UNIINTRAMURALFLAGFOOTBALLRULES
PLAYERELIGIBILITY
1.
2.
Participationislimitedtocurrently-enrolledstudents,fee-payingHawkeyeandAllenstudents,faculty
members,andfull-timestaff.
Inordertoparticipateinanintramuralcontest,eachplayermustpresenthis/hercurrent,validUNIID.
Playerswillreporttotheirdesignatedfieldstocheckin.
TEAMCOMPOSITION
1.
2.
3.
4.
Playerscancompeteononlyonemen’sorwomen’steam,regardlessofleagueclassification.Inaddition,
playersmanycompeteforoneco-recteamduringthesameseason.
Sevenplayersconstituteateam.Allplayersmustpresenttheircurrent,validUNIIDattheirdesignated
fieldinordertoparticipate.
Ateammusthave5playerstostartagame.Playerswhoarrivelatemaybeaddedtotherosterandmay
enterthegameatadead-ballsituation.
TeamrosterswillbeformedbasedontheplayerswhohavesigneduponIMLeagues.Additionsmaybe
madetotherosterBUTmustberegisteredonIMLeaguesadaybeforetheyplanonplaying.Ifaplayer
isn’tontheIMLeaguesscoresheettheywon’tbeallowedtoplaythatnight.Playersmaynotplayinthe
playoffswithoutplayinginmorethan2gamesduringregularseason.
EQUIPMENT&PLAYINGFIELD
1.
2.
3.
4.
Footballswillbeprovidedforeachfield,andregularsizedfootballwillbeusedformen’sgamesanda
youth/juniorsizefootballwillbeusedforwomen’sandco-recgames.Itmustbedecidedonbyboth
teammanagersandtheofficialsifthereisarequesttouseapersonalball.
Eachteamwillberesponsibleforshowingupinthecorrectcoloroft-shirtforplay.Thehometeamlisted
onIMLeagueswillberequiredtowearawhiteorlightcoloredshirtandthevisitingteamwillberequired
towearblackoradarkcoloredshirt.Ifbychanceateamshowsupinthewrongcolorofuniform,an
IntramuralSportSupervisorcanprovidetheteamwithpinnies.Mouthguardsarehighlyrecommended.
Individualplayerequipmentmustmeetthefollowingrequirements:
a. Shirts:Allshirtsmustbetuckedinandremaintuckedinduringplay.Iftheshirt(sweatshirtor
jacket)hasahood,thehoodmustbetuckedinsidetheshirt(sweatshirtorjacket).
b. Pants:Playersmaynotwearpantsorshortsthathavebeltloops,pockets,oranexposed
drawstring.
c. Headgear:Playersmaynotwearbaseballstylecapsorotherrigidheadwear.Knitandstocking
capsarepermitted.Playersmaywearaheadbandnowiderthantwoinchesandmadeofnonabrasivecloth,elastic,fiber,softleather,orrubber.Bandanaswithknotsareprohibited.Rubber
orclothelasticbandsmaybeusedtocontrolhair.
d. PadsorBraces:Nopadsorbracesmaybewornabovethewaist.Legandkneebracesmadeof
hard,unyieldingmaterialmustbecoveredonbothsidesandalledgeswithappropriateslowrecoverypadding.
e. Shoes:Allplayersmustwearshoes.Tennis/runningshoes,soft-soledshoes,andfootballshoes
arepermitted.Metalspikes,baseball-stylespikes,andcleatswithmetalexposedareprohibited.
Anyplayerwearingspikeswillbeejectedfromthegame.
f. Participatingwhilewearingillegalequipmentisa10-yardunsportsmanlikeconductpenalty.
JewelryisNOTallowedtobewornbyanyparticipantduringaflagfootballgame.Thisconsistsofany
visiblerings(includingweddingbands,watches,necklaces,earrings,studs,bracelets,andanyothersuch
similarjewelry.Medicalertbraceletsmustbetapedtothebodyorsecuredunderclothingsuchasa
5.
6.
7.
8.
wristbandorsocktobewornduringplay.Aplayerissubjecttoejectionforfailuretoremoveanyjewelry
afterfirstwarning.
