Saginaw Township Recreation Flag Football Rules
RULE 1 - COACHES
Officials are just what the name implies: OFFICIAL LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES. They have the right to forfeit any game if coaches, teams or fans display uncontrolled and repeated unsportsmanlike conduct.
Teams are responsible for ensuring that NO ONE, including spectators, drive or park on an grass area at any playing site. Violations will result in forfeitures and repeated violations may result in player and team suspension.
Alcoholic beverages on Saginaw Township School District property are in violation of State Law and will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to suspension and/or arrest. Alcoholic beverages on Saginaw Township Parks property are in violation of Township ordinances and such violations are subject to the same penalties.
Actual coaching staff at ball games will consist only of those officially listed on team rosters. Three are allowed.
An adult coach must be present with each team at each scheduled game.
RULE 2 - PLAYERS, REGISTRATION, ELIGIBILITY, FEES, DUTIES OF CAPTAIN
Two Divisions: 11 & Under and 13 & Under (14 yrs. if in the 8th grade) - additional divisions may be added as required. A Players Age on September 9th of the current year is the age for this program. Coaches will be responsible for the certification of the ages of all players on their team. Playing an over-age player will result in forfeiture of all games in which that player appeared and possible disqualification of the team from the league.
All team player's fees must be paid before the first scheduled league game and an official team roster must be filed with the Recreation Office.
Player's name must be entered on official team roster before that player is eligible to play league games.(That means all fees must be paid).
Only a coach may add or drop a player from the official roster.
No maximum number of players will be specified.
Boys on Junior High or Senior High football teams are not eligible.
Each team has eleven (11) players on the field, one of them is to be designated captain before the game. Captain's first choice on any game situation or penalty is FINAL.COIN TOSS DETERMINES HOME TEAM AND FIRST DOWN MARKERS
RULE 3 - FIELDS
Games will be played on regulation high school size football fields whenever possible and/or on other suitable fields as approved by the league.
Coaches and substitutes must remain in the bench area between the 30 year lines. Coaches will be allowed to "holler" instructions to their teams.
Spectators are NOT allowed in the team area on the sidelines. If stands are available, spectators will be expected to be in them during the ball games.
Teams will change goals at halftime.
RULE 4 - EQUIPMENT
Any legal football equipment may be worn except for metal cleats. Rubber cleats (or plastic) no more than 3/8 inches may be worn.
Helmets with faceguards and chinstraps as well as mouth pieces and shoulder pads are REQUIRED for all players and must be provided by the player.
Each team is to have 2 complete sets of flags (different colors). Backs and ends will be the only players on offense to wear flags. Coaches will be held responsible for the proper number of players wearing flags. NOTE: On defense all players will be eligible to wear flags.
Game ball will be of YOUTH size. Game ball will be furnished by teams competing. (On offense team uses same ball they use in practice).
RULE 5 - PLAYING TIME, ETC.
Forfeit time is ten (10) minutes past designated starting time. Team must have at least eleven (11) players to start and continue a game.
The length of the game is 40 minutes (playing time) divided into four(4) quarters of ten (10) minutes each.
There will be two (2) time outs allowed in each half by each team. Time outs are 30 seconds in duration and ONE member of each team may go to the sidelines to confer with his coach.
Clock will stop on all penalty or injury situations. During the last two (2) minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters the clock will stop on incomplete passes and out-of-bounds plays.
One (1) minute between quarters. Three (3) minutes at halftime.
After ball is placed down ready for play, offense has 25 seconds to put it in play. (Penalty for delay of game: 5 yards).
RULE 6 - OFFICIALS
Officials will be as well qualified as possible. There will be three officials per game. Adult, college or high school students with good knowledge of football.
One official will keep the time on the field and will record scoring.
Officials will make clear announcements of "2 minute warning" to both. Also, before games, will remind teams of mouthguard rule and "above waist" blocking rule in kicks.
RULE 7 - TRANSPORTATION
If transportation is required, each team will make their own arrangements.
RULE 8 - PLAYING RULES
High School Rules will govern subject to the following modifications:
Team losing pre-game coin toss gets choice in the second half.
Free substitution is allowed.
Four downs to gain ten (10) yards. (If it is necessary to play on any field shorter than 100 yards, appropriate first down "zones" will be established). Official has the right to place ball directly on a chalk stripe if ball becomes dead near such line. Officials judgement is final on whether enough yardage is gained for a first down.
At least seven (7) offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap. (Being within one yard of the line is considered to "be on the line").
All offensive players must "set" for one (1) second before ball is snapped. EXCEPTION: Offense may have no more than one (1) backfield man in motion laterally or backward at time of snap. Defensive lineman cannot make abrupt motions designed to cause offense to move illegally.
The only offensive players eligible to receive a forward pass are the three (3) ends and the two (2) backs. Once the offense advanced the ball past the line of scrimmage, it may NOT attempt a forward pass.
DEAD BALL: a. A fumble of a muff (including incomplete lateral and bad pass from center) which touches the ground. The ball remains in possession of the team which dropped the ball. EXCEPTION: When team is attempting punt, ball muffed from center may be picked up and kicked.
b. Any kicked ball remains in play if fielded in the air or if receiving player's initial contact with a ball which touched the ground first is to pick up and advance it, (without a muff); however, ball is dead if, after touching the ground first, it contacts any player in any manner. Dead ball at point of contact.
RULE 9 - EXTRA POINT AND FIELD GOAL
EXTRA POINT: One point. Passed, run or place-kicked from the two (2) yard line. Offensive team must declare intention to kick. Defensive team will not be allowed to rush kicker. Ball must be centered in the normal manner and try must be completed within four (4) seconds. Tees may be used.
