7v7 Coed Flag Football League Rules

InterLink Flag Football rules were devised from NC High School Federation, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, and The National Intramural Recreation and Sports Association. (Updated 4/26/03)

1. League Policies
2. The Game
3. Equipment
4. Ball in Play
5. Scoring
6. Passing/Running/Blitzes
7. Blocking
8. Overtime
9. Penalties
10. Playoffs

LEAGUE POLICIES
A. Games - The games will be played within the time allotted, and will start on time.

B. Rosters - In order to participate in the league, each participant must be entered on to their teams designated roster form. Players not present the first night are required to sign the roster form with the staff before participating. A player may be listed on only one roster, and rosters are frozen after the last game of the season. An individual may sub on another team during the regular season, but is only allowed to play on one (the original team he/she first participated on) team in the post season. There is no limit to how many players can be on a roster, however, only 14 championship t-shirts will be granted to the winning play-off team.

C. Forfeits - Your team must have at least 4 players from the roster present at game time. Each team is allowed to pick up 2 players from another team (gender doesn't matter). If your team needs to pick up more than 2 players must ask the opposing team captain for permission.

If your team forfeits a game during the regular season, the following rules apply:
1st Forfeit: Loss of game and warning issued
2nd Forfeit:Loss of game and staff reserves the right to remove team from
playoffs.
3rd Forfeit: Removal from the league.

a. If you know in advance that your team can not make it to a game, we encourage you to call the league director so we can reschedule the game if possible.

b. Teams have a ten-minute leeway past the official start time to field a full squad.

D. Results - It is the responsibility of both teams to check on the final score and sign the scorecard after each game. Any disputes or challenges must be brought to the official's attention at this time only.

E. Protests - Two types of protests:
a. Rule interpretations - A team can protest a rule interpretation, but not an official's judgment. If a team wishes to protest the interpretation, the captain must call a time-out must be called before the start of the next play. Officially declare to the official what the protest is about. An Interlink supervisor will be called over to determine if the protest is valid or not. If the protest is ruled valid the correction will be made and the team will not be charged with a time out. If the protest is not valid, play with resume and team will be charged with a timeout.

b. Eligibility - An eligibility protest must be made as soon as possible or before half time. The captain must bring the person in question to the official's attention. If the player in question is indeed ineligible that team will forfeit the game. It is the captain's responsibility to ensure that all players are eligible for play each week.

F. Rain Outs - Game cancellations will be declared 1 hour prior to game time. At that time the rainout line will be updated (704/525-1748). Captains are responsible for checking the rainout hotline and notifying their team.

THE GAME
A. The game shall be played between two teams of 7 players each. Ideally teams would have 4 males and 3 females, or 4 females and 3 males on the field. Teams may play with less than 7 players but must have at least 5 players on the field at all times. They can play with any ratio of males to females as long as there is at least 1 female or 1 male on the field at all times.
Other ratios that would be acceptable are 3M/3F, 4M/2F, 4F/2M, 5F/1M, 6F/1M, or in the event of absence or injury, a team may play with only one woman but it cannot have more then 4 men on the field.

B. The game shall consist of 2 twenty (20) minute halves, and half-time lasting 5 minutes.

C. The clock will run continuously except for the last minute of each half. The clock will run during the entire first half, except during extra point attempts only during the last minute, and change of possession. During the last minute of the game the clock will stop on all out of bounds, incomplete passes, first downs, touchdowns (with an un-timed extra point attempt), or penalties, and the clock will resume on the snap. A 1-minute warning will be stated in each half.

D. Each team will be entitled to 2 time-outs per game and one additional time-out for each overtime period. Time-outs will last 1 minute.

E. At the start of the game a coin toss will determine possession of the ball and direction. The captain that wins the toss will be given the option of taking the ball or deferring until the second half. The opposing captain will have option of direction. There will be no kickoffs. The ball will start on the offense's own 5 yard line.

EQUIPMENT
A. No metal spikes allowed.

B. Each player must have their shirts tucked into their pants, or the shirt must rest an inch above the waist.

B. Each player must wear at the waistline a belt with 3 flags attached, in the manner designed. The flags shall hang freely from 3 sides of the body (each side of the body, and in the middle of the backside). During a play, if a flag falls off of the player with the ball, inadvertently, the opposing team shall tag that player, with one hand, to end the play.

