1. The flag football coaches meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at 5:15 p.m., 360 Colborne, Auditorium B (first floor).

    

2. Opening date for practice is Monday, September 14, 2015.

    

3. It should be stressed to players and coaches alike that flag football is a game of skill both offensively and defensively. IT IS NOT A GAME WHERE ROUGH TACTICS ARE TO BE USED. Plays and tactics should be designed to employ speed and deception rather than violent contact.

    

4. Coach or school athletic director is responsible for arranging of officials for each home game. They must also forward, in a timely manner, the Independent Contractor voucher to the District Office so that officials are paid.

    

5. The HOME coach is responsible for calling in the score to Laura Ranum by phone (767-3490) or e-mail (laura.ranum@SPPS.org) for Website posting.

    

6. Rules of the game:
   1. Seven players on the field at one time.
   2. First down zones are 15-20 yards (dependent upon size of field).
   3. Two 30-minute halves, running time. Exception is the last two minutes of each half when stop time is used.
   4. Punting must be declared. No rushing. Team cannot leave until the ball is kicked. Only two men deep. No fumbles--ball is dead when it hits the ground after touching a receiver.
   5. Time-Outs: two per half
   6. Extra Points: two options -- 5 yds. out (1 point); 10 yds. out (2 points)
   7. Kick-Off: flip coin to see who kicks off. There will be a kick-off to begin each half and after each score.
   8. Onside Kick: 10 yards.
   9. Motion: one person per play
   10. GAME CANNOT END TIED--Overtime procedure: in case of tie score, each team has ball in overtime period from ten yards out (flip of coin to determine who is on defense first).
   11. Miscellaneous: 30 seconds to run your next play after the ball is put in play by the officials. Coaches may be in the huddle to help call plays.

    

7. General rules/regulations: official rules of play shall be the N.F.H.S. football rules with the particular exceptions below:
   1. Uniforms -- rubber soled shoes should be worn. Molded cleats are acceptable. Metal cleats or spikes of any kind shall NOT be allowed nor shall any hard surfaced padding such as shoulder pads, hip pads, etc. be used.
   2. Flags -- it is desirable to carry the flags in belts manufactured for this purpose. Flag football belts supply a definite and equal resistance where flags are attached, thereby requiring the same amount of pull in order to deflag any player. Red or yellow flags are recommended.  Belts should have three flags; whole belt should come off when pulled.  The attachment around the waist should be a slide buckle.
   3. Downed Ball -- in order to down a ball carrier, either flag must be withdrawn from the waist of the "tackler." The "tackler" must stop at the point of tackle and extend his arm with the withdrawn flag outward. The ball carrier is declared down at this point. It is illegal for the ball carrier to deliberately touch his own flags or to defend them in any manner. PENALTY: 10-yards from the line of scrimmage.
   4. Dead Ball -- the ball is ruled dead when a fumble strikes the ground or when a misdirected snap strikes the ground. The ball belongs to the team which last had possession if a fumble goes out of bounds.
   5. Loss of Flags -- if a player’s flag is inadvertently lost, the player shall be ineligible to handle the ball. If a player without a flag handles the ball, the down ends immediately. It shall be illegal for a player to deliberately withdraw an opponent’s flag unless that player is in possession of the ball. The official shall consider this action as unsportsmanlike conduct.
   6. Charging/Tackling -- the ball carrier may not run through a defensive player, but he must attempt to evade the "tackler." The "tackler" must not hold, push, or run through the ball carrier but must "play the flag rather than the player." PENALTY: 10-yards from the line of scrimmage.
   7. Tackling -- tackling is not permitted. The ball is declared dead when the defensive player pulls one of the runner’s flags. Any action against the runner, other than merely pulling his flag, is unnecessary roughness. PENALTY: 10-yards from the line of scrimmage. The offender may be banished from the game at the discretion of the officials.
   8. Hacking -- it shall be a foul for the ball carrier to hack, push or straight arm another player. PENALTY: 10-yards from the line of scrimmage.
   9. Blocking -- line blocking shall be the same as regulation football. In open field or out of the line blocking, no part of the blocker’s body except his feet shall be in contact with the ground throughout the block. The blocking shall be a type of body checking with the blocker in an upright position and without the use of his hands or extended arms. Any rough tactics such as attempting to run over or knock down an opponent must be penalized as unnecessary roughness. Unnecessary roughness may be declared if the blocker uses knees or elbows in blocking. PENALTY: 10-yards from the line of scrimmage.
   10. Passing -- a forward pass may be thrown from any point behind the line of scrimmage. No double passes unless the second person who is going to throw the pass is a lateral or behind quarterback.  The passer is declared down if his flags are withdrawn by a defensive player before his arm is in motion in throwing a pass. A forward pass is a pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage over the line of scrimmage.  Remember the ball must completely leave the hiker's hands on the hike.
   11. Spinning -- spinning is allowed.
   12. Conduct -- unsportsmanlike conduct, swearing, obscene language or actions, etc., either on or off the playing field, shall not be tolerated either by the managers or officials. PENALTY: 10-yards from the line of scrimmage and immediate suspension of the offender or offenders from the game.
   13. Overtime procedure: There are NO ties in flag football. Overtime will be played in all games tied after regulation time has expired. Overtime begins with a flip of a coin, the visitors calling it in the air. Whichever team wins the toss gets their choice of being on defense or offense first. The offensive team gets four tries from the 10-yard line. If they score, they then try for the extra point. Then the team that was on defense goes to offense and they get four tries to score. If the score is still tied after this, they will repeat the process again until a winner is determined.
   14. Miscellaneous penalties (all are marked from the line of scrimmage):
       1. Illegal use of flags: 10-yards
       2. Offensive use of hands: 10-yards
       3. Defensive illegal use of hands: 10-yards
       4. Encroachment: 5-yards
       5. Pushing ball carrier out of bounds: 10-yards
       6. Ball carrier pushing his interference: 10-yards
       7. Illegal procedure: 5-yards
       8. Taking an opponent's flag who does not have the ball: 10-yards

    

8. Medals will be awarded to the City Champion at a scheduled board meeting.

MANAGERS AND OFFICIALS: Flag football is a game of skill both offensively and defensively. It is not a game where rough tactics are to be used. Plays and tactics should be designed to employ speed and deception rather than violent contact.