IM 4v4 Flag Football Rules

IM 4 on 4 FLAG FOOTBALL

Rain Dates - NO GAMES: Apr. 28, 29

National League - Mondays & Wednesdays - FULL     IM Coordinator:   Sebastian Pedraza
American League - Tuesdays & Thursdays - FULL       IM Coordinator:   Manny Begon
Game Times:   9-11 pm on Turf Field

Teams: single or mixed gender; only 1 Varsity or JV football player allowed on team.

RULES:

1. # of Players. The game shall be played between 2 teams of 4 players each. Three players are required to avoid a forfeit.

2. Eligible Receivers. All players are eligible to receive a pass, must start either on the line of scrimmage or behind it AND be beyond the team's line of scrimmage to receive the pass.

3. Substitutions. No substitute shall enter during a down. Between downs, 1 or 2 eligible substitutes may replace players provided the substitution is completed by having the replaced players off the field before the ball becomes live. No substitute shall become a player and then withdraw during the same dead ball interval. Likewise, no player shall withdraw and then re-enter as a substitute during the same dead ball interval. EXCEPTION: unless a penalty is accepted, a dead ball foul occurs, there is a charged time-out, or a period ends. Penalty: 5 yards from previous spot.

4. No Contact, No Blocking. Screen blocking is legally obstructing an opponent without using any part of the body to initiate contact. (Similar to a screen in basketball.)

5. Dead Ball Becomes Live. A dead ball, after having been declared ready for play by the official, becomes a live ball when it is snapped legally. The ball MUST be snapped to another player who is standing at least 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

6. Ball is declared dead when:

a) official blows the whistle
b) when the ball touches the ground
c) when it goes out of bounds
d) when any part of the runner other than a hand(s) or foot (feet) touches the ground
e) when a runner has a flag belt removed legally by a defensive player. A flag belt is removed when the clip is detached from the belt.
f) when a runner is legally tagged with one hand between the shoulders and knees, including the hand and arm, once the flag belt is no longer attached.

7. Flag Belt Removal. When the flag belt is clearly taken from the runner in possession of the ball, the ball is declared dead and the down shall end. A player who removes the flag belt from the runner should immediately hold the flag belt above his/her head to assist the official in locating the spot where the capture occurred. If a flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one-hand tag between the shoulder and knees constitutes capture. A player may leave his/her feet to remove the flag belt.

8. Contact. In an attempt to remove the flag belt from a runner, defensive players may contact the body and shoulders, but not the face, neck or any part of the head of an opponent with their hands. A defensive player may not hold, push, or knock the runner down in an attempt to remove the flag belt.

9. Game Time. The game is played with two 20-minute halves, with a 5-minute intermission between halves. When overtime is used, there will be a 3-minute intermission. Timing rules may be modified due to various program constraints.

10. Home Team. The first team listed on schedule is the home team. They may choose offense, defense, direction or to defer their choice to the second half. Each half begins with the team on offense starting at their 10 yard line.

11. 1 Minute Warning. Approximately 1 minute before the end of each half, the Referee will inform both captains of playing time remaining in the half.

12. Overtime. The home team captain will call the toss with the winner selecting offense, defense or direction. Each team will attempt to score by passing from either the 5 yard line for 1 point or the 10 yard line for 2 points. If additional overtime periods are necessary to determine a winner, teams will alternate overtime choices. If a ball is intercepted the attempt is over.

13. Time-Outs. Each team is entitled to one charge time-out per game. If unused in the first half, it can be used in the second half. No additional time-outs will be awarded in over time but an unused time-out can be carried over.

14. Series of Downs. A team shall have 3 consecutive downs to advance to the next zone by scrimmage.

15. Awarding a New Series. A new series of downs is awarded when a team moves the ball legally into the next zone or the opponent obtains possession of the ball by penalty, pass interception, or failure to advance to the next zone.