C. All players are encouraged to wear shorts or pants without pockets. This lessens the possibility of broken fingers and hands. All players are warned that wearing baggy clothes will heighten the change of the clothes getting ripped.

D. All participants are asked to remove any jewelry before playing.

E. The teams may provide their own footballs if they are legal adult or Co-Rec size ball. Junior sized footballs are not allowed.

BALL IN PLAY
A. The offensive line of scrimmage will be designated by a down marker (as shown to each team captain by the officials prior to the start of the game). It will be placed at the spot of the ball. A second down marker will be placed a yard downfield from the line of scrimmage. This will mark off the neutral zone. Players from either team are not allowed in the neutral zone until the ball has been snapped.

B. The offense has 4 downs to advance the ball to the next line (cone markers) ahead of the line of scrimmage. The spot of the play will be marked where the ball is at the time the flags are pulled, not where the person it.

C. If the offense does not make it to the next line (cone) after the third down they will then have the option to punt the ball or "go for it". If the offense opts to punt they may not change their mind unless they call a time out and announce to the official that they are going for it. A punt must be snapped to the punter. Once the ball is punted, if it is not caught and hits the ground it is marked dead. This is where the line of scrimmage will be marked for the next play. If the ball travels out of bounds, where the ball crossed the sideline will be where the ball is marked.

D. There are no fumbles. As soon as the ball touches the ground, or the player's (who has possession of the ball) knee touches the ground, the play is ruled dead.

E. All substitutions must be made between downs and on the same side of the field. Any player who is bleeding or has an open wound must clean off the blood and/or dress the wound before coming back onto the field.

F. Girl Play- Within every three plays a woman must be involved. A legal girl play can be one of the following:

1. A legal forward pass completion for positive yardage. Either a male throws directly to a female, or female throws to any player on the field. The end result of the play must be for positive yardage

2. A legal forward pass for positive yardage that is incomplete, again either thrown by a female, or the intended receiver to be a girl. This is at the official's discretion whether the intended receiver was in a position to catch the ball or not. (i.e. throwing the ball at the feet of another player will not constitute a valid attempt.)

3. A female quarterback is sacked.

Penalty enforcement - If the attempt does not involve a girl:
a. Loss of down and the next play is still a girl play.
b. If an offensive penalty occurs then the next play is still a girl play
c. If a defensive penalty occurs the next play will be open

G. Running out of bounds/or downing the ball at the 1-yard line - A player runs purposely out of bounds within the 3-yard line, downs the ball purposely, or stops purposely within the 3-yard line. The spot of the ball will be brought back to the 5-yard line. If a player is legally deflagged within the 3-yard line the spot will be marked where the ball is when the player is deflagged. This decision will be made at the official's discretion.

SCORING
A. Touchdowns = 6 or 9 points

1. If a female is the receiver of a legal forward pass and scores a touchdown it will be worth 9 points. If a female throws a legal forward pass to any teammate and that teammate scores the touchdown will be worth 9 point. If a female QB runs the ball in will also be worth 9 points. All other touchdowns are worth 6 points. A male-to-male reception with a pitch back (lateral or backward pass) to a girl will result in a 6-point touchdown. Also if a girl receives the ball and pitches to a male it will also be worth 6 points.

B. Extra Points = 1, 2 or 3 points. There will be no kicking for extra points, or field goals.
Following the same rules as the touchdown if a female scores or throws the extra point attempt it will be worth more points, and all other successful attempts will be worth original points.

There will be two options for extra points:

1. From the 5-yard line - male-to-male reception will be worth 1 point. Female extra point will be worth 2 points.
2. From the 10-yard line (where we play from now) - Male-to-male reception will be worth 2 points. Female extra point will be worth 3 points.
3. Defense can intercept an extra point attempt and run it back to their end zone for two (2) points.

C. Safety = 2 points. A safety is awarded when an offensive player is de-flagged, or fumbles, the ball in his or her own defending end zone. The defense is then awarded change of possession and the ball on their own 5-yard line.

