Flag Football Rules

I. Game, Field, Players, Equipment
1. Only Walsh students, faculty, staff, and alumni are eligible to play.
2. Players must also be eligible by not currently being on the roster of the University's Football team.
3. Only players on the official team roster may participate in the game.
4. After 2 games, the roster is locked and no more players can be added.
5. Players are allowed to play on only one team per sport's league.
6. All players are required to have a signed waiver of liability on file with Intramurals for the current sport.
7. Flags must be worn over the shirt and not covered up. Flag belts should be clipped around the waist and not tied to the person wearing them.
8. All jewelry must be removed. Players may wear soft, pliable pads on legs, knees, and/or ankles.
9. Athletic shoes or rubber cleats can be worn. Metal cleats are prohibited.
10. The game shall be played 8 on 8 and the downs are marked at 20-40-20 with additional markers for the 5 and 10 yard lines.
11. Teams may have a maximum of 12 on their roster. There is no requirement for females but females are encouraged to play.
12. Game ball and flags will be provided.
13. Teams will be divided into two divisions with the top two teams in each division advancing to the playoffs at the end of the regular season.

II. Periods, Time Factors, Substitutions
1. The winner of the pre-game toss has the options of offense or defense. The loser of the coin toss decides what end to defend.
2. Playing time and intermissions. A game shall consist of two 20 minute halves with a 5 minute halftime intermission. The clock will run continuously during the first 18 minutes of each half. During the last two minutes of each half, the clock will stop such as in college football:
- Penalties
- Scoring plays
- Incomplete passes/out of bounds
- Injured players
- First downs (until the ball is set in play by the referee)
- At the two minute mark, a time out will be called warning the last 2 minutes of the half.
3. Timeouts: Each team will have two 1 minute timeouts per half, at which point the clock will stop. Timeouts do not carry over to the second half. At their discretion, refs may call time out in the event of an injury.
4. Free substitution is allowed. No offensive substitutes may enter unless he joins the huddle and is part of the huddle at the time it breaks.
5. In the event of a tie, the game will go into overtime per the college rule. The ball will be spotted at the 20 yard line and the offensive team has 4 downs to score. They can then go for 1 or 2 points. After the 2nd overtime period, teams must go for two points.

III. Definition of Playing Terms
1. Removal of Flags
- When the belt/flag is clearly taken from the ball carrier by a defensive player, the ball carrier is deemed down and the ball is declared dead. A player who removes the belt/flag from the ball carrier should immediately hold the belt/flag above his head to assist the official in locating the spot where the capture occurred.
- A player may dive to remove a flag as long as no contact is made with the opposing team.
- The position of the ball when a player is deflagged determines the spot of the next line of scrimmage.
- A defensive player may not hold, push, or knock down the ball carrier in an attempt to remove the flag, nor shall an offensive player hold. The offensive player can stiff arm, but the hand must be open.
- When a runner loses his/her flag belt, either accidentally or inadvertently, play continues. They are considered down by one hand touch from the opposing team.
2. Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds
- The ball is declared dead when the ball touches the ground on a fumble, a lateral, or a pass
- The sidelines and end lines as marked are considered out of bounds. Only one foot needs to be in bounds in order for a pass to be complete.
- Once an offensive or defensive player steps out of bounds, that player is no longer eligible to touch the ball on that play.
3. Series of Downs, Number of Downs
- In a series of 4 downs, the ball must be advanced forward into the next zone in order for a new series of downs to be awarded.
- A ball carrier is considered down when his/her belt/flag is legally captured or the knee is down.
4. Kicking the Ball
- There will be no kickoffs; the team will receive the ball at the 20 yard line.
 -A "punt" will be considered giving the opposing team the ball at their 20 yard line. Teams may choose to punt in this fashion on the fourth down.
5. Snapping, Handling, Passing the Ball
- The ball may be snapped between the legs or to the side of the snapper.
- The player who receives the snap must be at least 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Direct snaps under the center are illegal.
- It is defensive pass interference is an eligible receiver is deflagged prior to touching the ball on a forward pass attempt.
- Both teams must have 3 players on the line of scrimmage. They must stay on the line for 5 seconds (counted "one, one thousand" etc), then they can release.
- All players are eligible for a forward pass. The passer may pass from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage.
- The passer shall not intentionally ground the ball in order to avoid a sack.
6. Rushing and Running the Ball
- Defense can blitz once per four downs. They may rush anytime after the 5 second count.
- A quarterback may only run the ball after he/she is blitzed or rushed.
7. Scoring Plays
- A team can go for 1 or 2 points after scoring a touchdown. Once the team makes the choice, it may only be changed if a timeout is called. Ways of scoring a successful point after attempt:
     - Extra Point: By running or passing from the 5 yard line.
     - 2-pt Conversion: By running or passing from the 10 yard line.

IV. Player Conduct and Penalties
1. It is illegal to steal or attempt to strip the ball from a player. The object of the game is to deflag a ball carrier, not steal the ball.
- Penalty: 5 steps from the end of the run
2. Roughing the passer: Defensive players must avoid charging into a passer and after it is clear that the ball had been thrown, the defensive players may not make contact with the throwing arm
- Penalty: 5 steps
3. Guarding the flag belt: Ball carriers shall not guard their flags and prevent the opponents to pull or remove the flag belt by blocking with arms, hands, or the ball. This includes stiff-arming.
- Penalty: 5 steps
4. The defensive player shall not (intentionally or accidentally) hold, grasp, or obstruct forward progress of a ball carrier when in the act of removing a flag belt.
- Penalty: 5 steps
5. Flag belt removal: Intentionally pulling or removing a flag from an offensive player without the ball by a defensive player is illegal.
- Penalty: 5 steps
6. Interlocked interference: Teammates of a runner or passer may interfere for him/her by screen blocking, but shall not use interlocked interference by grasping or encircling one another in any manner.
- Penalty: 5 steps
7. Tripping a ball carrier. Tripping a ball carrier when attempting a diving flag removal is not allowed.
- Penalty: 5 steps from the spot of the foul.
8. Tackling: Tackling a ball carrier or any player is illegal.
- Penalty: 5 steps and possible ejection from the game
9. Unnecessary roughness:
- Penalty: 5 steps and possible ejection from the game
10. Pass interference:
Offensive penalty: 5 steps from line of scrimmage.
Defensive penalty: offense gets the ball at the spot of the foul.
If defensive pass interference occurs in the end zone, the ball is placed on the 5 yard line.
11. Blocking: Penalties are consistent with college football rules. i.e. no holding, blocking in the back, chop blocking, etc.
- Penalty: 5 steps
12. Hurdling: Ball handler may not jump in the air while carrying the ball.
- Penalty: 5 steps from the spot of the foul
13. Off Sides: Offensive or defensive
- Penalty: 5 steps
14. False Start: Penalty: 5 steps
15. Intentionally tampering with flag belt: This includes attempting to tuck flags into one's pants or pockets to hide them.
- Penalty for 1st Offense: 5 steps
- Penalty for 2nd Offense: Ejection from Game
16. Unsportsmanlike behavior: Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated and persons involved may be subject to ejection from the game or league and may also face judicial action. This behavior will be interpreted at the discretion of the officials.
- Penalty for 1st Offense: 5 steps
- Penalty for 2nd Offense: Ejection from Game