About

Equipment Football

Each team is responsible for supplying their own football. They must be NCAA or NFL regulation size except in the COED & Women’s divisions.

 

Equipment/Uniforms

Teams are required to coordinate matching shirts or jerseys. The use of Pop Flags is permitted, with two flags to be visible, one on each hip. Flags must be positioned externally on the shirt, ensuring that the entire flag belt remains visible. No uniforms or body parts should obscure any portion of the flag belt; if covered, referees may rule the player as touched rather than flag-pulled. Additionally, flags must be of a contrasting color to the shorts or pants. Players wearing a billed hat must ensure that the bill is worn backward.

 

Team Captains

Only the team captain(s) are permitted to communicate with the referees about any calls made during the game. While players can pose questions to a referee, any disrespectful remarks directed at the officials by any player, including the captain, may result in penalties for the team and potential ejection of the offending player. Should such behavior persist, the referee has the authority to terminate the game, leading to a loss for the team, irrespective of the current score. 

 

Team Roster

A minimum of 4 players is required for a team to participate; otherwise, the team will forfeit the match. Each team must maintain a roster of at least 7 players, with a maximum of 12 for the season. All players are required to be listed on the team's online roster found on their designated team page, and they must complete the online waiver at the start of each season. Players must participate in at least four games to be eligible for the playoffs. During the playoffs, a player is permitted to compete on only one team per division

 

Subs

All substitutions must be submitted by Thursday at midnight for Saturday League and Sunday by Midnight for Tuesday League. It is important to follow the division rules and the rules for cloned teams when making substitutions. Teams can only add substitutes if they have 6 players or fewer available. In total a team can have a maximum of 7 players including substitutes when needing subs. If a player subs for your team more than 3 times they must pay the registration fee in full to play a 4th game and be eligible for playoffs.Properly managing your team’s roster is essential for compliance and fair play. 

 

Scheduling

Forfeits will be given to teams who give less than 24 hours notice of not being able to make their game.. If you forfeit, your team will be fined $20 per game forfeited. You will also be given a loss for that game. Your team will not be eligible for playoffs until the fine is paid. Don’t let others teams down and allows us time to find an adequate team to alternate. 

 

Length of the Game

The game consists of two halves, each lasting 20 minutes, with a 5-minute break in between. The clock halts during the final minute of each half for all dead balls, out-of-bounds plays, changes of possession, and incomplete passes. The game clock will commence at the scheduled start time following the coin toss. There are no automatic time reductions for penalties, and the clock will continue to run during first downs. If a team leads by more than 16 points after the one-minute warning in the second half and there have been issues with sportsmanship, the game will conclude. Additionally, if a team has a lead exceeding 35 points during the second half, the game will also be terminated.

 

Extended Playing Time

A period or half may be extended by an untimed down, only when during the last timed down one of the following occurs:

1. A touchdown was scored and the try for point is attempted as a part of

the same half.

2. There was an inadvertent whistle and the down is to be replayed as a

part of the half.

3. A penalty was committed by the defense at expiration of a half.

4. There was a fair catch interference and the offended team accepts an

awarded fair catch, the half may be extended and the ball put in play by

a snap.

 

Size of the Field

The playing field is 30 yards wide and 50 yards in length, with two 7 yard end zones. Total field size is 30 x 64 yards. One first down at midfield. The field dimensions may be modified due to the space available. The field shall not be smaller than 25 yards wide and 40 yards in length, with two 7 yard end zones.

 

Coin Toss

The winner of the coin toss shall have the choice of one of the following options:

1) Receive

2) Designate a goal to defend

3) Defer choice to second half.

The loser shall make a choice from the remaining options. Before the start of the second half the choosing of options will be reversed.

 

Possession

The play begins at the 5-yard line, with the team having four attempts to reach the midfield line for a first down. Following this, they have another four attempts to score a touchdown. After a safety, the team resumes play from the 15-yard line. Once a team secures a first down, they cannot achieve the same first down again in that series due to yard loss. If a team gains a first down but is penalized during the same play, the penalty is assessed first. The referees will then determine if the first down is still valid. For instance, if a team advances two yards past the first down on third down but incurs a 2.5-yard penalty, they would not be at 1st and 26; instead, they would be in a position of either 3rd and short or 4th and short, depending on the specifics of the penalty.

