Intramurals: Flag Football

The Game
 
Article 1: The game shall be played between two teams of seven 
players each. A team must have 
five players to avoid a forfeit.
 
Article 2: Each team shall designate to the referee the team 
captain of captains. If more than one captain is designated, a speaking captain 
shall be chosen. The captain?s first choice on any penalty 
option shall be irrevocable.
 
 
Equipment
 
SECTION 1
 
Article 1: Jerseys of shirts must be long enough so they remain 
tucked in the pants/shorts during the entire down or short enough so there is a 
minimum of four inches from the bottom of the player?s 
waistline.
 
Article 2: Each player must wear shoes. Cleats are permitted as 
long as they are the rubber-molded type. No boat shoes, boots, or sandals.
 
Article 3: Hats may be worn as long as they have no bills or 
the bill is turned around backwards.
 
Article 4: Gloves are allowed as long as they are made of a 
soft, pliable, and non-abrasive material.
 
 
SECTION 2 
A player wearing illegal equipment shall not be permitted to play. This applies 
to any equipment, 
which, in the opinion of the referee, is dangerous or confusing. Types of 
equipment or substances 
that shall always be declared illegal include:
 
A.	Headgear containing any hard, unyielding, or stiff material

B.	Jewelry of any kind

C.	Pads or braces worn above the waist

D.	Shoes with metal, ceramic, screw-in, or detachable cleats

E.	Shirts or jerseys that do not remain tucked in

F.	Any slippery or sticky foreign substance on any equipment or exposed body 
part.

 
Periods, Time Factors, Substitution
 
SECTION 1
 
Article 1: Each half shall start with a kickoff. The kickoff 
will come from the 20-yard line. The receiving team must have five players on 
the 40-yard line and two players deep. Three minutes 
before the start of the game the referee shall toss a coin in the presence of 
the opposing captains, 
after first designating which captain shall call the fall of the coin. The 
captain winning the toss shall 
have first choice of options for either the first or second half. The loser 
shall have the first choice of 
options for the half the winner of the toss did not select. The options for each 
half shall be:
 
A.	To choose whether his/her team will kick or receive

B.	To choose the goal his/her team will defend. The captain, not having the 
first choice of 
options for a half, shall exercise the remaining option.
 
Article 2: Game time is forfeit time.
 
 
SECTION 2
 
Article 1: Playing time shall be forty minutes, divided into 
two twenty-minute halves. The 
intermission between halves shall be five minutes. When overtime is used, there 
will be a three-
minute intermission.
 
Article 2: The clock will start when the ball is legally 
snapped or the kickoff is legally touched. It will run continuously for the 
first eighteen minutes unless it is stopped for a:
 
1.	Score (touchdown or safety) ? Starts on snap of next series

2.	Team time-out ? starts on the snap

3.	Referee’s time-out ? starts on the ready for play
 
Article 3: Approximately two minutes before the end of each 
half the referee will stop the clock and inform both captains of the playing 
time remaining in the half. Whether the clock starts 
depends on the previous play. The back judge will announce the remaining time to 
both captains 
whenever the clock is stopped during the last two minutes.
 
Article 4: During the final two minutes of each half the clock 
will stop for a:
1.	Incomplete pass ? starts on the snap

2.	Out of bounds ? starts on the snap

3.	Score ? starts on snap of next series

4.	Team time-out ? starts on the snap

5.	Fair catch ? starts on the snap

6.	Penalty and administration ? dependent on the previous play

7.	Referee?s time-out ? starts at his/her discretion

8.	Touchback ? starts on the snap

9.	Change of possession ? starts on the snap 

Article 5: The referee will have the authority to correct any 
errors that have been made in running the clock. Each team captain will be made 
aware of these corrections.
 
SECTION 3
Article 1: There will be no over-time during the regular 
season. Games ending in a tie will remain a tie.
 
Article 2: In case of a play-off game ending in a tie score, 
the officials will bring all players and coaches to the center of the field. 
They will discuss the tiebreaker procedures and answer all 
questions prior to the coin toss. After this meeting, the field captains will 
stay while the remaining 
players and coaches return to their respective sidelines.
 
Article 3: A coin will be flipped by the referee to determine 
the options as in the start of the game. The home team captain shall call the 
toss. There will be only one coin flip during the overtime. If 
additional overtime periods are played, field captains will alternate choices. 
The winner of the toss 
shall be given options of offense, defense, or direction. The loser of the toss 
shall make a choice of 
the remaining options. ALL OVERTIME PERIODS ARE PLAYED TOWARD THE SAME GOAL 
LINE.
 
Article 4: Unless mover by penalty, each team will start 1st 
and goal from the ten-yard line. The object will be to score a touchdown. An 
overtime period consists of one possession by each team. If 
the score is still tied after one period, they go to a second or as many as 
needed to determine a 
winner. If the first team which is awarded the ball scores, the opponent will 
still have the chance to 
win the game. Unless mover by penalty, they will start 1st and goal from the 
ten-yard line.
 
 
SECTION 4
 
Article 1: Each team is entitled to two time-outs during each 
half. Successive charged time-outs may be granted each team during a dead ball 
period. If the ball is dead and a team has not 
exhausted it?s charged time-outs, the referee shall allow a time-out and charge 
the team.
 
Article 2: A charged time-out requested by any player should 
not exceed one minute. Other time-
outs may be longer if the referee deems it necessary to remove an injured 
player.
 
 
SECTION 5
Article 1: No substitution shall enter during a down. Between downs any number.