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Blackcat Youth Flag Football Rules 2024

WHAT IS FLAG FOOTBALL?

RULES

A coin toss or rock, paper, scissors determines first possession.
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four (4) plays to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four (4) plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.
If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5-yard line.
All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.
Teams change sides after the first 20 minutes, but possession does not change. The clock does not stop.

TIMING/OVERTIME

Games are played to 40 minutes running time (two 20 minutes halves).
If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes, teams move into overtime. The first team to score wins.
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.
Each team has one 60-second time out per half.
Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.

SCORING

Touchdown : 6 points
Extra point : 1 point (played from 5-yard line) or 2 points (played from 10-yard line)
Safety : 2 points

RUNNING

The quarterback cannot run with the ball.
Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple handoffs.
Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind.
"No-running zones," located 5 yards from each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield, are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations.
The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
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 defensive player (no diving).
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 handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.

PASSING

All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.
Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
The quarterback has a seven-second "pass clock." If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down. Once the ball is handed off, the seven-second rule no longer is in effect.
Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the point of interception and may be returned. Interceptions are the only 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:

SPORTSMANSHIP/ROUGHING

If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
Trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams, or spectators.) If trash talking occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

PENALTIES

All penalties will be called by the referee.

Defense:

Offsides – 5 yards and automatic first down
Interference – 10 yards and automatic first down
Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc.) – 10 yards and automatic first down
Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball) – 10 yards and automatic first down
Illegal rushing – 10 yards and automatic first down.

Offense:

Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start, etc.) – 5 yards and loss of down
Illegal forward pass (pass received behind line of scrimmage) – 5 yards and loss of down
Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) – 10 yards and loss of down
Flag guarding – 10 yards (from line of scrimmage) and loss of down
Delay of game – clock stops, 10 yard penalty.
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 coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgment calls.
Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.

Shielding (Junior league ONLY)

Shielding (no contact) on offense is allowed for the junior league (ages 7-8).
Players attempting to shield must place hands behind their backs and shield only. No intentional physical contact should be made by either offensive player or defender.
Intentional contact from shielding can result in a 10 yard penalty and loss of down or automatic first down depending on which team makes initial contact.

Note : There are no kickoffs, and no blocking is allowed.

Rosters

The maximum roster size for each team is 15.
Each team must have at least 5 players to start a game.
In the case where one team or both are short 5 players, coaches and officials can make exceptions so that game can still be played. Exceptions must be agreed upon by both coaches and official.

Coaches

Each team must have at least one coach USA Flag Football certified. Certification requires a fee of $15-25 and video education on basic flag football fundamentals, as well as health and safety instruction in case of an emergency.
Blackcat Youth Football requires each team to have at least two coaches.
One coach must remain on the sideline with their team at all times to avoid leaving players unattended.

Field/Dimensions

Yellow line markings illustrate our field design and dimensions as well as the goal lines. Since our bleachers for our family members and friends is only on the river side of the field, we’ve chosen to only have two fields used at once on the bleacher side of the field.
Yellow arrows point in the direction each drive should start in our league. There will be no change in directions to avoid the two fields conflicting with one another.
Orange line indicates midfield/first down line.
Blue lines and waves indicate a no run zone. Must pass.
Each of the two fields are 60x21.5 yards and will be marked with cones by league coaches and/or officials.

All questions and/or concerns should be directed to Charles Rice

606-226-9957