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Sunrise Flag Football 4 Refs (Condensed)
Rules - NIRSA Rules with modifications herein |
Dave must be consulted
before a Forfeiting any game. Notify Dave at the end of games, |
TEAMS |
Pee Wee 5 max / 4 to start / Min 4 to complete Junior 6 max / 4 to start / Min 4 to complete Intermediate 5 max / 4 to start / Min 4 to complete |
Grace Period |
10 Minutes (First game only) No Grace Period for Second Game Failure to start a game at referees’ command may result in a forfeit by one or both teams. |
LENGTH OF GAMES |
(4) 10 minute - Running Clock except for time outs and during the following times: Time Outs - (2) 60 second per team, per half >no carryover. Official time-outs are not called for equipment repair or for bringing in the ball. OT = 1 Time Out. Clock Stops last (2) minutes of the second and fourth quarters for Punting plays and as in regulation tackle football (incompletion, out-of-bounds). Restart after first downs, penalties, injuries, change of possession, and dead balls, once the ball has been set. |
Coin Toss |
Visitors call coin toss. Winner has choice of goals, to receive or kick, or defer. Second half, the loser has choice to receive or kick. Exception, if a team defers, they will have the choice in the second half. Note: Inform Coaches that deferring may result in an opponent RECEIVING Kick-Off to start BOTH halves Teams must switch sides for 2nd half. (at Half Time) |
Tech Area |
3 Feet beyond Bench Only two Coaches, with current Badges, are allowed in Tech Area or on the Coaches side of the field No Badge - No Participation. If a team does not have a “badged-up” adult or approved youth volunteer coaching the game will result in a forfeit. City Staff may fill in to avoid forfeiture. |
Coaching |
Coach on Field permitted ... All Divisions MAY NOT converse with players, once offensive line is set until the end of the play. Penalty: 5 yds from line of scrimmage. The Head Coach is the official team representative. Head coach and his/her staff are responsible for the conduct of her/her spectators. Officials may penalize (or even forfeit) a team for undesirable behavior of its spectators, as determined by the game officials. Spectator Coaching is NOT allowed. |
Spectators |
No one is allowed to be behind the end zones. Spectators must be a minimum of 6 feet from sidelines. This is a safety + insurance issue and a preventative measure to minimize spectator interference. Spectators cannot coach from the sidelines or participate in coaching, during Time Outs or Half Time. |
Huddle 2 Snap |
Must Put Ball in Play - 30 seconds from Marked Ball and Whistle. No play will start until ball is marked and whistle is blown. |
Neutral Zone |
5 Yards – All Divisions (Immediate Rush on Snap) |
Kick Off |
40 yd line all divisions. Safety = Kick or Punt at 20 yd Line – Out of Bounds kick-off – 30 yd line to receiving team. Touchbacks = Receiving teams 14 yd. line. Kick Offs must travel a minimum of 10 Yards, before the Kicking Team can "Down the Ball". |
Kick-off Receiving Team |
Minimum (3) on Their Own 20 Yard Line |
OFFENSE |
Minimum (1) player (Center) on line of scrimmage. |
DEFENSE |
1. The defensive “line of scrimmage” or restraining line is 5 yds in front of the ball. Exception: With less than 5 yards to a 1st Down or to the End Zone, mark half the distance as the Neutral Zone. There MUST be a minimum of 1 Yard Buffer Zone, for safety reasons. 2. A legal “tackle” is made by pulling a flag from the ball carriers flag belt. The defender will hold up the flag for the referee to see. Tying flags prohibited. 3. Defensive player(s) may NOT: - Grab or hold any part of a ball carrier’s body or clothing or Tackle the ball carrier. 4. If a ball carrier is missing a flag, the defense merely has to one hand touch the ball carrier anywhere between the shoulders and waist to make a legal “tackle.” 5. Defensive players must go around a screen blocker. The defender may only touch the screen blocker to keep balance: pushing, pulling, or sliding across a screen blocker is not permitted. 6. Roughing the passer is defined as: when momentum carries the rusher(s) into the quarterback’s arm or body. 7. A defensive player who intercepts in the end zone may either down the ball for a touchback or advance the ball at own risk. 8. Safety - the team charged with a safety will either kick (from the tee or ground) or punt the ball from their 20 yd. line. |
SUBSTITUTIONS Failure to comply with this rule may result in forfeiture of the game and/or suspension of the Coach for one game |
Quarters ONLY ... NO substitutions during quarters, except for Injuries or Disiplinary Actions. All participants must play at least one entire quarter in each half... (Half of each half) If a player is injured, the opposing Coach will choose the replacement Player. As soon as the Injured/Disiplined Player is healthy enough to re-enter, swap him/her back and bring the Player that replaced him/her back to the sideine Late Player(s) After Start/Prior to 2nd quarter = must play 2nd quarter and at least (1) quarter in 2nd half. After 2nd /Prior to 3rd must play at least (1) quarter in 2nd half. > After 3rd quarter start/Prior to 4th must play 4th quarter. EXCEPTIONS: A referee and opposing coach are notified, prior to the game, that a player is sick, injured, or being disciplined by the league, or game official. |
EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS Mouth Piece Manditory |
Players must wear City jerseys with numbers tucked in player’s shorts at ALL times. No jewelry or hair clips or sunglasses. Prescription eyeglasses must be secured. NO bandanas or Hats with solid brim or beenie. No Earrings and NO ... Tape over is not allowed. Molded cleats or tennis shoes. NO Metal spikes, screw-in or squared off molded cleats. Long sleeves/ long pants allowed in cold weather under official uniform. NO Clothing that conceals flag (prohibited). Examples - players shorts same or similar color as flags, thick stripes on shorts that are the same or similar color as flags; No pockets or belt loops Only elbow and kneepads allowed. Taping of pads or body not permitted. Mouthpiece - Mandatory (EXCEPT THE INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION.) No hard casts. Soft casts must be approved by the officials. Medical ID - Wrist = ¼” pad + tape / Chest = Taped - All MUST be FLUSH to body. MUST STILL BE SAFE in Referee's opinion |
SCORING |
Touchdown = 6 Points Safety = 2 Points Extra Points – 3yd = 1 Point / 10yd = 2 Points / 20yd = 3 Points |
RULES OF PLAY |
Kick Off point - 40 yd line all divisions. All kicks from either a tee or the ground only. Kicking tee must be placed at least 10 yards from each sideline. No Onside Kicks. Receiving team is always in possession of a kick-off. (However, if the receiving team tries to lateral the ball or it deflects off of an Offensive Player, and the kicking team catches the ball before it hits the ground, the kicking team will have possession of the ball). Out of Bounds kick-off – 30 yd Line placement for receiving team. Kick-off receiving team must have 3 players on their own 20-yd line until ball is kicked off. A kick-off receiver may advance a kick-off that is caught on the fly or picked up on bounces. A kick-off receiver may not advance a kick-off: If the receiver muffs the ball and the ball hits the ground. The ball is dead where it first hits ground. If the ball is touched by the receivers teammate(s) and the ball hits the ground the ball is dead where it hits the ground. If a bouncing ball is downed by the kicking team, kicking team cannot down ball until the ball hits the ground. As soon as kick-off receiver fields the ball, all screening rules go into effect Touchbacks = Receiving teams 14 yd. line. First Down - Team reaches a 20 yd. Marker in (4) downs or less. OFFENSE - minimum (1) players on line of scrimmage. (Center) All offensive players must be in the huddle between plays. Officials must be notified of all “No huddle” situations. Referee will notify defensive coach. Once first play is completed and referees spots ball and blows whistle, offense may run second play without huddle. All offensive players are eligible receivers. Receivers (or defenders) must have one foot in bounds to catch pass. If a player while on knee(s), catches ball - legal catch but play is dead at spot of catch. Only one forward pass is permitted per down, regardless of whether or not they are still behind the line of scrimmage. Pass or lateral to teammate who’s even with or behind the ball carrier is permitted, regardless of whether the ball is ahead of or behind the line of scrimmage. Any player may hand the ball forward or backward at anytime. A ball carrier may NOT: Stiff arm - Shield flags in any way - Slap a defender reaching for ball carrier's flag(s) - Jump into an opponent - Dive to avoid having flag(s) pulled - Charge into a defender who has established position (defined as not trying to avoid a defender) NOTE: Contact may occur. It is the referee's judgment if contact was caused by ball carrier, defender or incidental contact (no penalty). The center may receive a hand-off - if the hand-off is completed at least 1 yd. behind the line of scrimmage. NO QUARTERBACK SNEAKS All Snaps (except Pee Wee) from center must be caught in the air. A snap that bounces before it gets to intended player is down at the spot where it first hit the ground. The down is not replayed. Quarterbacks (except Pee Wee) must be at least 2 yards back from the center. A fumble or free ball will be dead at the spot where it first hits the ground and will belong to the team that last had possession. The play counts and down will advance as usual. When a returnee muffs a punt or kick-off, the ball immediately will be dead at the spot where the ball first hit the ground after being touched by the returnee. If the ball first hits in the end zone, after the returnee touches the ball, a touchback will be awarded. In both cases, the ball belongs to the returnee’s team. Forward fumbles are not allowed. Sometimes a ball carrier will intentionally "fumble” the ball forward in an attempt to gain extra yardage or a first down. In this situation, the ball will be returned to the spot where the ball carrier “lost possession” of the ball. If a defender should catch the ball before the ball hits the ground, the ball would belong to the defense. If the ball is fumbled forward into the end zone, the play will result in a touchback for the opposing team. |
PUNTING |