D. Mercy Rule - If a team is ahead by 40 points with 10 minutes left in the game, the losing captain has the option to end the game or continue to play. The losing captain can choose to end the game at any point after that.

PASSING/RUNNING/BLITZ
A. Each play must begin with the snap between the legs

B. Only one legal forward pass may be made on each down (even if the forward pass is behind the line of scrimmage.

C. A player may not pass to him/herself. However, as long as a pass attempt make contact with someone other that the passer touches it again, the passer may then catch and advance the ball.

D. A pass is considered complete as long as the receiver has control of the ball and one foot has touched completely in bounds. (If one foot is out of bounds, the player is considered out of bounds and the pass is not complete).

E. No runner may use his/her hands to push away a defender while advancing the ball.

F. On each play the official will start a count to five starting from the snap of the ball (One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand, four-one thousand, five). After the count of 5 is reached, any member on the defending side may rush (cross the line of scrimmage) the quarterback. The quarterback may not advance the line of scrimmage until a defensive player has crossed the line of scrimmage.

G. Each team will be allowed to cross the line of scrimmage and rush the quarterback, or blitz, before the count has finished 5 times per game. The normal rules of rushing apply once a defensive player blitzes. If a penalty happens after a blitz has occurred, it will count toward the total five blitzes.

BLOCKING
A. There is NO contact blocking allowed. Any contact initiated by any player will be penalized.

B. Defensive player must try to avoid contact and go around offensive players. "No hands up"

C. Players must remain on their feet at all times. Hurdling or diving to gain yardage will result in a penalty.

D. Tackling is prohibited. All players must go for the flags and not the body of a ball carrier. If a defensive player tackles a ball carrier that, in judgment of the officials, had an open field for a touchdown, a touchdown will be awarded. The player who tackled may be ejected from the game.

OVERTIME
A. Overtime will be played in all regular season games.

B. Another coin toss will take place. The winner of the coin toss will have the option to take the ball or defend first.

C. The ball will be placed on the 10-yard line of the designated end zone. Each team will have 4 downs to successfully score and go for an extra point. All rules apply in this situation.

D. If the defense intercepts the ball, there is an automatic change of possession, and there is no points awarded for running the ball back.

E. If a team scores before the fourth down after the try for the extra point, the ball will be turned over to the defense.

F. After each team has completed the 4 downs if the score is still tied another series will follow. After each series the team with the higher score will be the winner.

G. Blitzes will carry over into the overtime period, but no new ones will be granted.

PENALTIES
All penalties will be enforced in 5, 10, or 15-yard increments, with the exception of taunting/profanity. If a 10 or 15-yard penalty occurs within 20 yards of the goal line it will be marked off as half the distance (A 5 yard penalty within 10 yards of the goal line will also be marked off as half the distance). Some penalties may be marked with a loss of down, or automatic first down.
Taunting/Profanity - Taunting and/or profanity is defined as:

a. Direct cussing to the referee or opposing player
b. Any conversation to the referee other than questions made by the captain
c. Taunting or "smack talking" to the opposing team

This penalty will be enforced by:
a. First violation - A team warning (this may be issued before the game starts)
b. Second violation - Individual(s) involved must sit out for the duration the current offensive or defensive series. The team may NOT substitute a player in for the one removed. When a change of possession or a touchdown occurs, that player may enter back into the game.
c. Third offense - Individual removed from the game and suspended for the next game.

5-Yard Penalties

A. Illegal Procedure - Either team moving into the neutral zone before the ball has been snapped, lining up in the neutral zone, or the quarterback in motion before the ball is snapped.
Enforcement: dead ball - 5 yards from the line of scrimmage-replay the down.

B. Delay of Game - Not snapping the ball within the allotted 25 seconds, taking to long to return the ball to line of scrimmage.
Enforcement: Dead ball - 5 yards from the line of scrimmage-replay the down.

C. Illegal Equipment - An offensive player not having three flags.
Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yards from spot of the foul-replay down.

D. Batting or stripping the ball - Any attempt to strike or grab the ball away from the ball carrier.

Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yard from the spot of foul-replay the down.

E. Holding - Impeding the ball carrier from advancing forward with out getting the flag.
Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yards from spot of foul.

