SUNY Potsdam Athletics

RULES FLAG FOOTBALL

FIELD MARKINGS

The field markings will be zoned into 5-yard strips. It will be 60 yards
by 40  yards. End zones will be 10 yards deep.

RULE 1:  A team shall consist of seven players.

                 a. Each team must have a roster containing at least 10 men and no more than 15.

                 b. The offensive team must have at least four men on the line of scrimmage.

                 c. All members of the team are eligible to receive forward passes.

                 d. A team may start a game with as few as six players, but no fewer than six.

RULE 2:  The wearing of helmets by any player is prohibited.

                 a. No pads other than legal braces (i.e., a knee brace) shall be worn.

RULE 3:  Tackling is not permitted. The ball is declared dead when a defensive player removes the flag
               
                 a. Action against the runner, other than removing the players flag, shall constitute unnecessary roughness.

                 PENALTY — Tackling or other unnecessary roughness, loss of 15 yards.

RULE 4: The game shall be played in halves of 16 minutes each.
 
                a. There shall be a two-minute rest period between halves.

                b. Time-out may be called three times during the game by each team without penalty.

                c. Running time will be used except for the last minute of the first half and the last two minutes of the second half.

                d. Time-out shall be called by the referee:
                         1. When the ball goes out of bounds.
                         2. After a score is made.
                         3. In case of injury.
                         4. At their discretion.

RULE 5: In a series of four downs the offensive team must advance the ball 10 yards, in advance of the spot where the first down started.

RULE 6:  Offensive players may block on or behind the line of scrimmage only. No contact blocking is permitted beyond the  line of         
                scrimmage or on kick returns. In addition, the blocker's hands must be in contact with his own body;( arms crossed or held                         closely to the body in front of the body) No Push blocks.  The  blocker's body must be in an upright position; the blocker shall not
                leave his feet in executing a block.

                DEFENSIVE RUSHING — Defensive players are permitted to use their hands to ward off blockers, but violent shoving or pushing                 is prohibited. They must attempt to go around the offensive man.

                PENALTY — A team committing any infractions of the rules regarding blocking
                                      shall be penalized with the loss of 15 yards.
 
 
RULE 7: A ball carrier may not straight-arm an opponent.

                PENALTY — A team committing any infraction of this rule shall be penalized with the lost of 15 yards.

RULE 8: Scoring.

                a. A touchdown shall count six points.

                b. A safety shall count two points. (Dropped ball in end zone constitutes a safety.)

                c. A successful conversion after a touchdown shall count one point.

                d. In case of a tie game the ball shall be placed on the 30- yard line, and the teams shall be given alternate possessions to                         advance the ball to score.

                            1. If one team should score a touchdown during its four downs that team
                                shall be given one point and be de-clared the winner.

                            2. The winner of a coin flip shall have the following choices:

                                     a. To take the first or second opportunity to advance the ball.

                                     b. To select the goal he wishes.

                             3. The loser of the coin flip shall have the alternate choice.


RULE 9: Any number of substitutions may be made during the game at any time the ball is dead.

RULE 10: The ball shall be put in play at the beginning of the game, beginning of the second half,
                 and after a touchdown by a placekick from the kicker's 40 yard line.

                a. The kick must go 20 yards or the ball shall be kicked over.

                b. If the kickoff goes out of bounds, the ball shall be kicked over.

                              1. If the second kickoff goes out of bounds the ball shall be put in play
                               at the receiving team's 40 yard line.

                c. A kickoff becomes dead and is a touchback if it touches the ground behind the receiving team's goal line.

                               1. This is true even though the ball has been fumbled.

                d. The restraining line of the team receiving the kickoff shall be its own 40-yard line.

RULE 11: At any time the ball is fumbled, during scrimmage, after a lateral pass, after a run, or when a pass from center strikes the ground, the ball is dead at the spot where it first struck the ground.

                a. Exception: Any time the ball is fumbled forward, it shall be declared dead at the spot of the fumble.
               
                b. A player my pick up a dropped kick-off  and punt catch attempted only.

                c. The team in possession of the ball subsequent to a fumble shall be determined by the down
                    and by which team was in possession when the fumble occurred.

RULE 12: The receiver of a punt or a  kick-off  may pass the ball forward, provided he catches the kick and does   not take more than two steps after the catch.

                a. If the forward pass is incomplete the ball shall be declared dead where the kick was caught.

RULE 13: The offensive team shall be given 30 seconds from the time the ball is placed down to put the ball into play.

                PENALTY — For not putting the ball in play in 30 seconds, the offensive team shall be penalized five yards.
 
RULE 14: If a punt is to be made, the offensive team must announce it before the down starts.
                 After such an announcement, the kick must actually be made and neither team may cross
                 the line of scrimmage until after the kick.
                
                a. When a punt is announced the defensive team must have at least four men on the
                    line of scrimmage until after the ball is snapped by the center.

                PENALTY — For failure to announce punt or failure to punt after such announcement — loss of 15 yards.  For crossing            
                scrimmage line before kick or for failure of defense to have four men on the line of scrimmage — loss of five yards.

RULE 15: Any play, occurrence, or decision not specifically governed by this list of rules shall be governed by the official rules of football.

RULE 16: If a team fails to have at least one member of its team on the field within five minutes after the scheduled time for the start of the
                 game, or if it fails to have a sufficient number of men to constitute a team ready to play within ten minutes after the scheduled
                 time for the start of the game, that team shall be required to forfeit the game.

RULE 17: Sleeper play — Intended receiver must be on his feet, five yards in from the sideline.

RULE 18: Try: A try will be an opportunity to score one or two additional points after touchdown.
                 The opportunity will be granted the team which has scored a touchdown. If the offensive team elects for the extra point 2 yards                      out, (the offense) must notify the defensive captain and the official it intends to try for one point, 2 yards out. 
    
                Two points after touchdown. Ball is placed 5 yards out.

Mercy Rule: If a team is up by 30 points at the half the game is over. If a team is up by 20 with two minute left in the game the game is over.

For flagrant roughness after player has been warned — disqualification.


Collegiate football rules will apply in all instances not otherwise stated herein.