FIELD GOAL: Three points. Remainder of rule same as for extra point except for ball placement. If attempt missed, ball goes over on 20 yard line.
RULE 10 - KICKS
PUNTS: A team must declare when punting. Officials will notify defensive team. Both teams hold their positions until ball is actually punted. A bad pass from center or a muff by the punting team does not cause ball to become dead on punt attempts. When punting situation occurs both teams have the option of lining up in normal kick-off or kick receive formations.
KICK-OFFS: Opening kick-offs or those after scores are from teams forty (40) yard line. After a two (2) point safety, ball is kicked from the thirty (30) yard line. Only place-kicks are allowed on kick-offs. Ball is NOT to be placed on holder's toe.
On kick-offs at least five (5) players of the receiving team must be positioned between 10 and 15 yards from the ball when it is kicked. The kicking team may recover the ball only after it has traveled 10 yards and is not dead for any reason.
Kick-offs going into receiving teams' endzone are ALIVE until downed and may be run from the endzone.
Kick-off going out of bounds is placed in bounds where ball went out or 20 yards from kick-off, whichever is better for the receiving team. EXCEPTION: If ball last touched a receiving player before going out of bounds, it is placed in bounds at point touched.
All punts going into receiving team's endzone are DEAD. It is a touchback (no points) and ball is placed on the twenty (20) yard line.
RULE 11 - BLOCKING
Blocker must have his hands in contact with his chest when he blocks opponent. Blocker's hands may not be locked.
Blocker may not swing his elbow or forearm so that it is moving faster than the blocker's shoulders at the time blocker's shoulder contacts opponent.
No flying, rolling, or cross-body blocks allowed. Blocker must have one foot in contact with the ground until shoulder contact is made. (Penalty for illegal use of hands or illegal block:15 yards).
A player on defense may use unlocked hand, hands or arm to ward off opponent who is blocking or attempting to block him. When the player on defense uses a hand or arm, the hand must be in advance of the elbow at the time of contact.
A player on defense may go through or over the center by driving him back or to the side, but "NO DUMPING" or roughing the center will be allowed. (Penalty: 15 yards).
On any type of crack-back or come-back block, the high school rule covering blocking above the waist only will apply.
On all kicks blocking will be in accordance with the high school rule allowing blocking above the waist only.
RULE 12 - BALL CARRIER
The ball carrier is downed when one of his flags is missing from his belt. Defensive players pulling flags should hold them up for the officials to see. Ball carrier is also "downed" if any part of this body other than hands or fee touch the ground. DEFENSE MAY NOT PUSH BALL CARRIER OUT OF BOUNDS UNLESS IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF A LEGITIMATE ATTEMPT TO PULL A FLAG. (Penalty: 15 yards).
If any player not wearing two (2) flags gets possession of the ball, it will result in a dead ball at that point with his team getting possession of the ball at that point.
Ball carrier may not use the "stiff arm".
Ball carrier may not pin his flag against his body with his arm.
Ball carrier may not use his arms in any way to avoid being downed.
Ball carrier must at all times keep his shirt tucked in.
Flags must be at least 14 inches in length and must be worn to fall over hips and not in the back. Flags must not be "looped" over belt. (Penalty: 5 yards and loss of down).
RULE 13 - PENALTIES
There shall be no tackling, pushing or blocking of the ball carrier, passer or kicker. It is the intention of the league to encourage hard, legal play but unnecessary roughness WILL NOT be allowed. Repeated violation will result in possible disqualification from the game and/or balance of the season.
Administration of penalties: Penalties will be marked off from one of two points: 1) Line of scrimmage or 2) Spot of the foul.
FIVE YARD PENALTIES:
DELAY OF GAME - Line of scrimmage
OFFSIDE - Line of scrimmage
ILLEGAL MOTION - Line of scrimmage
TOO MANY PLAYERS - Line of scrimmage
ENCROACHMENT - Line of scrimmage
LESS THAN SEVEN ON OFFENSIVE LINE - Line of scrimmage
"LOOPING" BELT - Line of scrimmage and loss of down
OFFENSIVE PLAYER CLOSER THAN 5 YARDS FROM SIDELINE BEFORE SNAP - Line of scrimmage and loss of down
NOT WEARING MOUTHGUARD, HELMET - Line of scrimmage - 1 warning per team
STIFF ARM - Point of foul or line of scrimmage
PROTECTING FLAG - Point of foul or line of scrimmage
FIFTEEN YARD PENALTIES:
*PASS INTERFERENCE/OFFENSIVE - Line of scrimmage and loss of down
*PASS INTERFERENCE/DEFENSIVE - Line of scrimmage and automatic first down
*CLIPPING - Point of foul
FACE MASK - Point of foul
ROUGHING PASSER - Line of scrimmage
ROUGH PLAY - Point of foul *Covers pushing player out of bounds
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT - Point of foul or line of scrimmage
ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS OR HOLDING - Point of foul or line of scrimmage
STRIPPING OF FLAGS FROM POTENTIAL RECEIVERS AT LINE OF SCRIMMAGE - Line of scrimmage
*CLIPPING DEFINED:Clipping is throwing the body across the leg of an opponent or charging or falling into the back of an opponent. Doubtful cases involving a side block or an opponent turning his back to a blocker; to be judged according to whether the opponent was able to see or ward off the blocker.
RULE 14 - GENERAL COMMENT
This league can only be as good as we make it. Let's all play by the rules and have fun!
