Flag Football Rules

1. General League Information

A team must have a minimum of 12 players on the roster. A minimum of 3 females are required on the field.
Arena Flag Football is played on an indoor soccer field with walls.Players need to be aware of their position on the field at all times!
Outdoor Flag Football is played outside at a city park.
The field is to be a minimum of 60 yards by 35 yards with 7-yard end zones. Additional Markers are at 3 yard line & 10 yard line for extra point conversions
The game is played with 8 vs 8
In case of severe weather, official word about cancellation will be emailed/texted 2 hours in advance.

2. Pregame

At least 6 players must be present to begin a game.
- Can NOT replace a female with a male on the field
- EXAMPLE: if only 2 females are present you can only play with 5 males on the field.
- Only players on your team roster may play.
- NO SUBS: if you need an additional player for that evening’s game they must be registered in the current league.
- NO SUBS AT ALL IN THE PLAYOFFS: All players must be registered on your teams roster.
Roster checks may be enforced at any time
If a team is more than 10 minutes late (from scheduled game time) that team will forfeit that game, but may still play in their allotted time slot for fun.
To start the game, CAPTAINS will rock/paper/scissors, the winner must choose one of the following privileges:
- Offense
- Defense
- Defer decision to the second half
All players must be wearing their designated OSSO team uniform

Game Play

Each team will be allowed 3 timeouts per half.
- Each timeout will last 30 seconds.
4 Ten Minute Quarters with a 1 minute break & 2 minute Halftime.
The game-clock will be running time except:
- Time-outs
- Official Timeout which may include equipment check, injury and/or anything else deemed hazardous by the Referee.
- Penalty on the defense within 2 minutes of the 4th quarter or overtime (playoffs) or a penalty on the offense if leading within 2 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime (playoffs).
- Out of bounds under 2 minutes of the either half.
- Change of possession under 2 minutes of either half.
  (Clock stops for extra point try & resumes at snap after change of possession)
Substitutions are unlimited during the game
Teams will not switch end zones each quarter, only at half-time
Play will begin from the offensive team’s 10-yard line at the beginning of the game and at half time
Subsequent drives following a touchdown will begin from the 10-yard line
If a team is down by more than one maximum scoring play with less than 90 seconds to go, no time outs and does not have possession of the ball, the game is officially over.
A tie score is final during the regular season.
- During playoffs, a tie at the completion of the game is broken in the following manner:
  - The winner of rock/paper/scissors will have the option of starting on offense or defense.
  - The ball will be put into play at the mid-field line.
  - Each team will have 4 downs to advance the ball past the goal line.
  - Each team may choose to go for 1 or 2 points following a touchdown.
  - This process is repeated until there is a winner.
  - Teams switch who plays offense and who plays defense after both teams have had a possession and there is still a tie.
  - All teams must go for a 2-point conversion if the game is tied after each team has one possession.
- Fair play and sportsmanship must be the attitude of everyone involved.
- Co-Ed Flag football is intended to be a finesse sport. While a certain amount of contact is to be expected, dangerous and/or excessive contact and collisions must be avoided.
- Referees are to pay special attention and penalize and warn the player(s) responsible.
  - The second warning to a player will result in ejection.
- Captains are the only members of each team that shall address the refs. Judgment calls will be missed from time to time, relax, you’ll live…If a rules call is in question, the captain may request a referee’s timeout for an explanation.
  - All calls by the ref are final.
- No verbal abuse of any kind will be tolerated towards anyone on the field and may result in ejection and possible suspension
- Any other league specific rules that were not addressed in the rules will be subject to League Manager’s “Spirit of the League” ruling and will be determined with fairness, player safety & fun in mind

Arena Specific Rules

Any ball that hits the walls or any part of the net on the ceiling or the side is considered an immediate dead ball and incomplete pass.

Scoring

The ball or the player’s body must cross the goal line.
Touchdown = 6 points
Touchdown scored with a Female as an operative player in run, throw or catch = 9 points
- Female player catches a thrown pass in the end zone and or runs after receiving the pass into the end-zone.
- Female is quarterback and either runs or throws a pass for a touchdown.
- Female is handed the ball behind the line of scrimmage and runs the ball into the endzone.
- Female intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown.
- Not a 9 point touchdown: Male catches or intercepts the ball and laterals to a female.
Extra points:
- 3 yards out = 1 point
- 10 yards out = 2 points
- Double points on extra points if a female is involved in the play (same standard as touchdowns)
Safety = 2 points
Forfeits = 21-0 win for the official standings
In the case of an inadvertent whistle the play will be replayed from the original line of scrimmage unless the whistle came after a reception or a turnover.
- If the reception occurred prior to an inadvertent whistle then the reception will stand and the ball will be placed where the ball carrier was when the inadvertent whistle occurred.
- If a turnover occurred prior to an inadvertent whistle then the turnover will stand and the ball will be placed where the ball carrier was when the inadvertent whistle occurred.
- However, If the play is in the Ref’s opinion a clear path breakaway TD when the whistle blows, the TD will count