1. A punt must be announced and completed during the 30 seconds allotted to snap the ball. (5 yard Penalty) It is offensive coach’s responsibility to advise the referee. 2. The punter picks up ball at line of scrimmage, then proceeds to punt ball. No part of the punter's body may cross the scrimmage line when making the punt. The punting team must stay behind the line of scrimmage until the punt is away. 3. There is no minimum number of players that need to be on the defensive scrimmage line when receiving a punt. The defense may not block a punt. NOTE: During last 2 minutes of a half, the clock will be stopped for all punting plays. 4. Quick-kick - The offense may quick-kick on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down by lining up in regular offensive formation and announcing to the official that they are punting. All players will not move until the punt is away. |
PENALTIES 5 Yards Loss |
A. Dead Ball Fouls; Delay of Game - Encroachment - False Start - Illegal Snap B. Live Ball Fouls; Illegal Equipment - Substitution Infraction - Illegal Motion - Illegal Shift - Intentional Grounding* - Illegal Forward Pass* *=Loss of Down |
PENALTIES 10 Yard Loss |
Illegal Player equipment - Quick Kick - Two or more encroachment penalties - Offensive Pass Interference**, Defensive Pass Interference, Illegally secured flag belt*** - Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Stripping the ball - Illegal Contact - Hurdling - Roughing the Passer** - Illegal Screen Blocking - Flag Guarding - Illegal Participation - Unfair Acts *=Loss of Down **=Automatic first down ***=Loss of Down on Offense, Automatic First down on Defense Loss of 10 yards PLUS Ejection Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Conduct Flagrant Personal Fouls Illegally Securing Flag Belt All Penalties may be declined, except player disqualification and forfeit |
OVERTIME |
(None for Regular Season Games. Games finish as they end, even if it's a tie.) Procedure: Each team begins at 20 yard line, with up to four plays to score more points or gain more yards than the opposing team to win the game. If a team turns the ball over (i.e. interception) all yards gained prior to turnover are nullified. Once a team gains more yards than the other team, that team wins, and the game is over. For example, team one runs four plays and gains 10 yards. Team two runs one play and gains 11 yards, the game is over, and team two wins. It is not necessary to run all four plays to win the game. All penalty yardage gained by team offensive is included when determining what team gained more yardage. |
DISCIPLINARY RULINGSEjection NOTE: An ejected participant, volunteer, coach, or spectator must leave the playing area within 2 minutes. They may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled.Persons under the influence of alcohol/drugs, or the use of alcohol/drugs in any form, by players or adults, are not permitted during games or practices.Two coaches are allowed to occupy the coaching area during a game. All coaches must wear their ID badge at all times during practices and games. Chatter is strictly prohibited by parents, coaches, or other players who attempt to distract opposing players in any way. No heckling of any player, coach, referee, shall be permitted in any division. Teams without a coach with a City-issued ID card on game days can result in forfeiture of a game. Games forfeited due to this rule cannot be protested.OFFICIALS - Referees shall have complete authority over the game, players, coaches and spectators. They may expel any player, coach or spectator for indecent language, unsportsmanlike conduct, or any infraction of rules. Refusal of expelled player, coach or spectator to leave the "playing area" within 2 minutes will constitute a forfeit. Referees instructed to ONLY discuss matters in Head Coach, NOT assistant. Head Referee is official timekeeper. There will be no clock at the fields.PROTESTS - Judgment calls are not subject to protest. Call Dave Immediately 954-632-2602 Must be made in writing in addition to being noted on the game sheet. The rule and section under protest must be clearly denoted and specified in the protest in addition to being added on the game sheet. Coaches must notify the referees immediately before the next play. Time and conditions of protest shall be noted on the game sheet by the referees at this time. All protests must be noted on the game sheet before the referee signs it. Protests are subject to immediate decisions if an appropriate city representative is present to rule on the situation.COACHES DUTIES Responsible for the team’s actions, including parents and fans, and to represent the team in communications with the official and opposing team. Responsible to appoint a representative to replace him/her if he/she is unable to be present. Responsible to keep himself/herself, his/her coaches and team in the appropriate areas throughout the game. A coach’s tone of voice shall be informative, not harassing. There shall be no mechanical devices used to amplify a coach’s voice. All youth athletic volunteers are required to wear a photo identification badge when working with the children. Volunteers not displaying the identification badge will not be permitted to remain on the field.