Official Flag Football Rules  `NO ALCOHOL AT PUBLIC PARKS/CHURCHESAlcoholic beverages are illegal at public parks/churches. Please don't bring it to the field; Not only do you risk getting cited by the police, we risk losing access to fields. Please help us protect our sports, and wait until you get to the bar.

Red = Rule Changes Effective Spring 2023

Team

  1. Team rosters shall include a minimum of 12 players, including at least 4 females.
  2. The maximum number of players on the field is 7, including at least 3 females.
  3. If a team does not have 7 players and at least 3 players of each gender, they may start with as few as 4 players (if all 4 players are guys, they will lose a down every third play).
  4. When a team has fewer than the required number of players of a specified gender available, players of one gender may not be substituted for members of another gender. For example, if a team has 7 total players available at game time, but only 2 are female, the team must play short with 6 players and so on.
  5. One team being short players for a full 7 on field does not obligate the opposing team to reduce their players on field.
  6. Players may be substituted for each other at any time between plays, provided the on-field gender requirement is met at all times.
  7. Late Registration: a team may add players to their roster through any team's scheduled 3rd game, provided the team captain approves, and the player has paid the pro-rated fee for the remainder of the season. All players must be formally registered with the League and paid in full prior to playing.
  8. Any team that has players not wearing the Lexington Social  shirt can be called for a roster check at any time by the ref, field manager, or the opposing team. If players are found to not be on the roster that are playing it will result in an automatic forfeit.

Officials

  1. Each game shall be officiated by at least one League-assigned referee, who shall act as the head referee. A second League-assigned referee may also be used.
  2. Referees are responsible for:
    1. Keeping time.
    2. Enforcing all rules and penalties.
    3. Officials will be responsible for a 5 second count before the defense can blitz.
    4. After the first count, another 5 second count will be announced for the quarterback to throw the ball.
    5. Keeping and recording game score.
  3. The referees shall eject a player from the game if that player repeatedly violates rules, or repeatedly behaves in an unruly and/or unsportsmanlike manner.

Field

  1. The football field shall measure approximately 80 yards long and 40 yards wide, or as close to those measurements as the game field will allow, with cones marking each 20-yard line on both sides of the field.
  2. End zones shall extend an additional ten yards past the goal line. The dimensions may vary depending on the size and dimensions of the field.

Equipment

  1. The League shall provide the following equipment:
    1. Official Junior size football
    2. Field markers every 20 yards
    3. Flag belts and flags.
  2. Players must wear their League-provided t-shirts of the appropriate color for their team.
  3. Players must tuck in their shirts during play; no article of clothing may cover any part of the flag belt.
  4. Players must wear shoes.
  5. Steel cleats are prohibited.
  6. Players must play using only the League-provided Junior size football. No other ball is permitted.
  7. Players must wear the League provided flag belts and flags must remain at the sides and back of each player at all times.

Start of Game

  1. The referee will flip a coin, heads or tails to be called in the air by one of the team captains. The winning team will choose one of the following options (winner may not defer to the other team):
    1. Choice of offense or defense
    2. Choice of end zone to start the game
  2. Possession and offense shall be the reverse as indicated by the coin toss at the start of the 2nd half.
  3. Play will begin at the 5-yard line of the team with possession.

Game Clock

  1. Each game consists of two 22-minute halves, with a 2-minute halftime.
  2. Each team is allowed one one-minute time out per half. Unused timeouts in the first half do not carry over into the second half.
  3. The game clock shall be a running clock, except in these cases:
    1. A team uses one of their 1-minute timeouts
    2. The difference in the score is 14 points or less and it is the last two minutes of the second half. In this case, the clock shall stop in the event of an incomplete pass, a team scores, if the ball carrier goes out of bounds, a change of possession, or a penalty. The clock shall be resumed upon the snap at the start of the next possession, or on the punt. The clock shall not be stopped in the first half except in the case of a timeout, regardless of the score.
  4. Any point after touchdown attempt shall be permitted regardless of the time on clock.
  5. If time out is called, the clock will start on the next snap. Clock does not run under 1 minute in the first half, and 2 minutes in the second half.
  6. There will be no overtimes in Regular Season Games.

