Mansfield Youth Flag Football Rules

Teams

• Teams must field a minimum of five (5) players at all times.
• Teams consist of approximately 10 players

Players

• All players must wear a protective mouthpiece. NO EXCEPTIONS!
• Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes. Inspections may be made.
• No baseball hats allowed
• Players must wear league-distributed flags

Pregame & Possession Changes

• A coin toss determines first possession.
  
• All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.
• The offense takes possession of the ball at its 5 yard line. The offense has three plays to cross midfield. If the offense fails to cross midfield after three plays, possession of the ball changes.
• Once a team crosses midfield, it has three (3) plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession.
• Teams change sides after the first 20 minutes (possession, down, and distance remain the same).
• Half time does not impact possession. The half time duration is 2 minutes.
• The clock runs continuously during each half unless a timeout is called or the referees stop the clock at their discretion.
• For interceptions the ball is dead at the point of interception, possession changes. For interceptions in the defense's own end zone OR inside the defense's own 5-yard line: the possession change starts at 5-yard line.

Timing/Overtime

• Games are 40 minutes running time (Two 20-minute halves)
• Referees can stop the clock at their discretion at any time (example: possession change in last minute of game when score differential is 10 points or less).
• Each team has 2 timeouts per half (use them or lose them).
• Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay of game penalty is enforced.
• If the score is tied at the end of regulation, teams *may* continue into overtime (*both coaches MUST agree for a regular season OT to be played). Maximum of ONE overtime in the regular season. Each team gets an equal number of chances to score. The ball is placed at the twelve-yard line (2 pt. conversion line). The offense attempts up to 3 plays to score. The offense can go for one or two extra points.

Scoring

• Touchdown: 6 points
• Extra points: 1 point (played from the 5-yard line. Must be a passing play), 2 points (played from the 12-yard line. Can be a pass or a run)
• Safety: 2 points
  

Running

• The quarterback cannot run with the ball.
• Only direct handoffs BEHIND the line of scrimmage are permitted.
• Handoffs cannot be made between the legs of any player (QB handoff back to Center etc.).
• The offense may use multiple handoffs (reverses, etc.).
• NO laterals or pitches of any kind.
• “No-running zones” are 5 yards from each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield. These zones are to prevent short-yardage, power-running situations.
• The player who receives the handoff can throw the ball.
• Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.
• Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defender.
• No jumping or diving (hurdling) by offense.
• The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s FRONT FOOT is when the flag is pulled.

Passing

• All passes by all players must be made behind the line of scrimmage.
• All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage (except when a pass is tipped by a defensive player).
• Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage AND must be thrown "overhand".
• The quarterback has a seven-second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within seven seconds the play is dead and a loss of down. Once the ball is handed off, the seven second rule is no longer in effect.
• Interceptions change possession of the ball at the point of the interception. Exception: interceptions in the defense's own end zone OR inside the defense's own 5-yard line: possession change starts at 5-yard line.
• Interceptions are the only change of possession that do not (necessarily) start on the 5-yard line.

Receiving

• All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
• Only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
• A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception. 
• If an offensive player and a defensive player catch the ball and share possession the ball is dead, ruled a catch and the offense has the ball.
• If a ball is tipped by the defense behind the line of scrimmage anyone on the offensive team can catch the ball and run with it. A ball tipped by a defender does not need to go beyond the line of scrimmage to be a good pass.

Dead Balls

• Quarterback starts all plays, no snapping allowed
• Quarterback must be lined up at the line of scrimmage

Play is ruled dead when:

• Ball carrier’s flag is pulled.
• Ball carrier steps out of bounds.
• Touchdown, conversion, or safety is scored.
• At the point of an interception (interception returns are not allowed).
• Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
• Ball carrier’s flag falls out
• Ball hits the ground (No fumbles ball is spotted where it hits ground)
• Player jumps or dives (hurdles)

Rushing the Quarterback

• All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
• Any number of players can rush the quarterback.
• Players not rushing the quarterback from seven yards may defend the line of scrimmage but cannot cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is handed off.
• Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule is no longer in effect, and all defenders may penetrate beyond the line of scrimmage.
• A referee will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage. Rushers must line up on the referee and wait for the ball to be snapped.
• Rushers rushing before the ball is snapped or not lining up on the ("7 yard") referee will be penalized (Illegal Rush).

Sportsmanship/Roughing

• Defensive player must make an ATTEMPT AT THE FLAG.
• Offensive player must make an ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE DEFENDER. 
• If the referee witnesses any acts of tackling, blocking, sliding, elbowing, offensive “bull rushing”, cheap shots, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped, and the player(s) will be warned and/or possibly ejected from the game.
• FOUL PLAY AND / OR FOUL LANGUAGE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
• Trash talking is illegal. Referees have the right to determine offensive language.
• Trash talk is a talk that may be offensive to referees, coaches / players, teams, or spectators. If trash talking occurs, the referee will give one warning. If trash talking continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

Penalties

• LOS = Line of Scrimmage
• POI = Point of Infraction

Defense

• Offsides (neutral zone infraction) 5 yards from LOS and automatic 1st down
• Illegal rush (rush inside 7-yards or 10 yards or before the ball is snapped) from LOS & automatic 1st down 
• Pass Interference 10 yards from LOS & automatic 1st down
• Illegal contact (tackling, sliding, no attempt at a flag pull etc.) 10 yards from POI & automatic 1st down
• Illegal flag pull (before receiver has the ball )10 yards from POI and automatic 1st down
• On defensive penalties, play continues. The offense can accept or decline a defensive penalty.
  

Offense

• Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start, offsides) Loss of down. 5 yards from LOS
• Illegal forward pass (pass received behind the line of scrimmage or QB throws after crossing the line of scrimmage) Loss of down. Replay from original LOS
• Offensive pass interference (pushing off or away the defender or illegal pick play) 10 yards from LOS and loss of down
• Flag Guarding 10 yards from POI and loss of down
• Illegal Contact (blocking or “bull rushing”) 10 yards from LOS and loss of down
• Delay of game. Referee stops the clock. Loss of down. Game Clock restarts at snap, play resumes
• On offensive penalties the play is dead on the referee's whistle.

All penalties will be called by the referees.

• If necessary, Head Coaches or Team Captains ONLY can request an explanation or rule clarification of a penalty called, only to gain a better understanding.
• No one (players, coaches, spectators) should dispute or challenge a referee’s call-- these refs are high-school kids, and this is a recreational league. Act accordingly. 
• Referees determine incidental contact resulting from the normal flow of play.
• All penalties from the 5-yard line or less will be ½ the distance to the goal line.
• Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines.
• “Loss of down” means do not replay the same down, move to the next down.