Flag Football Tournament Rules

Last Modified 8/7/2025

Rules Summary

• Games are played 5v5.
• Flag is open gender with no gender rules or ratios
• Each game consists of two 15-minute halves with a running clock.
• All possessions (with the exception of interceptions) start at a team's 5 yard line.
• There is no kicking at all. (kickoffs, punts, field goals, PATs, no onsides kicks, etc.)
• Teams can earn one first down by passing midfield, regardless of where the possession begins.
• Teams have to go for it on 4th down. If they do not convert, the opposing team takes possession at their own 5 yard line.
• The ball is snapped from a lineman. The player who receives the snap is not able to rush the ball.
• Teams may immediately hand off or lateral backwards to a player who would be eligible to rush.
• You can never rush the ball when within 5 yards of the goal to gain.
• The defensive rush is live on the snap, rushers must start 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Cones will mark the line of scrimmage and rush line.
• Flag Football is no contact with no blocking or screens.
• Unsportsmanlike behavior or physical play is not tolerated and may result in suspension or removal.

Game Clock

• The game has two 15-minute halves with a running clock.
• The clock stops in the final 2 minutes if the score is within 17 points.
• Clock stops on:
• Incomplete passes
• Out of bounds
• Touchdowns
• Change of possession
• 25 second play clock. Count starts when the ball is set by the official.
• Each team gets 2 timeouts per game.
• Players can sub in/out after each play.

Offense

• A team has 4 downs to score or make a first down.
• There first down line is midfield, without regard for where the team takes possession.
• A down starts with a center snapping the ball.
• The player who receives the snap can not rush the ball.
• Teams may immediately hand off or lateral backwards to a player who is eligible to rush.
• Rushing is never allowed whenever the line of scrimmage is withing 5 yards of the 'goal to gain'

Blocking

• This is non-contact.
• There is no offensive line, no blocking and no screens.
• No downfield blocking among receivers. Receivers may trail a play to receive a lateral but cannot impede the defense.
• No jamming of receivers by defenders.

Kicking

• No Kickoffs. Possessions start at a team's 5 year line.
• No Punting. Teams have to go for it and if they do not convert, the opposing team takes possession at their own 5 yard line.
• No Field Goals.
• No Onsides Kicks or similar mechanism.
• No Extra points: After a touch down, teams can choose to go for 1 from the 4 yard line, or for 2 from the 10 yard line.

Scoring

• Touchdown: 6 points
• Extra Point from 4 yards = 1 point (rush legal).
• Extra Point from 10 yards = 2 points
• Defensive return of an extra point = to point being attempted
• Safety: 2 points and possession.

Defense

• Zone and man-to-man are legal.
• Defense can choose to rush zero or as many as they choose.

Flags

• Flag Belt = the Triple Threat
• Shirts must be tucked in
• Flags must be clearly visible
• Flag belt must be clipped around waist.
• The ball is spotted at the spot where the flag is pulled.
• A player is immediately marked down upon the catch if he receives a pass when his flag has previously fallen off midplay.

Offensive Penalties

• 5 Yard - False Start/ Delay of Game
• 10 Yards - Blocking/ Picks/ Holding/ Illegal Contact/ Intentional Grounding/ Offensive Pass Interference
• Loss of Down - Illegal Rush/ Flag Guarding/ Forwards lateral
• Ejection - Unnecessary Roughness

Defensive Penalties

• 5 Yards or result of Play - Offsides/ Fast Rush/
• 10 Yards or result of Play - Defensive Pass Interference/ Defensive Holding
• Auto Touchdown - Last man Rule (last defensive player commits TD preventing foul)
• Ejection - Unnecessary Roughness