Line of Scrimmage

  1. The referee shall use a chip/bag marking the line of scrimmage and place the ball in the middle of the field after the end of each play.
  2. The offensive team must have a minimum of 4 players set (3 players if fielding 5 players or less total) at the line of scrimmage at the snap. Players in motion are not considered set.
  3. Once the center has placed his or her hands on the ball no player may enter the neutral zone until the snap occurs.
  4. The referee shall blow his or her whistle to signify the play may begin.
  5. The defense may not cross the line of scrimmage until the referee has provided a 5 second count.
  6. The quarterback may not run for positive yards unless rushed after the five-second count.  The Center may not go out for a pass or beyond the line of scrimmage until after the five-second count, but can be thrown to at which point they can run upfield with the ball.
  7. The line of scrimmage shall never be placed closer to the goal line than the 5 yard line, except as a result of a penalty on the defensive team.

Running

  1. If a ball is lateraled from the quarterback that person may pass the ball or advance the ball beyond the line of scrimmage. 
  2. Subsequently, the defense may rush at any point after the ball is lateraled from the quarterback.
  3. Once the ball is lateraled the Center is free to move past the line of scrimmage and becomes an eligible receiver (Center may not block).

Passing

  1. A pass is completed when the ball is caught by any player of the passing team who has at least one foot in-bounds.
  2. An eligible receiver becomes ineligible if he leaves the field during the play and remains ineligible until the ball is touched by an eligible receiver or any defensive player. However, if an eligible receiver is forced out-of-bounds he shall be considered eligible as soon as he returns inbound.
  3. If an ineligible receiver catches the ball the pass shall be considered incomplete.
  4. The quarterback will have a 5 second count provided by the referee to throw the ball after the first 5 second count, UNLESS blitzed, for a total of 10 seconds to release the ball. If the defense crosses the line of scrimmage the count is no longer active. If the quarterback fails to throw the ball before the 10 second count, the play results in a loss of down. This would not reset a gender count, for example: if a play is closed and the quarterback fails to throw the ball, the next play would still be a closed play. 

Downs

  1. The offensive team will have four downs to achieve a first down.
  2. A first down is achieved by crossing either that 20 yard lines or the 40 yard line (midpoint of the field).

Gender Rule

  1. Female players must participate in a play at least once every three downs as either the quarterback, ball carrier or receiver. The "gender count" shall be the number of successive downs made involving only a single gender.
  2. If the gender count is 2, i.e. if the offensive team has not played both genders during the first two downs, the referee shall announce a "gender play" and the gender affected, and the offensive team must play that gender in one or more of the following ways:
    1. As quarterback; passes the ball to a receiver beyond the line of scrimmage.
    2. As ball carrier; carries the ball across the line of scrimmage.
    3. As receiver; receives or is intended to receive a pass from beyond the line of scrimmage.
  3. If there are no players of the required gender available, the offensive team will lose a down.
  4. During an announced gender play, the use of a player of the required gender as quarterback, ball carrier or intended receiver shall reset the gender count to 0. An incomplete pass to a player of the specified gender intended to be caught, as judged by the referee, shall count toward the gender count.
  5. If a player of the required gender is not utilized as described in these rules during an announced gender play, any passes shall be considered incomplete, i.e. the offensive team will lose a down. 

Punting

  1. The offensive team may punt on the fourth down.
  2. All punts must be kicked and declared to the opposing team and to game officials.
  3. Fake punts are not permitted.
  4. Punts may not be blocked by the receiving team.
  5. All members of the punting team must remain behind the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted.
  6. At least five players from the receiving team must be on the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted.
  7. The receiving team may either call for a fair catch or may catch and advance the ball.
  8. Ball is dead on contact with the ground.
  9. Ball that lands out of bounds will be spotted at the point of exit.
  10. Ball will be placed at the 5 yard line if it lands in or beyond or inside the end zone.