16. Scrimmage Line. The offensive team must have at least 1 player on their scrimmage line (ball spotter) at the snap. The defense must be behind their scrimmage line (marker) until the ball is snapped.

17. Kicking. There shall be no kicking.

18. Passer. There must be a legal forward pass each down. The person receiving the ball must be beyond their team's line of scrimmage. If the ball is received behind the line of scrimmage, illegal procedure penalty.

19. Time to Release the Pass. The passer has 7 seconds to release the ball. If not, it results in the loss of down and the ball is spotted at the previous location.

20. Touchdown. A touchdown is scored when a runner advances so that the ball penetrates the vertical plane of the opponent's goal line. It is also a touchdown when a ball is caught by a player on or behind the opponent's goal line. A touchdown is worth 6 points.

21. Try. After a touchdown is scored, the scoring team has two options to score:

a) shall try to score from the 5-yard line by a passing play for 1 point. (If the pass is intercepted or dropped, the try is over.)
b) shall try to score from the 10-yard line by a passing play for 2 points. (If the pass is intercepted or dropped, the try is over.)

22. Player Responsibility. The player scoring the touchdown must raise his/her arms so the nearest official can deflag the player. If the player is not deflagged with one pull and the official determines the flag belt has been secured illegally, the touchdown is disallowed, and the player is disqualified. Penalty: personal foul, 5 yards from the previous spot. If by Team A (offensive team), loss of down. If by Team B (defensive team), automatic first down.

23. Next Play. Following a try, touchback, or safety, the ball will be snapped by the opponent at their own 10-yard line.

24. Guarding the Flag Belt. Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove the flag belt. Examples of flag guarding include, but are not limited to:

a) placing or swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt.
b) placing the ball in possession over the flag belt.
c) lowering the shoulders in such a manner that places the arm over the flag belt.

Penalty: 5 yards.

25. Stiff Arm. The runner shall be prohibited from contacting an opponent with extended hand or arm.
This includes the use of a "stiff arm" extended to ward off an opponent attempting to deflag.

Penalty: personal foul, 5 yards.

26. Helping the Runner. The runner shall not grasp a teammate or be grasped, pulled or pushed by a teammate.

Penalty: 3 yards

27. Obstructing the Runner. The defensive player shall not hold, grasp, or obstruct the forward progress of a runner when in the act of removing the flag belt or making a legal tag.

Penalty: personal foul, 5 yards

28. Charge. A runner shall not charge into nor contact an opponent in his/her path not attempt to run between two opponents or between an opponent and a sideline, unless the space is such as to provide a reasonable chance for him/her to go through without contact. If a runner in his/her progress has established a straight line path, he/she may not be crowded out of that path, but if an opponent is able to legally establish a defensive position in that path, the runner must avoid contact by changing direction.

Penalty: personal foul, 5 yards

29. Flag Belt Removal Rules.

a) Players must have possession of the ball before they can be deflagged legally.
b) When a runner loses his/her flag belt either accidentally, inadvertently (not removed by grabbing or pulling), or on purpose, play continues. The deflagging reverts to a one-hand tag of the runner between the shoulders and knees.
c) In circumstances where a flag belt is removed illegally, play should continue with the option of the penalty or the play. Penalty: personal foul, 5 yards.
d) A defensive player intentionally pulling a flag belt from an offensive player without the ball is illegal. Penalty: personal foul, 5 yards.
e) Tampering with the flag belt in any way to gain an advantage including typing, using foreign materials, or other such acts is illegal. Penalty: personal foul, 5 yards from the previous spot and player disqualification. If by Team A, loss of down. If by Team B, automatic first down.

30. Half the Distance. A measurement cannot take the ball more than half the distance from the enforcement spot to the offending team's goal line. If the penalty is greater than this, the ball is placed halfway between the enforcement spot and the goal line.

31. Multiple Live Ball Fouls. When two or more live ball fouls are committed by the same team, only one penalty may be chosen except when a foul(s) for unsportsmanlike or nonplayer conduct occurs. In such cases, the penalty/penalties for the unsportsmanlike conduct or nonplayer fouls are administered from the succeeding spot as a dead ball foul.