Eachplayermustwearathreeflagbeltwithoneflagoneachhipandoneintherear.Specialruleshave
beenestablishedtodeterminehowtolegallyfastenandremovetheflagbelt.
a. Allplayersmusthavethreeflags
i. Failuretowearaflagbeltatthestartoftheplay,ifnoticedbyanofficialpriortothe
snapisaliveballpenalty(5yards).
ii. Ifarunnerloseshis/herflagduringtheaction,playcontinues.Theplayendswhena
defensiveplayertouchestherunnerwithonhandbetweentheshouldersandthe
knees.
iii. Iffailuretoweartheflagbeltisnoticedbytheofficialaftertheplaystarts,theplay
continueswiththeballbecomingdeadwhentherunneristouchedbetweenthe
shouldersandknees.Thedefensecanaccepttheresultoftheplayorpenalizefor
failuretowearrequiredequipment(5yards).
b. Tamperingwiththeflagbeltinanywaytogainadvantage,includingtying,usingforeignmaterial,
orothersuchactsisunsportsmanlikeconduct.(10yards,lossofdownandplayer
disqualification)
Thedimensionsofthefieldshavebeenstandardizedintoregulation80yardx40yards.Thearea
betweengoallineswillbedividedbythreelinesmakingfourequalzones.Thesethreelineswillbeknown
as“fistdownlines”.Two10yardendzones.
Foreachplay,theballshallbespottedatthespotonthefieldwherethepreviousplayended.
Coneswillbesetatthebackofeachendzone.
GAMETIMEANDLENGTH
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Gametimeisforfeittime.Ateamneedsatleast5legalplayerstobeginthegame.Ateamthatforfeits
morethan2regularseasongameswillbechargeda$50forfeitfee.
Gameswillconsistoftwohalvescontaining25playsperhalfanda5minutehalftime.
a. Allliveballplayswillcount,(evenifthereisapenaltyassessed).Exceptionisifthelastplayof
eachhalf,adefensivefouloccurs.Thiswillcauseanadditionalplaytoberun,ifthepenaltyis
assessed.
b. Extrapointtrieswillnotcountasaplay,butapuntcountsasaplay.
Atossofacoinwilldeterminewhichteamwillgainpossessionoftheballfirst.Theteamthatwinsthe
cointosshasthreeoptions:
a. Firstpossessionoftheball.
b. Defendthegoaloftheirchoice.(Note:Ifateamwithfirstoptionchoosestodefendagoal,the
otherteamautomaticallygetstheball.)
c. Defertheiroptiontothesecondhalf.
Therewillbenokickoffs.Inall“kickoff”situations,the“receiving”teamwillgettheballontheirown20
yardline.
Theballmustbeputintoplaynomorethan25secondsaftertheofficialhasmarkeditreadyforplay.
Eachteamshallbeallowedthreetimeoutspergame-limitedtooneminuteeach.
Amercyrulewillbeenforced.Ifateamhasaleadof50pointsormorethegamewillend.
OVERTIMEPROCEDURE
1.
2.
Acointosswillbeconductedtostarttheovertimeperiod.Thewinnerofthecointosshasthechoiceof
offenseordefense.Ifthegamegoestoasecondovertime,theteamwhichlostthetossatthebeginning
ofthefirstovertimehasthechoicetostartonoffenseordefenseforthesecondovertime.Thechoice
willthenalternateforeachsucceedingovertimeperiod.
Eachteamwillhaveaseriesoffourdownstoscorefromtheiropponent’s10-yardline.Teamswhich
begintheirovertimeperiodoutsideofthe20-yardlineduetopenaltymustscorein4downsandwillNOT
3.
4.
5.
6.
receiveanyfirstdownsforcrossingzone-line-to-gainsintheprocess.Teamsmayreceiveanothersetof
downsbypenaltyonly(automaticfirstdown).
Whenateamscores,theywillattemptanextrapoint(1,2,or3).
Theteamondefensefirstwillhaveitschancetoscoreandattemptanextrapoint.
Overtimewillcontinueuntilawinnerisdeclared.
Whenthedefensesecurespossessionoftheballduringovertime,theoffense’sseriesshallbeoverand
theballdeclareddead.Thedefensemaynotreturntheballforatouchdown.
BALLINPLAY,DEADBALL,OUTOFBOUNDS
1.
