2019 K/1ST & 2nd/3rd Grade Flag Football Rules

2019 K/1^ST & 2^nd/3^rd Grade Flag Football Rules

K/1^st Grade- Flag Football – Teams for players who are in Kindergarten and 1^st Grade. Players must turn 5 by August 1^st of the current year and cannot be 8 years old before December 31^st of the current year. Teams will have a maximum of 14 players per roster. There will be a 50% minimum play rule for this division, including playoff games.

2nd/3rd Grade- Flag Football – Teams for players who are in the 2nd and 3rd Grade. Players must turn 7 by August 1st of the current year and cannot be 10 years old before December 31st of the current year. Teams will have a maximum of 14 players per roster. There will be a 50% minimum play rule for this division, including playoff games.

Flag Football practice will begin Monday August 5^th.

Flag Football practice time is limited to a maximum of Two (2) practices for a total of 2.5 hours per week before the season and One (1) practice per week after the first game with a maximum of 1.5 hours per week.

Rules

Coaches

Teams are limited to 3 coaches on the sideline. 2 coaches may be on the field at any time.
Coaches are not allowed to talk/coach during active plays.

The Game

At the start of each game, captains from both teams shall meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who shall start with the ball. The visiting team shall call the toss.
The winner of the coin toss gets to choose one of the following options: offense, defense, defer or field direction. The loser of the coin toss chooses from the remaining of the above options.
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 20-yard line.
First down markers are at the 40 yard line and both 20 yard lines.
A team has 4 downs to obtain a first down or score. Teams failing to convert a 4^th down will be a spot conversion. Team’s have the option to punt on 4^th down and opposing team will start possession on its own 20 yard line.
Interceptions are live and can be advanced on any play excluding extra point attempts.

Timing:

1. Games are 40 minutes long consisting of four 10 minute “hot clock “quarters. The clock stops only for timeouts and injuries.

2. Halftime is 5 to 10 minutes long; dependent upon cheer routines being required.

3. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 35 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.

4. Each team has one 60-second time out per half.

5. Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.

6. In the event of an injury the clock will stop and then restart when the injured player is removed from the field of play.

Scoring:

1. Touchdown: 6 points

2. PAT (Point After Touchdown) 1 point (5-yard line) or 2 points (10-yard line)

Note: A team that scores a touchdown must declare whether it wishes to attempt a 1-pt. conversion (from the 5-yard line) or a 2-pt. conversion (from the 10-yard line). Any change, once a decision is made to try for the extra point, requires a charged time out. Decision cannot be changed after a penalty. Interceptions on conversions can not be returned.

3. Safety: 2 points a. A Safety occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in his/her own end zone. They can be called down when their flags are pulled by a defensive player, their flag falls out, they step out of bounds or they hit the ground with their knee or arm. A Safety also occurs when there is an offensive penalty in the end zone.

4. Overtime will be in effect for all games but will not exceed 2 overtime periods with teams having to go for 2 points in the second overtime period. Possession will start at the opponent’s 20 yard line.

Equipment

Balls must be the correct size which is: Pee Wee size (Wilson K-2 or Nike or Under Armour Pee Wee)
Cleats are allowed, however no screw on cleats allowed.
Pants or shorts with belt loops or pockets are not allowed.
Protective mouthpieces are required.
Shirts must stay tucked. Flag Obstruction – Deliberately obstructed flags will be considered flag guarding.
Player shorts cannot be the same color as the flags.
Flags – All flags must be the SKLZ Flag Football Set (10 man flag football set) (available at Dicks). These are the only flags allowed for a game.
- SKLZ flags should be standard length which is X inches long.
- Flags should be positioned at the side of the body at the beginning of each play.

Field

The field size is 53 yards wide by 80 yards long plus two 10-yard end zones for 100 yards total length.
First downs markers are at the 40 yard line and both 20 yard lines.

Running

The ball is spotted “where the ball is” when the flag is pulled.
“Limited-Run Zones,” located on the 5 yard line before each end zone, 5 yards before midfield, and 5 yards before the 20 yard lines. The “Limited Run Zones” are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations. Teams are not allowed to have plays where the runner goes within 4 yards of either side of the center in the “Limited Run Zone” and there must be a hand off or pass. No direct snap QB or other position runs allowed in “Limited Run Zones.”
(Reminder: Each offensive squad approaches only THREE “Limited Run Zones” in each drive - one 5 yards from midfield to gain the first down, one on the opponent’s 25 yard line, and one 5 yards from the goal line to score a TD).
Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball. Diving, leaping, or jumping to avoid a flag pull is considered flag guarding.
Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a flag pull.
Runners may leave their feet if there is a clear indication that he/she has done so to avoid collision with another player without a flag guarding penalty enforced.
Blocking or screening is not allowed.
Offensive players must stop their motion once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage. No running with the ball carrier. Defensive players must go around stationary offensive players.
Center Sneak play – the ball must completely leave the centers hands on the snap and he/she must turn and face their goal line in order to receive a direct handoff from the QB before advancing the ball.
All center snaps must be between the center’s legs. No side saddle snaps. QB can be under center or in pistol or shotgun formation.

