Rules & Regulations

Download These Rules & Regulations (WORD DOCUMENT)

Rule Book For The Florida Youth Flag Football Association

All Rules are subject to the League Coordinator’s discretion

2010 Fall Flag Season

FYFFA offers 5-on-5 non-contact flag football leagues sponsored by the NFL. Our
programs are designed for boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 13.
All league play takes place on Saturday’s OR Sunday’s depending on your location of
play. Teams will meet and practice before their scheduled game times, and will play one
game each week. Games last approximately one hour. The season consists of a preseason game, 8 regular-season games, one make up rain day, and an end of season playoff jamboree concluding with a Super Bowl by the top 2 teams in each age division


Age Groups
We offer leagues for boys and girls ages 3-13. The League cut off is as follows:
Season Cut-off Date

  • Spring Child's Age as of March 1st of the Current Year
  • Fall Child's Age as of September 1st of the Current Year



Age Brackets (*brackets subject to change slightly depending on registration numbers)
There will be 4 age brackets/ 4 divisions:

  • 3-4 (co-ed)
  • 5-7 (co-ed)
  • 8-10 (co-ed)
  • 11-13 (boys)
  • ()



Overview

  • Games are played with two 20 minute halves, two timeouts per team per half,and a 5 minute half time.
  • No Kicking or Punting.
  • No Contact or Blocking is allowed.
  • The Quarterback cannot run the ball past the line of scrimmage unless being rushed by the defense.
  • The player who rushes the QB must start 7 yards off the line of scrimmage.
  • All players are eligible to receive a pass.
  • The offense has 4 downs to pass midfield and then 4 downs to score. A turnover on downs will occur if the offense is short of the first down or end zone resulting in an immediate possession change spotting the ball at the opponent’s 5-yard line.
  • All possessions, except interceptions, will start at the 5 yard line.
  • The offensive team is responsible for collecting both the line of scrimmage puck and the 7 yard puck and giving them both to the official.
  • The clock will only stop in the last one minute of each half. The clock will stop after incomplete passes, plays that end out of bounds, during timeouts,during change of possessions to set the ball for a first down, defensive penaltyand during extra points, only if the game score is within an 8 point differential in the second half. The clock will stop to set the pucks if a first down is obtained.
  • All penalties are 10 yards and assessed from the line of scrimmage. Offensive penalties will result in a loss of down.
  • Game time is forfeit time. If you are not at your field for your scheduled game at game time, you will forfeit that game.


Code of Conduct Policies/Sportsmanship

 

  • There is a ZERO TOLERANCE policy that WILL be enforced. Parents and coaches are required to sign and abide to the FYFFA Code of Conduct.
  • Trash Talking is not allowed. Trash talking is offensive language used against opposing coaches, players, officials, league personnel or fans.
  • Officials will give one and on only warning. If this trash talking continues,
    the player(s)/coach(s) doing the trash talking will be ejected from the game
    and premises.
  • If any league official or personnel witnesses any acts of rough housing, including but not limited to, tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, or any other unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and that player may be
    ejected. Further disciplinary action may follow including expulsion from this event.
  • After your game, you are expected to form a line at midfield and high five and congratulate the opposing team whether your team wins or loses.



The Roster

  • The game is played with 5 players per team on the field (5 on 5). However, a minimum of 4 players must be on the filed at all times.
  • A player may only appear on one roster. NO EXCEPTIONS, even if the other team approves of it. If there are not enough players to play a game, the two teams will scrimmage and the team without the proper number of
    players will forfeit the game.
  • If a player is found playing on a team illegally, the team will forfeit the next game.



Attire

 

  • Players will be designated as home or away based off of the schedule. NFL jerseys since they are reversible, have both colored and white shoulders. The home team will wear colored shoulders while the away team will wear white shoulders.
  • Players are required to wear protective mouthpieces at all times during a game.
  • Flag Belts (not the flag themselves) must be cut to ensure that they do not hang down as appearing to be a flag. If the belt is hanging, flag guarding will be called.
  • Players must wear their official NFL Jersey for games. If a player arrives at the game without their jersey, they will not be permitted to play.
  • Jerseys must be tucked in at all times. If a jersey is hanging out, flag guarding will be called.
  • Molded and screw in cleats are permitted. No metal cleats are allowed.
  • No jewelry is permitted during the games
  • Shorts and pants must NOT have pockets.
  • No hats with bills or brims



Equipment

  • The League will provide each team NFL Jerseys, flags and a football sometimes 2 footballs). This football will be the mandatory game ball that you will use. No other footballs will be permitted during game play.



Possessions

  • The referee will flip a coin before the start of the game to determine possession of ball.
  • All possession changes will start at the offensive team’s 5-yard line. Exception: On interceptions the team will take possession of the ball where the interception took place. Penalties on the interceptions will be assessed where the interception occurred. Exception: if the game referee judges that a player intentionally of flagrantly commits a penalty, then the penalty will be at the point of the foul, no less than the point of interception.



Playing Field

  • The field is 70 yards in total length by 30 yards in total width.
  • These dimensions can be modified at any time to accommodate facilities.
  • Teams must choose opposite sides of the field to watch games.
  • A 5 yard buffer zone will be in place during all games. This buffer zone will completely surround the playing field. This zone will assist us in maintaining the safety of our players and spectators during the game play. Only coaches, players and league personnel are allowed within this zone while a game is going on. Coaches will be asked to enforce this rule. Please cooperate.
  • Each team is responsible for cleaning



NO RUN ZONES

  • The 5-6 year old division will not play with this rule. They may run anytime.
  • “No Run Zones” are located 5 yards from each end zone and 5 yards on both sides of mid-field.
  • “No Run Zones” are designed to avoid short yardage situations.
  • “No Run Zones” come into effect only when offensive team is approaching a first down or the end zone. Exception: If the offensive team has already achieved a first down, but has been pushed back into a “No Run Zone”, then the “No Run Zone” is no longer in effect.