Balldeclareddead:
a. Whenaforwardpassstrikesthegroundoriscaughtsimultaneouslybyopposingplayers.
b. Whenabackwardpassorfumblebyaplayerstrikestheground.
c. Whenarunnerhasaflagbeltremovedlegallybyadefensiveplayer.
d. Whenarunnerislegallytouchedwithonehandbetweentheshouldersandknees,includingthe
handandarm,oncetheflagbeltisnolongerattached.
e. Whenasnaphitstheground.
f. Whenamuffofaprotectedscrimmagekickstrikestheground.
g. Whenthepasserisdeflaggedbeforereleasingtheball.
INCLEMENTWEATHER
1. TheUniversityofNorthernIowaIntramuralSportsOfficereservestherighttorescheduleacontestif
circumstanceswarrantsuchaction.
2. WeatherconditionsattheplayingfacilityshallbemonitoredbyCampusRecreationstaffutilizing
3.
electronictechnologywithpostponementsandcancellationsmadeinaccordancewithprescribed
departmentalweatherpolicy.
Inthecaseofinclementweather,theIntramuralSportsstaffwillmakeadecisionby3:00pm.Checkyour
e-mailaswellasIMLeaguestoreceivecancellationinformation.
SCORING
1.
2.
3.
4.
Atouchdownshallcountforsix(6)points.
a. Anysuspiciousplaywheretheflagsdonotcomeoffonascoringplay,checktheplayer’sflags.If
theyareillegalitisa10yardpenaltyandalossofdown.
Afteratouchdown,thescoringteamattemptsaPAT(pointaftertouchdown).Thecaptainwillindicate
fromwhichdistancetheoffensewillattemptthePAT.Thecaptainmayalsodesignatewhere,between
theinboundslines,theballshallbespottedforthePAT.
a. Fromthe3-yardline-worth1point.
b. Fromthe10-yardline-worth2points.
c. Fromthe20-yardline-worth3points.
WhenthedefensesecurespossessionoftheballduringaPATattempt,theattemptshallbeoverandthe
balldeclareddead.Thedefensemaynotreturntheballforatouchdown(cannotscoreduringaPAT).
Asafetyshallcountfor2points.Afterwards,theballwillbeputinplaybythescoringteamattheir20yardline.
PLAYINGRULES
1.
2.
FirstDowns
a. Ateamregistersafirstdownwhenitcrossesortouchesoneofthefirstdownlines.Oncethe
firstdownhasbeenestablished,thatteammaynotmakeanotherfirstdownbycrossingthe
samelineduringthatseriesofdowns.
LineofScrimmage,RequiredNumberofPlayers
a.
Four(4)offensiveplayersmustbeonthelineofscrimmageatthesnap.Aplayerisdeemedon
thelineofscrimmagewhenfacinghis/heropponent’sgoallinewiththelineofhis/hershoulders
approximatelyparalleltheretoandwithhis/herheadorfootbreakingtheplaneoftheimaginary
linedrawnthroughthewaistlineofthesnapperandparalleltothelineofscrimmage.Atany
timeatorafterthereadyforplaysignal,alloffensiveplayersmustmomentarilybeatleast5
yardsinboundspriortothesnap.Thereisnorequirementfordefensiveplayerstoline-upalong
thelineorbeatleast5yardsinboundspriortothesnap.
3. Fumbles
a. Afumbleisdeadatthepointtheballtouchestheground,iffumbledbackwards,oratthespot
wherethefumbleoccurrediffumbledforward.Theballgoestotheteamwholasthad
possessionwiththeresultinglossofdown.Aballthathasnothitthegroundcanberecovered
(intheair)andadvancedbyeitherteam.Thisincludessnapsbythecenterthatarenotcaught
byanoffensiveplayer(i.e.quarterback).Badsnapsaredeadatthespottheyhittheground.For
thepurposesoftiming,fumblesandbadsnapsareconsideredrunningplays.
4. Handoffs
a. Behindthelineofscrimmageandpriortoeitherarunneradvancingtheballacrossthelineof
scrimmageoraforwardpasscrossingthelineofscrimmage,anyoffensiveplayermayhandthe
ballforwardorbackwardtoanyplayer.Oncetheballhasbeenadvancedorthrownacrossthe
lineofscrimmage(inanydownfieldplays),anoffensiveplayermayonlyhandtheballbackward
toanotherplayer.Atalltimes,defensiveplayersmayonlyhandtheballbackwardtoanother
player.