 

Punting

Live punt returns are allowed. Muffed (dropped) punt returns are dead at the spot. Receiving team must have three players within 5 yards of line of scrimmage. Punting team is not required to snap the ball. Once the referee has signaled the start of the play clock and the punting team has declared a punt, they may punt the ball. Both teams may not move at the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked. Returning team players may attempt to jump and block the punt without crossing the line of scrimmage. Game clock will start rolling once the ball makes contact with the punter’s foot.

 

Time Outs

Each team will have 3 time outs (30 seconds in length) per half. Teams may call consecutive time outs.

 

Play Clock

The offensive team shall have 25 seconds between plays to snap the ball. After any pre snap penalty (false start, delay of game, etc.) the play clock is reset to 15 seconds. As a courtesy the referees give a 10 second and 5 second warning.

 

Touchdown

When any part of the ball, legally in possession of a player inbounds, breaks the plane of the opponent’s goal line, provided it is not a touchback. The plane of the goal line extends outside of the field of play.

 

Formation

The offensive team must have 3 players on the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap. In a bunch formation players feet must be 6in or closer. (No Large Gaps)

 

Running/Passing

There will be no running plays.

All plays must consist of a legal forward pass. A forward pass does not have to cross the line of scrimmage. Only one forward pass may be thrown per down. You can lateral the ball as often as you like. 

NOTE: There must be separation of 1 foot between the ball and quarterbacks hand before any receiver catches the ball. Handoffs are not considered a legal forward pass. An illegal forward pass only occurs by crossing the line of scrimmage and the Passer’s entire body must cross the line before the ball is thrown.

Exception: if the line of scrimmage is close enough to the goal line that the quarterback can reach the ball into the end zone and still have part of his body behind the line of scrimmage, and does so, then the play will be immediately dead and a loss of down will occur. No penalty yardage will be assessed.

 

Legal Catch

One foot inbounds with possession of the ball. If a player goes out of bounds on their own and comes back in, they may not be the first player to touch/catch the ball. If so, the play will be declared incomplete pass, no further penalty. If a defender pushes/forces a player out of bounds, they may come back in bounds make a legal catch/be first to

touch the ball.

 

Flag Falls Off

If a player's flag falls off without the aid of a defender, that player must simply be touched.

 

Ball Spotting/ Flag Pulling

The ball is marked at the spot where the ball is at the time the flag is pulled (clip on belt comes apart). If a player bobbles the ball and the flag is pulled after the ball is first touched, but before the player ultimately gains possession, the ball will be marked down at the spot where the flag was first pulled (it would be an unfair advantage to the player with possession if they can bobble it on purpose to avoid a flag pull). If a player pulls another player's flag before the ball is touched by that player the player will not be considered down until they are touched (as if the flags fell off). If a player intentionally pulls another player's flag away from the ball it is a penalty of 5 yards from the end of the play. Receivers can advance the ball if he falls down and is not touched or flags pulled. A player must simply be touched if they are on the ground or a knee is on the ground.

 

Flag Guarding, etc.

Ball carriers shall not protect their flags by guarding them with their hands, arms or ball, cannot straight arm, and cannot lower their head or shoulder while running into a defender. The offensive player must avoid contact (no lower shoulders or upper body and attempting to run through defenders). Spinning is allowed, but the ball carrier cannot intentionally jump or dive to advance the ball. They are permitted to jump or dive to avoid injury/contact. That will be determined at the referee’s discretion.

 

Illegal Contact

Defensive players may not hold, grasp, push, or tackle the ball carrier. If a defender grabs clothing, they must let go immediately or a penalty will be assessed.

 

Fumbles

Most fumbles are dead at the spot the ball hits the ground. Exception: Muffed snaps behind the line of scrimmage are live until the Quarterback or other player has gained possession. Then normal fumble rule applies.

 

Motion

One offensive player is allowed to be in motion, horizontally, at the time of the snap. They may not turn up field before the snap. All other offensive players must be set for one second before the snap.

 

Pushing out of Bounds/ Stripping

There will be NO pushing out of bounds and no stripping the ball while in a player's possession. Also, there is no pushing a receiver out of bounds while they attempt to make a reception. NFL rule permits this, we are a flag football league and you must play the ball or the flags. A catch will be awarded if the official determines a legal catch would have been made without the push.

