Torkham Flag Football League
Any rules that are changed or modified after the first original printing (in a season) will be noted in blue. Officials may notify team captains, but are not obligated to. It is the team captains responsibility to be aware of rule changes and modifications. RULES - NFL FLAG FOOTBALL • A coin toss determines first possession. The visiting team calls the toss. • The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line. The team has five downs to make a drive at a touchdown. On the fifth down a team may decide to “punt” the ball, resulting in the opposing team taking the ball at their own five yard line to begin their set of downs. However, if a team chooses to “go for it” on fifth down, the ball is turned over at the spot of the ball (one of two ways the ball does not start at the five yard line at change of possession). • There are no real punts, a team will just take over on their own five yard line. • Teams change sides after one team has scored five touchdowns. PLAYERS/GAME SCHEDULES • Each team is allowed eight (8) players. A minimum of five players is required to participate in a game. If a team cannot field a team on a given day, a reschedule will take place, there will be no forfeits. Schedules may be made, but teams will have to be flexible. • A team may play without all members of the team there. Teams with eight players present may substitute in players as needed during dead balls. Teams with too many players on the field will be penalized. • Team Captains may agree to play six on six if each team has enough players. However, the default formation is five on five. No team captain must oblige to play six on six. • If a team is short players, another team may lend another team a player to complete a game on a given day. If a team has five available players, no other players from any other team may be allowed to participate in that game. If a player becomes injured or otherwise has to leave during the game, a player from another team may take his/her place. SCORING/PLAY TIME • During most play at Torkham, there will be no time limit. A team must be the first to score ten (10) points. If the referees agree that a time limit needs to be arranged due to darkness or other circumstances, then one will be agreed on before the beginning of game play. Time limits are usually, but not limited to two hours. • A team must win by two or more points. If a team reaches ten but is within two points, the game will continue until the score is better than a difference of two. A team automatically wins if they are the first to make it to fifteen (15). • If a team is not ahead by two when a time limit is enforced, the game may be completed at a later date. If the game is not completed by the end of the season, the game will result in a tie. • An offensive team has 45 seconds (30 seconds when a time limit is being used) from the time the ball has been set (alerted by the blow of a whistle), to snap the ball, signaling the beginning of the next play. Penalties occur for delay of game. (see PENALTIES) • Three (3) time outs per game per team (two, when a game is being played under time). Time outs are two (2) minutes. SCORING The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is. This said, the player must also reach the end zone, not just the ball. Touchdown: 1 POINT Safety: 0 POINTS – AUTOMATIC TURNOVER OF DOWNS. RUNNING • The quarterback can only run the ball when blitzed. (1 blitz per possession) • Absolutely NO hand offs of any kind. • The player who takes the pitch or toss can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. • Once the ball has been tossed or pitched, all defensive players are eligible to rush. • Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving). • The ball carrier cannot leave both feet to enter the end zone (i.e. no diving). The ball will be spotted at the five (5) yard line if found in violation. • The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is. RECEIVING • All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been pitched or tossed behind the line of scrimmage). • A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception. • If a flag falls off inadvertently before the ball is caught, the player only needs to be touched with one hand to be considered down. • If a flag falls off inadvertently after the ball is caught, the player is down at the flag. • The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is. PASSING • The quarterback has a five-second "pass clock." Once the ball is pitched, tossed or thrown, the five- second rule no longer is in effect. (Five full seconds will be timed by an official.) If a player leaves before the official time exceeds five seconds, the team has used its blitz. An official is not obligated to notify the team captain of a used blitz. • Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the point of interception and may be returned. Interceptions are one of two types of changes of possession that do not start on the 5-yard line. DEAD BALLS • The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play. Shotgun formation is allowed. • Substitutions may be made on any "dead" ball. • Play is ruled "dead" when: o Ball carrier’s flag is pulled. o Ball carrier steps out of bounds. o Touchdown or safety is scored. o Any part of Ball carrier’s body (except their hand) hits the ground. o Ball carrier’s flag falls off. o Whistle is blown, signaling the “dead ball” or end of play. Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground. RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK • The quarterback has a five-second "pass clock." Once the ball is tossed or pitched, the five-second rule no longer is in effect. Only one person is allowed to rush. Rushes will only take place after the five full seconds (timed by an official). • Once the ball is pitched or tossed, the five second pass clock is no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage. • A team may blitz only once per possession. A blitz is defined as crossing the line of scrimmage at any point before the five second pass clock expires. **Any number of players may rush the quarterback on a blitz, which can occur one time per possession. SPORTSMANSHIP/ROUGHING • If the referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player may be ejected from the tournament. A ten yard penalty will be assessed from the spot of the ball. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. • Illegal Contact is defined below: o Pushing the ball carrier out of bounds o Touching the ball carrier for any reason other than to grab his/her flag o Tackling o These rules are in addition to NFL illegal contact rules. • Extreme trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine extremely offensive trash talking or language. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams, or spectators.) If trash talking occurs, the referee may (but is not obligated) to give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game. • Spiking or punting the ball is illegal and will result in a ten yard penalty. PENALTIES All penalties will be called by the umpire—or the head official. The referee will “step-off” all penalty yardage decisions. Defense: • Off-sides – reset of down, no loss of yardage, no loss of downs • Blatant Pass Interference – spot of penalty and automatic first down • Illegal contact (holding, etc.) – 5 yards and repeat down • Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball) – 5 yards and automatic first down • Using two blitzes in one possession – 5 yards and repeat down. • Spiking/Punting the ball – 10 yards • Un-sportsmen like conduct – 10 yards Offense: • Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) – 5 yards and loss of down • Flag guarding, including “stiff-arming” – 10 yards (from spot of foul) and loss of down • Delay of game – 5 yards and loss of down. • False start, reset of down, no loss of yardage, no loss of downs • Illegal contact – 5 yards and loss of down. • Spiking/Punting – 10 yards • Un-sportsmen like conduct – 10 yards Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play. All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage. Only the team captain may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgment calls. Teams may be penalized under the un-sportsmen like conduct penalty for violation. **Players may also be ejected from the game if they are found in violation of this rule.** PICKING OF PLAYERS • Players that played in any one game in the previous season will be automatically entered into the second season draft. If a player does not want to play they will be scratched from the draft list and not permitted to play in any game during the second season. This includes being used as a substitute. • Team Captains will pick out of a hat for draft order. • Team Captains will pick from a pool of available players. The draft will be conducted as an adjusted line as shown below. 1, 2, 3, 4 3, 4, 2, 1 2, 1, 4, 3 4, 3, 1, 2 REPEAT • Any new players that are added after the draft are able to be picked up in order from where the original draft ended. If a player played any game during the previous season and waived his/her option to be included in the second season draft, (s)he cannot play in ANY second season game. • No trading of players after the draft has officially ended. SCHEDULING AND PLAYOFFS • Each team plays each other twice, resulting in six games per team. • At the end of the mini-season, the first place team plays the last place team. The second and third place teams play each other. The winning teams will then play each other for the championship. UNOFFICIAL SCHEDULE This schedule is an example. The official schedule will be decided by luck of the draw at the end of the draft. Team 1 vs. Team 2 Team 3 vs. Team 4 Team 2 vs. Team 3 Team 1 vs. Team 4 Team 2 vs. Team 4 Team 1 vs. Team 3 Schedule repeats |
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| Official NFL Flag Football Rules Modified for the use of Camp Torkham 5 on 5 TFL Mini-Seaon |