5. ForwardPasses
a. AforwardpassisLEGALWHEN:
i. Thepasser’sfootisbehindthelineofscrimmagewhentheballleavesthehand.
ii. Thepassoccursbeforeachangeofpossession(defensemaynotthrowaforwardpass
followinganinterceptionorfumblethathasn’thittheground).
iii. Itisthefirstandonlyforwardpassmadeduringthedown.Onlyoneforwardpassis
permittedperdown,regardlessofwhetherthepassiscompletedbeyondorbehindthe
lineofscrimmage.
6. PassReceptions
a. Alllegalplayersareeligibletoreceiveapass.Onefootmustlandinboundsbeforeanypartof
thebodylandsintheout-of-boundsareaforalegalpassreception.Onekneeisequivalent.
7. InterceptionsintheEndZone
a. Ifaplayerinterceptstheballintheendzone,theplayermayreturnitoutoftheendzone.Ifthe
playerisdeflaggedwhilerunningintheendzone,itisatouchback.
8. ScreenBlocking
a. Theonlytypeofblockingthatisallowedisscreenblocking.Nocontactisallowedbetweenthe
offenseanddefense.Penalty:Personalfoul,10yards.
i. Thescreenblockermusthavehis/herhandsathis/hersideorbehindhis/herback.
ii. Anyuseofthehands,arms,legsorbodytoinitiatecontactisillegal.
iii. Theplayermustbeonhis/herfeetbefore,duringandafterthescreenblock.
iv. Theblockercannottakeapositionsoclosetoamovingopponentthathis/heropponent
cannotavoidcontactbystoppingorchangingdirection.Thispositionwillvaryfrom1to
2stepsdependingonspeedofthedefensiveplayer.
9. RetrievalofBallafteraPlay
a. Theoffensiveteammustretrievetheballaftereveryplayfromscrimmage.
10. PuntingtheBall
a. Onfourthdown,therefereewillasktheoffensiveteamcaptaintoselectiftheywishto(1)punt
or(2)trytoreachthezone-line-to-gain(“goforit”).Onceadecisionisreached,therefereewill
announcethedecisiontothedefense.Iftheoffensedeclarestopunt,thenwantstochange
theirdecision,theymaydosoafterachargedtimeoutoranacceptedpenaltyinwhichthedown
istobereplayed.
i. Allpuntsmustbeannouncedtothereferee.Therearenoquickkicks.PENALTY:Illegal
kicking,10yardsfromthepreviousspot.
ii. Thekickingteammusthave4players(5inco-rec)onthelineofscrimmageduringa
punt.PENALTY:Illegalprocedure,5yardsfromthepreviousspot.
iii. Thekickermustcatchandkicktheballimmediatelyinonecontinuousmotion.
PENALTY:Illegalprocedure,5yardsfromthepreviousspot.
iv. Neitherteammayadvancebeyondtheirrespectivescrimmagelineuntiltheballis
kicked.PENALTY:Illegalprocedure,5yardsfromthepreviousspot.
v. Kickersmaynotpuntbarefoot.PENALTY:Failuretowearproperequipment,5yards
fromthepreviousspot.
vi. PuntsthathavenotbeentouchedbyaplayerareNOTdeadwhilebouncingonthe
ground.Whenapunttouchesaplayerfromeitherteamandthenhitstheground,itis
deadatthatspotandbelongstothereceivingteam.Ifapuntismuffedbythereceiving
teamandcaughtintheairbythekickingteam,itisdeadatthatspotandthekicking
teamretainspossession,firstandline-to-gain.Ifcaughtintheairbythereceivingteam,
theymayadvancetheball.
vii. Whenapuntbreakstheplaneofthereceivingteam’sgoalline,itisatouchback.Punts
maynotbereturnedoutoftheendzone.
viii. Therearenofaircatches.Faircatchsignalsshallbedisregarded.
11. InadvertentWhistles
a. Whenanofficialsoundshis/herwhistleinadvertently:
i. Duringalegalpass,whileasnapisinflight,orwhileakickisin-flight,thedownwillbe
replayed.
ii. Whenaplayerisinpossessionorduringabackwardpass,theteaminpossessionatthe
timeoftheinadvertentwhistlemaychooseeithertoaccepttheplaywhereitisblown
deadorthereplaythedown.
GENERALPENALTIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
DelayofGame(deadballfoul,5yardsfromthepreviousspot)
a. Theballmustbeputinplayproperlyandlegallyandanyactionorinactionbyeitherteamwhich
tendstopreventthisisillegaldelayofgame.Thisincludes:
i. Interruptingthe25secondcountforanyreason,exceptforatime-outallowedbythe
referee.
ii. Consumingmorethan25secondsinputtingtheballinplayafteritismarkedreadyfor
play.
iii. Deliberatelyadvancingtheballafterithasbeendeclareddead.
Encroachment[offsides](deadballfoul,5yardsfromthepreviousspot)
a. Followingtheready-to-playwhistleandpriortothesnap,noplayerondefensemayencroach,
touchtheball,orcontactanopponentinanyway.Itisencroachmentforanyplayertobreak
his/herscrimmagelineplane(orangedisk[defense][offense]).PlayersdoNOThavethe
opportunitytojumpacrossthelineand“getback”onside.Itisafoulassoonastheplayer
initiallyenterstheneutralzone.
FalseStart(deadballfoul,5yardsfromthepreviousspot)
a. Nooffensiveplayershallsimulateachargeorstartofaplay.
IllegalFormation(5yardsfromthepreviousspot)
a. Whentherearelessthanfour(4)offensiveplayersonthelineofscrimmageatthesnap,itisa
liveballillegalprocedurepenalty.Theplayerwhoreceivesthesnapmustbeatleast2yards
behindtheoffensivescrimmageline.
IllegalBatting(10yardsfromthespotofthefoul)
a. Playersshallnotbatalooseballotherthanapassorfumbleinflight.Exception:Abackward
passinflightmaynotbebattedorthrownforwardbythepassingteam.
IllegalMotionandShift(5yardsfromthepreviousspot)
a.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Onlyoneoffensiveplayermaybeinmotion,butnotinmotiontowardstheopponent’sgoalline
(orlineofscrimmage),atthetimeofthesnap.Afterahuddle,alloffensiveplayersmustcometo
astopandremainstationaryfor1secondbeforeanoffensiveplayermaygoinmotion.Iftwoor
moreplayersshift/goinmotionsimultaneouslypriortothesnap,bothmustcometoastopand
resetpriortothesnap.
FlagGuarding(10yardsfromthespotofthefoul&replaythedownORspotofthefoul&lossofdown)
a. Theballcarriershallnotprotecthis/herflagsbyblockingwithhis/herarmsorhandsinorderto
denytheopponentstheopportunitytoremovethem.Thisincludesthequarterback/passerin
possessionoftheball.Note:Stiffarmingisflagguarding.Runningwhileholdingtheballathiplevel,intentionallyorunintentionally,mayalsobeconsideredflagguarding.
IllegallyDeflagginganOpponent(personalfoul,10yards)
a. Anoffensiveplayermusthavepossessionoftheballbeforetheycanbelegallydeflagged.Pulling
orremovingaflagbeltfromanoffensiveplayerwithouttheballisillegal.Iftheplayerisan
eligiblereceiver,theviolationmaybeconsideredpassinterference.
IllegalContactbytheBallCarrier(personalfoul,10yardsfromthespotofthefoul)
a. Theballcarriermustruntoavoidtacklers.Deliberatechargingofanopponentisagainstthe
rules.Officialswillusethesamejudgmentonchargingandblockingbyoffensiveanddefensive
playersasinbasketball.“Brushingcontact”andunavoidablecontactisnotwillful“charging.”
Theballcarriermayspinorjumparounddefenderstoavoiddeflagging;however,theballcarrier
mustremainincontrolofhis/herbodyduringsuchmoves.Ifthefoulisintentionalor
unsportsmanlike,then10moreyardswillbeaddedtothepenaltyandtheplayerwillbe
disqualified.