Players and Equipment

- OSSO Sports & Social will provide each player with a flag belt to use during each game.
- The flag belt must be clipped in such a manner that it will come off with one pull. It is illegal to create loops and knots with the belt to make it more difficult to pull off.
  - Any player in violation will be first warned, penalized 5 yards and loss of down, and will be ejected from the game on a 2nd offense.
- OSSO Team Shirts are required.
- All shirts must be tucked in so that the entire flag belt is visible.
  - Referees should inform players to tuck in shirts if they notice it before a play.
  - If the ball carrier’s shirt is untucked, the ball is dead at the spot of the first legitimate flag-pull attempt made by the defense.
  - This does not apply if a defender pulls the shirt out of the shorts of the ball carrier.
  - Players must not wear shorts or anything hanging from the waistband with intentionally deceptive stripes that mimic the shape/color of the flags
- The official ball shall be of rubber/leather/synthetic construction and of high school size or larger for co-ed flag football.
  - All teams must make their ball available to opponents if asked to use it.
- Regular football equipment such as shoulder pads, kidney pads, and forearm pads are prohibited.
- No casts of any kind are permitted.
- All players must wear shoes. If wearing cleats, only non-metal cleats are allowed.
- **Referees are responsible for checking the equipment of all players before and during the game.**

Rules – Offense

The progress of the ball carrier is stopped when a defending player removes his/her flag belt.
There must be a minimum of 5 players on the offensive line to start a play.
- No rules about how many players are inside the box.
Offensively, everyone is eligible for a pass.
Downs: If the offense fails to advance the ball to the next zone in 4 downs, they shall lose possession of the ball and the opposing team will get the ball at their 10 yard line.
If any portion of the ball touches or crosses the line, the next zone is played.
Offensive players may move around before the snap as they wish. The offense may have 1 player in motion at the time of the snap. One player may be in motion moving parallel or backwards from the line of scrimmage, but may not be moving forward at all or it shall be a 5-yard penalty.
There will be a 10-second time limit between plays, once the ball has been set.
- The ref will begin an audible countdown once the ball has been set.
- If this time is exceeded, a delay of game will be called, offense penalized 5 yards and the clock will stop until the next snap of the ball.
No hideouts are permitted.
- The offense cannot intentionally try to hide a player on the sidelines.
- Only 8 players may be in the huddle.
- A 5-yard penalty will be assessed otherwise
- Substitutions can be made during a huddle if a player is going and a player is coming out of the huddle.
On a fumbled snap, a hand-off that is fumbled or backward pass or lateral, once the ball hits the ground, it is immediately dead and put in play where the ball hits the ground.
- If the ball lands forward, the ball will be spotted where the ball handler initially loses control.
A fumbled ball is dead, unless caught in the air by a trailing teammate (lateral).
- The ball is spotted at the spot of the fumble or where the ball hit the ground, whichever is less advantageous to the offensive team.
  - Reminder: for the play to be considered a fumble, the offensive player must first establish possession of the ball before a fumble may be called and the ball be ruled dead.
- No intentional move with the hands, elbows, or shoulders shall be made by the ball carrier to prevent the defender from removing his flag (flag guarding).
  - See Penalties Section for Penalty Information.
- Any player, whose flags fall off without a defensive player making an attempt to pull them off, will not be considered “down” and play will continue until touched with only 1 hand by the defense.
  - DON’T USE UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS!
- NO BLOCKING:
  - Arms may not be extended.
  - Use of extended hands is a violation and results in a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the illegal block.
- The team that has the ball in play from the line of scrimmage may pitch a ball (backwards or parallel) to a player, who may then throw a forward pass.
  - There may not be more than one legal forward pass during a down.
- The ball is placed in the middle of the field after each play.
- Males cannot run the ball past the line of scrimmage, except when a defender crosses the line of scrimmage after a 3 count of the ref.
- Females can run at any time, except:
  - If the line of scrimmage is between the 10 yard line to the goal line, a NO run zone will be designated.
  - This includes extra point & two point conversions.
- A ball carrier may not intentionally try to run through a defender.
  - If a player is currently in “space”, he or she has the right to that space. Intentional contact made by the offensive player into a defensive player will result in the ball being down and a 5-yard penalty.
- When the ball is snapped, there will be an audible 5 count from the Ref.
  - If the ball has not been handed off, lateral or passed forward (or run past the line of scrimmage by a female player or male player after they’ve been rushed) by the end of the 5 second count, the ref will blow the whistle and the play will be considered an incomplete pass.
- There is no punting allowed.