 

Pass Rush

Defensive rushers must start 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. If the offensive team throws a lateral (a pass or pitch behind the QB) the 5 yard rule is nullified and anyone can rush regardless of where they started. But no defensive player, who did not start 5 yards from the line of scrimmage, may cross the line of scrimmage until the lateral is thrown. If the rusher starts early they can reset and start again 5 yards back without penalty unless they cross the line of scrimmage before the snap. The offense must avoid running into the rusher. Offensive player must be running a route (no shielding, mirroring, screening or blocking). Rushers must also avoid interfering with the center's or other receiver’s route. If a Quarterbacks arm/hand comes in contact with a defending players body unintentionally (defending player not attempting to block the pass, but reaching for flags) it will be ruled as incidental contact. Judgment will be Referee’s discretion.

NEW RULE: if at any point one team has a 17 point or greater lead, it will nullify the 5

yard rushing rule for the team whom is losing by 17 points or more. Once the lead is 16

points or less, the 5 yard rush rule will be back in effect.

 

Blocking/Contact Downfield

Absolutely no blocking or setting picks down field  and all receivers must be running routes. All other contact will be penalized as illegal bump. 

 

Extra Point Attempts

You are awarded 1 point from the 5 yard line and 2 points from the 10 yard line. A turnover on an extra point may be returned for two points by the defensive team.

 

Field Goal

If a team has crossed midfield you can declare field goal on any of your 4 downs and you will get one play from half the current distance for 3 points. If you miss the defense takes over from the original location. If you are successful a normal change of possession occurs. It is run like a normal play, not like an extra point or onside kick. Clock will run, normal play clock, defense can return it for 6 points (touchdown), and penalties will be slightly different. Spot foul penalties by the defense will be marked at half the distance and replay the field goal. Once teams have tried the field goal, they may not change to going for a touchdown after a penalty has been marked.

 

Onside Kick

After a touchdown is scored and immediately after the extra point is played a team may declare to go for an onside kick (this must be declared before the referees mark the change of possession). An onside kick will be one play (untimed down) following an extra point. It will be from the offenses 20 yard line (5 yards from midfield). If a team scores successfully they will maintain possession of the ball and start on their own 20 yard line. If they are unsuccessful the defending team will take possession of the ball on the defenses 20 yard line (5 yards from midfield, 1st down achievable). If defending team intercepts the ball the play is dead. A team may only go for an onside kick if they are losing and are in the second half of the game. 

 

Rule Clarification/Challenge

At any point during the game a designated Team Captain can request clarification of rule application or challenge a ruling on the field by calling a Timeout. Once the Timeout is granted, it is the responsibility of the designated Team Captain to identify to the Referee his/her discrepancy with the ruling and how it was applied in disfavor of them. The Referee will then report the matter to the Field Supervisor or League Director for final ruling (also may be decided by referring to a rule book). If the decision is reversed the challenging Team will not be charged a timeout. In the event a call is upheld, the challenging team will be charged one of its three timeouts. If the challenging team has no timeouts remaining it will be assessed a delay of game penalty of -10 yards and a loss of 10 seconds if under two minutes of either half. Teams are permitted one (1) challenge per half. Judgment calls are NOT for challenge.

 

Overtime

A coin toss shall determine which team gets the ball first. Each team will decide to go for 1 point (5 yard line) or 2 points (10 yard line). Each team will have up to 3 attempts to score during regular season play, before ending in a tie. After both teams have gone if either team is a head that will end the game. Also, teams alternate who goes first at the start of each round.During the playoffs the overtime process will continue until there is a winner. Interceptions may be returned for a touchdown resulting in victory.

 

Sportsmanship Policy

If a single player is responsible for two unsportsmanlike penalties in a single game they will automatically be ejected for the game. Fighting with other players or touching, belittling or demoralizing referees will result in ejection from the game. The entire team may also be ejected from the game at the discretion of referees. All ejections will be reviewed by the board and commissioners and further action may be taken (fines or ejection for multiple games or the season). Excessive taunting or "trash talking" could also result in disqualification from a game. If a team is disqualified/ejected from the league their entrance fee will be forfeited. There will be an additional penalty called an unsportsmanlike minor. Things that constitute this penalty include excessive complaining, belittling or degrading refs, inappropriate language or behavior, etc. The enforcement will be 10 yards and it will be marked off as a dead ball penalty. Multiple unsportsmanlike minor penalties may lead to ejections.

 

Penalty Enforcement

There is no auto run off of time at any point during the game from a penalty.