Holding(10yardsfromtheendoftherun[defense],10yardsfromthespotofthefoul[offense])
a. Holdingisgraspingorencirclinganopponentwiththehandorarminanywaythatimpedes
his/hermovement.Adefensiveplayermaynothold,push,orknocktheballcarrierdowninan
attempttoremovetheflag.Similarly,anoffensiveplayermaynotholdanopponenttoprevent
adeflagging.
Tripping(10yardsfromtheendoftherun)
a. Trippingisusingthelowerlegorfoottoobstructanopponent(includingtheballcarrier)below
theknees.
IllegalContactbytheDefense&Tackling(10yardsfromtheendoftherun)
a. Ifadefensiveplayerreachesacrossthebodyoftheballcarriertopulltheflagandcontactis
made,theresponsibilityofthecontactlieswiththedefensiveplayer.Arunnershallnotbe
throwntotheground.Thereshallbenocontactwithanopponentwhoisontheground.Ifa
defensiveplayertacklestheballcarrier,whointheopinionofthereferee,wouldhavescored
exceptforbeingtackled,atouchdownshallbeawarded.Deliberatetackleswillresultin
disqualification.
RoughingthePasser(10yardsfrompreviousspot,ifincompletepassthrown;10yardsfromendofrun
followingcompletedpass)
a. Defensiveplayersmustmakeadefiniteefforttoavoidchargingintoapasser.Contactwiththe
passershallbeavoidedexceptincaseswherethedefensiveplayerisattemptingtodeflagthe
passer.Excessivecontactisnotpermittedatalltimes.Contactwithathrownball(hittingthe
ballthenthepasserinthesamemotion)doesNOTaffectthisruleandroughingthepassermay
stillbecalled.Roughingthepasserdoesnotapplyonillegalforwardpasses;however,illegal
contactmaybecalled.
IllegalForwardPass&IntentionalGrounding(5yardsfromthespotofthefoulandlossofdown)
a. Apassthrowninviolationofthelegalpassguidelineslistedaboveisconsideredillegal.Apass
thatisintentionallythrowntothegroundoroutofboundstoavoidalossofyardageisalso
illegal.
OffensivePassInterference(10yardsfromthepreviousspot)
a. Passinterferenceoccurswhenaplayercontactsanothereligiblereceiverwhoisbeyondtheline
ofscrimmage.Restrictionsexistfortheoffensefromthetimethattheballissnappeduntilithas
beentouchedbyareceiver.
16. DefensivePassInterference(10yardsfromthepreviousspot)
a. Restrictionsexistforthedefensefromthetimethepassisthrownuntilithasbeentouchedbya
receiver.Faceguardingwithnointenttocatch,intercept,orbattheballisalsoconsideredpass
interference.Note:Contactorinterferencebythedefensepriortowhenthepassisthrownis
stillconsideredillegalandwillbepenalizedasapersonalfoul.
17. OtherPersonalFouls(10yardsfromtheendoftherun[defense],10yardsfromthespotofthefoul
[offense])
a. Anyactprohibitedhereunderoranyotheractofunnecessaryroughnessisapersonalfoul.
i. Noplayershallpunch,strike,strip,steal,orattempttostealtheballfromtheplayer
whohaspossession.
ii. Thereshallbenotrippingorclipping.
iii. Thereshallbenohurdling.Hurdlingshallbeinterpretedasanattemptbytherunnerto
jumpwithbothfeetandkneesforemostoveraplayerorbetweenplayers.(Youcan
jumporspinawayfromplayerstoavoidhavingyourflagpulled.)
18. UnsportsmanlikeConduct(allenforcedfromdeadballspot,10yards)
a. Noplayershallcommitunsportsmanlikeactsduringplayorintermissionincluding:
i. Usingwordssimilartooffensiveaudibleorquarterbackcadencepriortothesnapinan
efforttointerferewiththeoffense’ssignalsormovements.
ii. Intentionallykickingtheball(otherthanapunt)
iii. Intentionallykickinganopponentorswinginganarm,handorfistatanyopposing
playerorofficial.
iv. Disrespectfullyaddressinganofficialorindicatingobjectionstoanofficial’sdecision.
v. Usingprofanity,taunting,insultingorvulgarlanguageorgestures.
vi. Fightingorleavingthesidelinesandenteringanalternation.
b. Twounsportsmanlikefoulsbythesameplayerornonplayerresultsindisqualification.Aplayer
ornonplayercanbedisqualifiedfollowingthefirstunsportsmanlikefoul.