32. Multiple Dead Ball Fouls. Penalties for dead ball fouls are administered separately and in the order of occurrence. Dead ball fouls are not coupled with live ball fouls or other dead ball fouls to create double or multiple fouls. Penalize all unsportsmanlike and nonplayer fouls separately.

33. Loss of Down Fouls. Fouls by Team A which include loss of down are:

a) illegal backward pass
b) illegal forward pass
c) forward pass interference
d) illegally secured flag belt

34. Automatic First Down Fouls. Fouls by Team B which give Team A an automatic first down are:

a) forward pass interference
b) roughing the passer who has thrown the ball from behind the Team A scrimmage line
c) illegally secured flag belt

CONDUCT OF PLAYERS AND OTHERS.

A. Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

1. Noncontact Player Acts. No player shall commit noncontact acts during a period or intermission. Examples include but are not limited to:
a. Refusal to comply or abide by the request or decision of an official
b. Using words similar to the offensive audibles and quarterback cadence prior to the snap in an attempt to interfere with Team A's signals or movements.
c. Intentionally kicking at or swinging an arm, hand or fist at any opposing player (DQ)
d. Participate while wearing illegal player equipment

Penalty: unsportsmanlike conduct, 5 yards. If flagrant in 1a and 1b, the offender shall be disqualified. If team continues to repeat same offenses, penalty may be increased to 10 yards, and include 1st down. Penalty for 1c and 1d is immediate disqualification.

2. Dead Ball Player Fouls. When the ball becomes dead in possession of a player, he/she shall not:
a. Intentionally kick the ball.
b. Spike the ball into the ground
c. Throw the ball high into the air.

Penalty: unsportsmanlike conduct, 5 yards; if flagrant, the offender shall be disqualified.

3. Prohibited Acts. There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct by players, substitutes, coaches, or others at the field supporting the teams.

Examples include, but are not limited to:
a. Attempting to influence a decision by an official.
b. Disrespectfully addressing an official.
c. Using profanity, taunting, insulting or vulgar language or gestures.
d. Intentionally contacting a game official physically during the game by persons subject to the Rules (DQ).
e. Fighting an opponent (DQ).
f. Drinking alcoholic beverages or having alcoholic beverages on the sidelines (Team Forfeits game; Ejected from League).

Penalty: unsportsmanlike foul, 5 yards penalty; if flagrant, DQ and 10 yards penalty.

4. Repetition of Unsportsmanlike Fouls. A second unsportsmanlike foul by the same player or nonplayer results in disqualification and automatic ejection from game.
a. A player ejected from the game may remain on the bench. If that same player creates a problem for the game officials from the bench, he/she will be told to leave the field. (third unsportsmanlike foul) The field area is defined as "out of sight, out of sound." If the player does not comply, then the official will tell the captain of that team that the game will be forfeited.
b. The fourth unsportsmanlike foul by the same team results in their forfeiture of the game and removal from the league.

B. Unfair Acts.

1. Halving the Distance. If a team repeatedly commits fouls which can be penalized only by halving the distance to its goal line, the Referee may enforce any penalty he considers equitable, including the awarding of a score. For refusal to play, or for repeated fouls, the Referee shall, after one warning, forfeit the game to the opponents.

2. Unfair Acts. No player, substitute, coach or others subject to the Rules shall use words or phrases or commit any act not in accordance with the spirit of fair play for the purposes of confusing the opponent.

Penalty: unfair act, live ball foul, 5 yards.