Receiving

All players are eligible to receive passes

Rushing the Passer

All players who rush the passer or blitz must be a minimum of five yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. A maximum number of 3 players can rush/blitz from behind the rush line. Players not rushing/blitzing may defend on the line of scrimmage.
Once the ball is handed off or passed, the five-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.
A special marker, or the referee, will designate a Rush Line five yards from the line of scrimmage.
Defensive players should verify they are in the correct position with the official on every play.
- A legal rush is:
  - Any rush from a point 5 yards from the defensive line of scrimmage.
  - A rush from anywhere on the field AFTER the ball has been handed off or passed by the quarterback.
  - If a rusher leaves the rush line early, they may return to the rush line, reset and then legally rush the quarterback.
  - If a rusher leaves the rush line early and the ball is handed off before they cross the line of scrimmage, they may legally rush the quarterback.
- A penalty may be called if:
  - The rusher leaves the rush line before the snap and crosses the line of scrimmage before a handoff or pass – Illegal Rush
  - Any defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped – offsides
  - Any defensive player, not lined up at the rush line crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is passed or handed off – Illegal Rush
- Special circumstances:
  - Teams are not required to rush or blitz.
  - Teams are not required to identify their rusher before the play, however if they do send a rusher, the rusher must check with the official.
  - If rusher leaves the 5-yard rush line before the snap, he/she may immediately drop back to act as a defender with no Illegal Rush penalty enforced.
  - Defensive players at the line of scrimmage may not cross the line of scrimmage until a handoff or pass is made. A simulated (fake pass or handoff) the defender can’t not cross the line of scrimmage.
Players rushing the Quarterback may attempt to block a pass. However, NO contact can be made with the quarterback in any way.
Offense must be stationary if attempting to impede the rusher’s path to the quarterback. Their arms and legs must remain inside their frame. The defense may attempt to block a pass provided they do not strike the passer.
Blocking the pass and then striking the passer will result in a 10-yard penalty from LOS and 1^st down.
A Sack occurs if the QB’s flags are pulled behind the line of scrimmage. The ball is placed “where the ball is” when the flag was pulled.
A Safety (2 pts) is awarded if the sack takes place in the offensive team’s end zone.

Flag Pulling

A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.
Defenders can dive to pull flags, but cannot tackle, hold or run through ball carrier when pulling flags.
It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball or pull from the ball carrier’s possession at any time.
If a player’s flag inadvertently falls off during the play, the ball carrier will be down when the defense touches the ball carrier with one hand anywhere from knees to shoulders.
A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in possession of the ball. Penalty is delay of game.
Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping of head, hand, arm or shoulder, or intentionally covering flags with the football or jersey.
It is a good idea for the player to hold the flag up immediately after the flag pull so the official can see it. Officials will have a hard time seeing a flag pull if they are on the opposite side of the flag pull.

Formations

An offensive team must have a minimum of three (3) players on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
Only one player is allowed in motion at a time. All motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmage and no motion is permitted towards the line of scrimmage. Jet, Fly, and Rocket motion are allowed. Toss and pitch plays allowed. A player in motion that is returning to the line of scrimmage must be set for one second before the ball is snapped.

Playoff Seeding

All teams will be in the playoffs and be seeded according to the following:
Overall record in the league
Head to head record
Points allowed

Enforcement of Penalties

*LOS – line of scrimmage*

Defense

• Offsides......................................................................................................................... 5 yards from the LOS

• Illegal rushing (Starting rush from inside 5-yard marker, leaving before the snap, etc.) ... 5 yards from the LOS

• Delay of game......................................................................................................................... 5 yards from LOS

• Illegal flag pull (Before receiver has ball)...................................................................5 yards from the end of run

• Roughing the passer ..........................................................................................10 yards from LOS & first down

-may also be assessed from end of run if pass is completed

• Illegal contact (Holding, blocking, etc.)............................................Spot foul, 10 yards from spot of occurrence

• Stripping...........................................................................................Spot foul, 10 yards from spot of occurrence

• Unnecessary Roughness.............................................Spot foul, 10 yards & first down from spot of occurrence

• Defensive Pass Interference...............................................................................10 yards from LOS & first down

• Taunting ............................................................................................................10 yards from LOS & first down

• Unsportsmanlike Conduct...............................................................................10 yards from LOS & loss of down

Offense

•Offsides......................................................................................................................................5 yards from LOS

• Illegal motion (More than one person moving, false start, etc.)............................................... 5 yards from LOS

• Delay of game.......................................................................................................................... 5 yards from LOS

• Illegal pass (throwing a pass from beyond the line of scrimmage or two forward passes)....5 yards from LOS & loss of down

• Illegal run (non allowed run in Limited Running Zone)............................................5 yards from LOS & loss of down

• Offensive pass interference (Illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) . 10 yards from LOS & loss of down

• Flag guarding...................................................................................Spot foul, 10 yards from spot of occurrence

• Screening, Blocking or Running with the ball carrier...................... Spot foul, 10 yards from spot of occurrence

• Charging...........................................................................................Spot foul, 10 yards from spot of occurrence

• Unnecessary Roughness....................................... Spot foul, 10 yards & loss of down from spot of occurrence

• Taunting ........................................................................................................10 yards from LOS & loss of down

• Unsportsmanlike Conduct...............................................................................10 yards from LOS & loss of down

Important Definitions:

Charging – the movement of the ball carrier directly at a defensive player who has established position on the field. This includes lowering the head, making contact with the defender with a shoulder, chest, or forearm.
Flag Guarding – an act by the ball carrier to prevent a defender from pulling the ball carrier’s flags by stiff arm, lowering elbow or head or by blocking access to the runner’s flags with a hand or arm.