CO-RECRULEMODIFICATIONS
NIRSAFootballandtheUNIIntramuralFlagFootballRuleswillgovernplaywiththeexceptionslistedbelow.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
TeamComposition
a. Eightplayers,fourmenandfourwomen,constituteateam.Ateammayhaveasfewassix
players,withthemakeupoftheteambeing3menand3women.Ateamcanparticipatewith
sevenplayers,withthecompositionbeing4menand3womenor3menand4women.Atno
timeshallthenumberofmalesoverfemalesexceedone.
Equipment
a. Theregular,intermediate,juniororyouthsizefootballshallbeused.
Scoring
a. Ifafemalescoresatouchdown(runsacrossgoallineorreceivesapassintheendzone),the
pointvalueis9.
b. Ifafemalethrowsalegalforwardpassinaplaythatresultsinatouchdownbyanyoffensive
player,thepointvalueis9.
c. Allothertouchdowns(bymaleplayers)score6points.SuccessfulPATscountthesameforboth
genders(1,2,3).
MercyRule
a. Ifateamis50ormorepointsaheadafterthesecondhalfhasstarted(oneplay),thegameshall
beover.
NumberofPlayersontheLineofScrimmage
a. Five(5)offensiveplayersmustbeonthelineofscrimmageatthetimeofthesnap.
RunPlays/ActionBeforeaPass/IllegalMaleAdvancement
a. MaleRunner(BallCarrier)>Priortothereceptionofalegalforwardpassbyanyplayer,amale
runnercannotbethefirstplayertoadvance(carry)theballbeyondthelineofscrimmage.
b.
c.
FemaleRunner>Therearenorestrictionsonanyrunbyafemaleplayeratanytime.
MaleRestrictionsInEffect>Duringtheperiodbetweenthesnapandwhenalegalforwardpass
isthrown.
d. MaleRestrictionsinEffect>Duringtheperiodbetweenthesnapandthetimewhentheballis
legallypossessedbeyondthelineofscrimmagebyanyplayer.
e. MaleRestrictionsEnd>Whenanyplayerhascaughtalegalforwardpassanywhereonthefield.
Completeapass,eliminatetherestrictions.
f. MaleRestrictionsEnd>Whentheballhasbeenlegallypossessedbeyonethelineofscrimmage
byanyplayer.
g. RestrictedPlay>Onceamalerunnerhascarriedtheballacrossthelineofscrimmageillegally,it
isanIllegalMaleAdvancementfoul,regardlessoffuturegainorlossofyardageontheplay.
i. PENALTY:ThepenaltyforIllegalMaleAdvancementis5yardsfromthepreviouslineof
scrimmageANDlossofdown.
7. PassPlays/OpenandClosedStatus/IllegalMalePassReception
a. Announcement>Priortoeachplay,thegamerefereewillannounceboththedownandeither
“open”or“closed”statusfortheupcomingplay.
b. OpenStatus>Theterm“open”meansanyplayercancompletealegalforwardpasstoanyother
playeranywhereonthefield(maletomaleforwardpassesarepermitted).
c. ClosedStatus>Theterm“closed”meansamaleplayermaynotcompletealegalforwardpassto
anyothermaleplayeranywhereonthefield.Thenextlegalforwardpasscompletionmust
involveeitherafemalethrowingthepassorreceivingthepass(maletomaleforwardpassesare
notpermitted).
d. OpentoClosed>Thestatuschangesfrom“open”to“closed”onanylegalmaletomaleforward
passcompletion,regardlessofagainorlossofyardageontheplay.
e. ClosedtoOpen>Thestatuschangesfrom“closed”to“open”onanylegalmaletofemale,
femaletomale,orfemaletofemaleforwardpasscompletion,thatresultsinpositiveyardage
gain.
f. RestrictedPlay>Anymaletomaleforwardpasscompletionduringa“closed”playisconsidered
anIllegalMalePassReceptionfoul(5yardsfromthepreviouslineofscrimmageandlossof
down).