Rules – Defense

Defenders shall not impede the progress of the ball carrier in an attempt to remove the flag by running into the lane of the runner (cutting them off).
It’s illegal to dive at the ball carrier from the forward plane.
- Diving from the side and behind is legal but potentially unsafe.
It’s a 10-yard penalty to tackle, hack, straight-arm, trip, push, hold or rough another player.
- Defenders may not contact an offensive player with extended arms.
- Bump and run or press defense on any offensive player is NOT permitted at any time, however, they may stand in their path to alter their route within 5 yards.
- If, in the opinion of the Ref, that the tackle, hack, trip, or push was made on a “clear path” in an attempt to prevent the ball carrier from scoring, the ref may award the touchdown and penalize the offending team by having them start the offensive drive from their goal line instead of the 10 yard line.
Defensive players can line up at least 1 yard from the spot of the ball.
- This zone shall be referred to as the neutral zone and an infraction shall be off-sides.
Defensive players may not return an extra point conversion.
Defenders may not cross the line of scrimmage unless there is a handoff/option/lateral or a pass completed behind the line of scrimmage or once the ref has hit “3” on his countdown of time for the quarterback. Once a defender has crossed the line of scrimmage, any male ball-carrier may run past the line of scrimmage.

Penalties

No declining penalties.

The following penalties are 5-YARDS:
- No contact penalties will result in a loss of 5-yards. Down will be replayed.
- Offensive false start or offsides – offensive players moving forward before the snap of the ball or offensive players lined up in front of the line of scrimmage the play is blown dead and penalty issued.
- Defensive offsides – player lined up in neutral zone or crosses the line of scrimmage before the snap the play is blown dead and penalty issued.
- Offensive illegal shift – 2 players moving at the same time in motion the play blown dead and penalty issued.
- Penalties will be added from where the ball is caught.
  - If the pass is caught, down is played.
  - If the pass is not caught, down will be replayed.

The following penalties are 10-YARDS

Offensive contact penalties will result in a loss of 10-yards and loss of down.
Offensive and defensive pass interference.
Excessive roughness – left to the discretion of the referee.
- 1st instance – Warning and loss of 10-yards.
- 2nd instance – Removal from current gameplay.
Defensive Holding – grasp or arm bar preventing an offensive player from moving where intended
Offensive Pass Interference (Includes Loss of Down).
Flag Guarding – from the spot of penalty, 10 yard penalty, loss of down
Illegal forward pass – 10 yard penalty, loss of down (Players entire body must pass the line of scrimmage for pass to be illegal)
- If the QB is rushed legally and throws the ball after the 5 count it is considered an illegal forward pass.
Intentional Grounding – throwing out of bounds without a primary target to avoid a sack (Includes Loss of Down)
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Play results in 10-yard penalty, loss of down, and possible ejection.
- 2 ejections in 1 season will result in automatic disqualification from the season
Unnecessary Roughness: Play results in a 10-yard penalty and either loss of down or automatic first down depending on who committed the penalty.
- It may also be combined with Unsportsmanlike Conduct if the official deems the play to be malicious.
  - The player will automatically be ejected if this is the case.
- Timeout declaration when the team no longer has any timeouts to call.
- Defensive Pass Interference: Play results in 10-yard penalty or spot of interference (whichever is greater) and automatic 1st down
- Illegal dive. Yardage taken from the spot of the leap.
- Leaping forward. Yardage is taken from the spot of the leap.

OSSO Code of Conduct

Lighthearted trash talking is permitted.
Players who instigate and / or use personal profanity, such as “F*** You” will receive a warning.
- A second event with the same player(s) will result in an ejection for those involved.
  - Repeat offenses by the same player(s) will result in a suspension.
  - The duration of the suspension will be determined on a case by case basis depending on the severity of the incident.
Racial slurs, hate speech, or discriminatory language of any kind will result in immediate ejection, complete suspension, and removal from the league.
- Individuals who engage in this behavior are not welcome back.
- This applies to players, spectators, and anyone involved with the game.
Any act of physical violence – including fighting, shoving, or intentional aggression – will result in immediate ejection, complete suspension, and removal from the league.
- Individuals who engage in this behavior are not welcome back.
- This applies to players, spectators, and anyone involved with the game.
If there is a dispute about a score or a rule, a Captain may ask for a meeting with the opposing Captain and the League Coordinator/Official to discuss the dispute.
- If a judgement call goes in your team’s favor when it shouldn’t have, your Captain CAN and SHOULD speak up to the correct call.
A player(s) arguing with or being disrespectful to the officials will receive a warning.
- A second event with the same player(s) will result in an ejection for those involved.
  - Repeat offenses by the same player(s) will result in a suspension.
  - The duration of the suspension will be determined on a case by case basis depending on the severity of the incident.
Remember that we are a SOCIAL SPORTS LEAGUE that values FUN and COMMUNITY above all else.
- As a result, we must acknowledge that we are all imperfect people playing an imperfect game, and that wrong calls will inevitably be made.
- These errors should be accepted with grace.