 

Offensive

• Delay of Game: -5 yards Replay down

• False Start: -5 yards Replay down

• Illegal Motion: (2 or more in motion at time of snap) -5 yards Replay down

• Illegal Formation: (less than 3 on the line of scrimmage at snap) -5 yards Replay down

• Offensive Pick Play: -5 yards Replay down

• Impeding or running into Rusher -5 yards Replay down 

• Jumping into or lowering shoulder and purposely making contact with an opposing player or diving to advance the ball: -5 yards from spot & Down Counts

• Flag Guarding/Stiff Arming -5 yards from spot & Down Counts (on 4th down & extra points it’s -5 yards from original line of scrimmage & Replay the down.) NOTE: the reason for this is because it is often a questionable call.

• QB Flag Guard/Stiff Arming: Spot of the Infraction and Loss of down (on 4th down & extra points it’s -5 yards from original line of scrimmage & Replay the down.) NOTE: the reason for this is because it is often a questionable call.

• Illegal forward pass/Second forward pass -5 yards & Loss of down

• Blocking or Illegal Pick: -5 yards from spot of foul.

• Offensive pass interference: -5 yards from original line of scrimmage + Loss of down

• Illegal play (running play/no pass) -5 yards + Loss of down

• Illegal Participation (player runs out of bounds and is 1st to touch ball) - Loss of Down

• Flag Tying (enforced from original line of scrimmage) -10 yards & possible ejection

Defensive

• Illegal Rush: +5 yards & Replay down 

• Stripping: +5 yards at the end of the play

• Pulling a player's flag away from the ball: +5 yards at end of the play

• Holding on to ball carrier and/or ball carrier's clothes: +5 yards at end of run (If last defender this is a TD) 

• Not going for flags and pushing ball carrier down or out of bounds: +5 yards at end of run (If last defender this is a TD) 

• Holding on to QB’s clothes: +5 yards Replay Down 

• Defensive Holding (DB holding a receiver before ball is thrown) +5 yards & Automatic First Down

• Illegal Bump/Contact down field by Defender: +5 yards Automatic first down

• Tackling: +10 yards from end of play

• Contact with center before they stand up: +10 yards Replay Down

• Roughing the passer: +5 yards added to the end of the play + Automatic First Down

• Defensive pass interference/push off (face guarding is no longer a penalty unless the receiver comes back to the ball and there is contact with the defender and the defender is not turning to look for the ball): Spot of the infraction + Automatic First Down

 Other

• Unsportsmanlike Minor: -5 yards 

• Unsportsmanlike Conduct: -10 yards

• Personal Foul: (unnecessary roughness): -10 yards from Spot of Foul

• Taunting: “Trash Talking" -10 yards and possible ejection

• Fighting: Ejection and Possible disqualification. Mandatory 1 game suspension for throwing a punch (even if it does not connect). Possible Police Action!

• Touching, belittling, and demoralizing Referees: Ejection + 1 Game Suspension and Possible Police Action.

• Begging the Call - "The team captain(s) will be the only player(s) who is/are allowed to address the referees and the captain addressing the referees should be done so in a respectful manner and really should just be in the form of a question, rather than complaining. If any player, including a captain, disrespectfully addresses a referee the team may be penalized and the player ejected. Referees have the authority to call a "begging the call" penalty that increases in enforcement.If a player is disrespectful, or 'begs for a call', or excessively complains, a "begging the call" penalty may be called progressively (for the team, not a particular player) starting with a warning on the first infraction, to 5 yards on the 2nd infraction (by the team), to 10 yards for the 3rd infraction (by the team), and then any additional infractions would be 15 yards. Once the referee gets to the 15 yard penalties individual players will be instructed to sit out for a designated period of time during the game. Any subsequent infractions will be subject to a player sitting out the remainder of the game. These penalties would be dead ball penalties marked off after the end of the play. If a particular player is responsible for repeated infractions of this penalty they may be asked to sit out for a certain number of plays, series, a half, or even ejected from the game.”

 

Modified Multiple Team Policy

Players may register for one team per division with the exception of A registered players not being allowed to play in the C division. Players may sub up to 4 times with any team (not in their teams division and no lower than one division down) for free but must pay the season fee if they want to continue playing with that team. Players may only play on 1 team per division during playoffs.

 

Playoff Policy:

To participate with a team in the playoffs you need to be listed on the official online roster and have played at least four regular season games and paid the season registration fee.  Also refer to the Modified Multiple Team Policy above. Changes/Additions may be made through UFFL Officials, ahead of time.

 

Division Policy

Players can play in both A and B division or B and C division.  A players CAN NOT play in C division.

If creating more than one team only 4 players can be on the same team in a different division. No cloned teams.  

All 5s players are eligible for either 8s division and all players are eligible for either Tuesday Division.