8. OpenandClosedStatus–Specifics
a. InitialSeriesStartsOpen>Followinganychangeofpossessionoratthestartofahalf,thefirst
playforanoffense’sseriesshallbeopen.
b. LateralsandBackwardsPasses>Therearenorestrictionsonanylateralorbackwardpass.
c. OnlyFirstForwardPassMatters>Openandclosedplaysaredeterminedbytheactionofalegal
forwardpassandcatch.Therefore,throughoutaplaytheremaybemultiplepossessionsby
malesorfemalesbutthestatusofthenextplayisdeterminedbytheinitialpassandcatch.
d. PositiveYardageGain>Thespotwheretheballbecomesdeadbyrule(beforepenalty
enforcement)mustbebeyondtheTeamAscrimmageline.
e. RunPlaysHaveNoEffect>Anyrunplayorplaythatdoesnotinvolvealegalforwardpasshasno
effectonopen/closedstatus.
f. PenaltiesHaveNoEffect>Theenforcementofapenaltyhasnoeffectonopen/closedstatus.
g. PATAttempts>Open/closedstatusforaPATattemptisdeterminedbythepreviousplay(that
scoredtheTD)justlikeanormaldown.
9. Co-RecRestrictedPlaysSummary
a. Priortothereceptionofalegalforwardpassbyanyplayer,nomalerunner(ballcarrier)canbe
thefirstplayertoadvancetheballacrossthelineofscrimmage.Anyplaywiththisaction,
regardlessofpositiveornegativeyardagegain,isafoul.
b. Ona“closed”passplay,amalepassermaynotcompleteapasstoamalereceiveranywhereon
thefield.Anyclosedplaywiththisaction,regardlessofpositiveornegativeyardagegain,isa
foul.
10. SamplePlays
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Play1>Amalequarterbackisrushedbyadefenderandscramblesaheadacrossthescrimmage
line.
i. (Allplays)PENALTY:Illegalmaleadvancement,5yardsfromthelineofscrimmageand
lossofdown.
Play2>Afemalequarterbackisrushedbyadefenderandscramblesaheadacrossthe
scrimmageline.
i. (Allplays)NOpenalty,legalplay,norestrictionsonafemaleplayer.
Play3>Amalequarterbackhandsofftoamalerunnerwhorunsaheadacrossthescrimmage
line.
i. (Allplays)PENALTY:Illegalmaleadvancement,5yardsfromthelineofscrimmageand
lossofdown.Amalemayneverbethefirstplayertocarryballacrossthelineduringa
runplay.Eveniftherewasalossofyardageonthisplay,thisactionisstillapenalty.
Play4>Amalequarterbackscramblesacrossthelineofscrimmage,runsbackbehindtheline,
thenthrowsalegalforwardpasstoafemalereceiverwhorunsaheadacrossthescrimmageline.
i. (Allplays)PENALTY:Illegalmaleadvancement,5yardsfromthelineofscrimmageand
lossofdown.Amalemayneverbethefirstplayertocarrytheballacrossthelineprior
tothethrowingofalegalforwardpass.
Play5>Amalequarterbackthrowstoamalereceiverbehindthelinewhorunsaheadacrossthe
scrimmageline.
i. (OpenStatus)NOpenalty,legalopenplaybecausealegalforwardpasswasinvolved.
NextplayisCLOSED.
ii. (ClosedStatus)PENALTY:Illegalmalepassreception,5yardsfromthelineof
scrimmageandlossofdown.Runislegal,butmale-to-malepassonclosedplayisa
penalty.NextplayremainsCLOSED.
Play6>Afemalequarterbackthrowstoamalereceiverbehindthelinewhorunsaheadacross
thescrimmageline.
i. (Allplays)NOpenalty,legalopenandclosedplaybecausealegalforwardpasswas
involved.Ifclosed,thenextplayisOPENifpositiveyardsaregained.
SPORTSMANSHIP
1.ThemissionofIntramuralSportsistoprovidearecreationalenvironmentfortheUniversitycommunitywhichis
safeandenjoyable.Whilethegameatmosphereisoftencompetitive,ensuringparticipantsafety,providingafun,
socialatmosphere,andpromotingsportsmanlikebehavioramongparticipants,spectators,andteamfollowersare
ourprimaryconcerns.Thegameatmosphereshouldremaingood-naturedatalltimes.Participantsshallmaintain
goodsportsmanshipthroughouttheirparticipationinallfacetsoftheintramuralprogram.