MN FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE- It doesn't get any better than this  
 

League Rules

Last Updated Jan 13, 2010

The league rules are stated below. where these rules do not cover, Minnesota High School rules will be used or the referee’s determination will be final. The Officials will control the game and their rulings are FINAL.

Personal Conduct

  • NO ARGUING WITH THE OFFICIALS OR LEAGUE OFFICIALS.
  • NO FIGHTING. Any fighting will result in being disqualified from the game and/or a ban from the league. No refund will be given to disqualified players or teams.
  • Continued penalties may result in disqualification from the game.
  • No verbal abuse to officials, players, attendees, or directors. Verbal abuse will be cause for disqualification of a game or league eligibility.
  • Players, Officials, and Attendees must treat each other with respect or may be ejected at the decision of Officials or League Directors.

Teams

  • Maximum 6 players on the field at one time, minimum of 5 players are required to start a game and 4 are required to continue a game.
  • Teams can have a maximum of 12 players.
  • Players must play in at least two regular season games with the team to play on their Playoff roster.
  • Players must play on only one team in the Playoffs (special exception for league founders!)
  • All Players must be at least 18 years old and injury free to play.
  • Players may sub for another team in the regular season if that team has less than 6 guys. A team cannot pick up subs to be their 7th guy.

Equipment

  • Only league game balls may be used during the game unless both team captains agree on an alternative ball.
  • Both teams must use the same ball, no switching the ball during the game.
  • All teams MUST have matching Jerseys.
  • Each player must use league provided Flag system and have 3 flags on the belt. Two located on the side and one in back.
  • Flags must not be covered with jersey or anything else. It is the team’s responsibility to have jerseys that don't cover flags.


Field

  • First down is located at mid-field where the first down markers are placed.
  • The walls located in the end zones up to the top of the yellow padding are to be considered "in-bounds ground".
  • All other ceilings, netting and other structures are considered "out of bounds ground".

Game Play

  • The only first down will be at midfield. 4 plays to reach the first down, after crossing midfield, you have 4 downs to score or ball is turned over to defense at line of scrimmage.
  • Punting: On Forth down, Teams may elect to choose to punt. A punt will simply be moving the ball forward up to 20 yards not to exceed the defensive 5 yard line.
  • To begin the series, ball is placed on the 8 yard line or where offense turned the ball over.
  • Ball must be hiked between the legs to start play.
  • Extra-points follow each touchdown. Offense chooses to try for 1 point from the 5-yard line, or 2 points from the 10 yard line.
  • Spiking the ball in celebration and other dancing like movements after a touchdown is allowed and encouraged depending on your dancing skills. Taunting is not and is a penalty.


Time

  • Two 24-minute Halves.
  • The first half is completely running time. The second half is running time until the last 2 minutes of the game, which are stop time. Injuries stop time at any time.
  • 1 timeout each half. Timeout from first half does not carry over to second half.

Tackling/Running

  • Ball carrier is down at the point where a flag is removed or falls off.
  • Players can dive to advance ball or to grab a flag.
  • Players may not jump over another player in any instance wether with the ball or not.
  • No swatting of the defensive persons hands or stiff arming from the ball carrier. This will be a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul. (This is very important to keeping Flag Football Fun. We will assume you are trying to ruin our league if you swat or stiff arm.)
  • Players may not grab hold of ball carrier to impede progress; they must be going for the flag. (Slight grabbing of the shirt or body may occur when going for the flag and may not be a penalty, if it is sustained it will be. This is an Officials judgment and the judgment will stand, be in control of your hands.)
  • Ball carriers must avoid contact with a defender who holds a position. If a defender is holding a position, the ball carrier must go around the defender even if he has no where else to go, he must stop if he has no where to go. (Similar to a charge call in basketball).
  • Ball carriers may only spin once, then they must take a full step before spinning again.
  • Break-away penalty - If an offensive player has a clear path to the end zone and they are intentionally tackled by a defensive player to avoid the touchdown intending to only get the penalty instead of the score, the official can and should rule the play a touchdown.


Blocking/Pass Rush

  • Blocking must be achieved by using outstretched hands, not body. Blockers do not initiate contact, they get position and cushion their block with their hands at the line or down field.
  • No blocking below the waist.
  • No "Bull-rushing" by defensive line. This means the defense must work around offensive blockers, not plow or push over or through them.
  • No hands, arms, or legs to the face of an opponent at any time.
  • No "Swim" move, swatting or slapping blockers arms by a rusher.


Passing Game

  • Defensive backs may bump a reciver (not a center) only ONCE within the first 5 yards before the ball is in the air.
  • Defenders cannot bump the center unless the center engages to block.
  • Defenders cannot line up right in front of the center.
  • Offense may throw TWO passes forward behind the line of scrimmage. See next rule.
  • Once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage, even if it is brought back behind the line of scrimmage, a forward pass is illegal.

Overtime

Each team has 4 plays to score from Mid-field.
If only 1 team scores, the scoring team wins.
Both teams get a chance to be on offense, even if the first team scores.
If neither team scores, the team who advanced the furthest in the first set of downs wins.
If both teams score, the process repeats from the opposite 8 yard line. (Extra points are played.)
Penalties are applied as usual during the 4 plays.

Interceptions in Overtime

  • If an interception is returned for a score, the defense wins
  • If an interception is returned back behind the line of scrimmage of that play, the forward progress of the offense is marked at the point where the flag of the defender is pulled.
  • If the interception is not returned back to the original line of scrimmage of the play, the forward progress is marked at the original line of scrimmage for that play (not the series).
  • If the defender intercepts the ball in the end-zone, the forward progress will be marked at the 8 yard line or the original line of scrimmage of the play, whichever is further from the end zone.