alcohol/drugs
8.
Damage/destruction
of facilities or equipment
8.
STANDINGS
A.
League standings
will be determined by 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie. Ties in the
standings will be broken in this order: most wins, fewest loses, most ties,
least goals against and most goals for. In the event of an unequal amount of
games played during the season, winning percentage will be the determining
factor in the standings.
B.
If a team comes
into the league late, total points will determine their position.
C.
Playoff Schedules
will be announced prior to the end of the season.
D.
Legal players must
play in 1/3 of the regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs.
THE OFFICIALS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RULE ON
ANY SITUATION NOT SPECIFICALLY COVERED IN THE RULES.
HIS/HER DECISION IS FINAL: IF
SITUATIONS ARISE, RULE CHANGES MAY BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE GAME OR TO COVER ANY
UNFORSEEN SITUATIONS.
****THE PLAYOFF FORMAT WILL
BE DETERMINED BY MANAGEMENT AFTER REVIEWING THE NUMBER OF DIVISIONS AND THE
QUALITY OF THE TEAMS, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FAIR AND EQUITIBLE COMPETITION FOR ALL
TEAMS. AWARDS AND PLAYOFF SCHEDULES
WILL BE DETERMINED BY HOCKEYTOWN MANAGEMENT PRIOR TO THE END OF REGULAR SEASON
PLAY.****
I understand the above rules and will
comply with all of them. I
understand that it is my responsibility to inform all persons on my roster of
the rules and to inform them that they must absolve Hockeytown
SIGNATURE____________________________TEAM______________DATE_______