C. Personal Fouls.

1. Players Restrictions. No player shall commit a personal foul during a period or an intermission. Any act prohibited hereunder or any other act of unnecessary roughness is a personal foul. No player shall:

a. Strip or attempt to strip the ball from a player in possession by punching, striking or stealing.
b. Contact an opponent who is on the ground.
c. Throw the runner to the ground.
d. Contact an opponent either before or after the ball is declared dead.
e. Make contact of any nature with an opponent which is deemed unnecessary including using fists, locked hands, elbows or any part of the forearm or hand.
f. Deliberately drive or urn into a defensive player
g. Position himself/herself on the shoulders or body of a teammate or opponent to gain an advantage.
h. Tackle the runner by grasping or encircling with the hand(s) or arm(s) and taking the opponent toward the ground as in tackle football. (DQ)

Penalty: 5 yards; if flagrant, offender will be DQ.

2. Roughing the Passer. Defensive players must make a definite effort to avoid charging into a passer after it is clear the ball has been thrown forward legally. No defensive player shall contact the passer who is standing still or fading back as he/she is considered out of play after the pass. Roughing the passer restrictions do not apply if the forward pass is thrown from beyond Team A's scrimmage line.

Penalty: 5 yards and an automatic first down.

NOTE: All fouls and penalties have NOT been covered in this document. The game will be officiated by students who have knowledge of the rules and shall apply them fairly and appropriately.

SUMMARY OF FOULS AND PENALTIES

Loss of 3 Yards

1. Required Equipment Worn Illegally
2. Delay of Game (Dead Ball)
3. Illegally Conserving or Consuming Time
4. Substitution Rules Infractions
5. Encroachment (Dead Ball)
6. False Start (Dead Ball)
7. Illegal Snap (Dead Ball)
8. Offensive Player Illegally in Motion
9. Player Receiving Snap Within 2 Yards of Scrimmage Line
10. Illegal Shift
11. Intentionally Throwing Backward Pass or Fumble Out-of-Bounds (Loss of Down if by Team A)
12. Illegal Forward Pass (Loss of Down if by Team A)
13. Intentional Grounding (Loss of Down)
14. Helping the Runner

Loss of 5 Yards

1. Illegal Player Equipment
2. Two or More Consecutive Encroachments During Same Interval Between Scrimmage Downs
3. Forward Pass Interference - Offensive (Loss of Down)
4. Forward Pass Interference - Defensive (Automatic First Down)
5. Illegally Secured Flag Belt on Touchdown (Loss of Down if by Offense) (Automatic First Down if by Defense)
6. Unsportsmanlike Player Conduct
7. Spiking, Kicking, or Throwing Ball During Dead Ball
8. Unsportsmanlike Conduct by Coaches, Subs, or Others
9. Strip or Attempt to Strip the Ball
10. Contact With Opponent on Ground
11. Throw Runner to the Ground
12. Contact Before or After Ball is Dead
13. Unnecessary Contact of any Nature
14. Drive or Run into Player
15. Position Upon Shoulders or Body
16. Tackle Runner
17. Roughing the Passer (Automatic First Down)
18. Illegal Offensive Screen Blocking
19. Interlocked Interference
20. Defensive Use of Hands
21. Guarding the Flag Belt
22. Stiff Arm
23. Obstructing or Holding the Runner
24. Illegal Flag Belt Removal

Disqualification Associated With Certain 5 Yard Penalties (10 yard penalties may be assessed)

1. Alcohol at the field or in possession of an individual or team (Automatic Disqualification and Ejection from League)
2. Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Player Conduct
3. Intentionally Kicking at or Swinging an Arm, Hand or Fist at any Opposing Player
4. Flagrant Spiking, Kicking or Throwing Ball
5. Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Conduct by Players, Coaches, Subs, or Others Subject to the Rules
6. Intentionally Contacting an Official
7. Flagrant Personal Fouls
8. Tackle the Runner
9. Intentional Tampering With Flag Belt - Offense (Loss of Down)
10. Intentional Tampering with Flag Belt - Defense (Automatic First Down)

Comments / Problems / Questions.

Captains who have comments or problems or questions regarding the rules and officiating may contact IM Student Coordinator or IM Director, Marsha Graef.

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