F. Illegal Forward Pass - Throwing from in front of the line of scrimmage
Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and a loss of down. (I.e. if it was 1st down, it now becomes 2nd down).

A. Illegal Forward Pass - Handing or pitching the ball forward down field.
Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yards from the spot of the foul and a loss of down.

B. Defensive Flag Guarding - pulling the offense's flags before the player receives the ball.

Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yards from the line of scrimmage if the play is incomplete-replay the down. If the pass is complete-5 yards from the spot of the foul, or result of the play.

C. Yelling or waving arm - A defender yelling or waving arms in front of an offensive player trying to catch a pass.
Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yards from line of scrimmage or result of play.

D. Leaving your feet - Hurdling or diving to gain yardage.
Enforcement: Live ball - 5 yards from the spot of the foul-replay the down

10 Yard Penalties

A. Illegal Contact (on the line or incomplete pass) - Any contact initiated by a player, pushing a player out of the way or to the ground, or contact preventing players from running their routes. Enforcement: Live ball - 10 yards from the line of scrimmage (replay the down)

B. Illegal Contact (completed pass) - Any contact initiated by any player, pushing a player out of the way, pushing a player out of bounds, or screen blocking (picking) at the line of scrimmage or down field.
Enforcement: Live ball - 10 yards from the spot of foul (replay the down) or result of the play

C. Picking/Screen Blocking - Making contact when assuming a position at the side or in front of a stationary opponent. Taking a position too close to a moving opposing player such that the player cannot avoid contact. Assuming a stationary position then moving before the opponent does to force contact or block them from grabbing another player's flag. Running in front of, or behind the player with the ball to block the defense from getting the flag.
Enforcement: Live ball - 10 yards from the spot of the foul (replay the down).

D. Flag Guarding - The ball carrier covering or thwarting attempts from the defense to pull the flags, or batting the defense's hands away as they grab for the flags. (Advice - since the play is marked where the ball is at the time the flags are pulled run with the ball out in front, not with your hands by your waist - because this will be called as flag guarding).
Enforcement: Live ball - 10 yards from the spot of the foul - loss of down. If team got past the first down line before the flag guarding occurred, first down is granted, then the 10 yards are assessed.

E. Pass Interference - Illegally contacting a player so they are unable to receive a pass. When a pass is thrown it is a free ball for any player to catch. If two or more players go for the reception at the same time, they are both entitled to the ball, but if one play pushes the other out of the way or contacts the other player at a less than vertical angle pass interference can be called. If two players catch the ball in the air and return to the ground both in possession of the ball, possession and reception will be awarded to the offense and the play is ruled dead at that spot.
Enforcement: 1. Defensive Pass Interference is penalized by 10 yards from the spot of
the foul and an automatic first down is awarded.

2. Offensive Pass Interference is penalized by 10 yards back from the line
of scrimmage and a loss of down.

F. Roughing the Passer - Contact by the defense to the quarterback before he/she releases the ball. This does not include incidental contact made by going after flags unless it was an overaggressive attempt (i.e. it knocks down the quarterback).
Enforcement: Live ball - 10 yards from the line of scrimmage and automatic first down, or result of play.

15 Yard Penalties

A. Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Excessive contact, over aggressiveness with other players or excessive complaining to officials.

B. Tackling - Tackling another player.
1. Both these penalties may also result in an ejection from the game if considered severe enough in the official's opinion.

PLAY-OFFS
a. All teams advance to the play-offs in their respective divisions. Interlink Staff reserves the right to move teams up or down divisions based on their play during regular season.

b. Teams may be required to play more than one game per day during play-offs.

c. Play-offs will be single elimination.

d. Seeding for the play-offs will be determined by regular season records, if there is a tie, head-to-head competition will decide, if there is still a tie, random draw will determine higher seed.

e. All rules will remain the same for the play-offs.

f. Rosters are frozen after the last game of the regular season. Your team must consist of all players that played with your team during the regular season and signed the roster form. A player may only play on one team during the play-offs. All eligibility protests must be made before halftime as stated in the League Policies section.

g. Max 14 championship t-shirts will be awarded to the winners of each division.