Turnovers and Stoppage of Play

  1. Possession will change from one team to the other when:
    1. A team scores. Play will start again at the 5 yard line.
    2. Four downs are counted without obtaining a first down. Play will start at the previous line of scrimmage.
    3. A forward pass is intercepted (play does not stop).
  2. Play will stop when:
    1. One of the ball carrier's flags is removed by an opposing player or; the opposing player touches one hand to the ball carrier between the waist and neck when at least one of the ball carrier's flag has inadvertently fallen off.
    2. The ball carrier leaves the field of play.
    3. A team scores a touchdown or extra point.
    4. The ball touches the ground because of a fumble or incomplete pass.
    5. Any part of the ball carrier's body, including hands, other than his or her feet touch the ground.
    6. A referee inadvertently blows his whistle.

Penalties

  1. All penalties may be declined by the opposing team should the penalty be to their detriment.
  2. Penalties that occur in the endzone will be spotted at the 1 yard line.
  3. The following shall incur a ten-yard penalty:
    1. Running into an opponent, including using a “stiff-arm.”, without having made a reasonable effort to avoid contact. Imposed from the spot of the foul.
    2. Reckless play - players must make every effort to avoid contact. Imposed from the spot of the foul.
    3. Blocking - Players may not use their hands, elbows, or any other part of their body to block opponents. Imposed from the spot of the foul.
    4. Flag guarding - players may not intentionally block access to any flag, including those worn by teammates. Imposed from the spot of the foul.
    5. Intentionally removing an opponent's flag who has not yet taken possession of the ball. Imposed from the spot of the foul.
    6. Unsportsmanlike conduct -  this includes illegally secured flag belts. Imposed from the line of scrimmage.
    1. Defense:
      1. Holding pre-throw - defenders may not hold the receiver prior to catching the ball. Imposed from the line of scrimmage.
      2. Holding post-catch - defenders may not hold any part of the ball-carrier to make a flag pull. Added onto the end of the play.
    2. Offense:
      1. Offensive pass interference - No player shall obstruct another player from obtaining a position from which to go to and catch the ball, however no player is obligated to move from a spot they occupy. Imposed from the line of scrimmage and down will be replayed.
  4. The following shall incur a five-yard penalty:
    1. Defense:
      1. Offsides - a defensive player is off sides when any part of his body crosses the line of scrimmage before the five-second count is called. Imposed from line of scrimmage
      2. Encroachment - a defensive player may not enter the neutral zone prior to the snap. Imposed from line of scrimmage.
      3. Playing with any article of clothing covering any part of the flag belt. Imposed after the result of the play
    2. Offense:
      1. Delay of game - The offensive team has 30 seconds from the referee's whistle to snap the ball. Imposed from line of scrimmage
      2. Illegal participation - teams may not have more than 7 players on the field, including at least 3 of each gender, or in accordance to the on-field rules per the "Team" section of these rules. Imposed from line of scrimmage
      3. Illegal cadence - the player calling the cadence must receive the snap. Imposed from the line of scrimmage. Imposed from line of scrimmage
      4. False start - at least 4 players (or 3, if only 5 players or less are on the field) must be set at the line of scrimmage for a minimum of one full second prior to the snap.  Play is blown dead when False Start occurs. Imposed from the line of scrimmage.
      5. Illegal motion - no player is permitted to move forward toward the goal line until the snap. Imposed from the line 
      6. Illegal forward pass - the ball may be passed forward only once and only from behind the line of scrimmage. A forward pass must cross the line of scrimmage. Lateral passes are permitted at any time.
      7. Intentional grounding - a passer may not throw the ball without a realistic chance of completion, with the exception that a passer may ground the ball to stop the clock with less than two minutes to play in the game. Also penalized a loss of down.
      8. Playing with any article of clothing covering any part of the flag belt. Imposed from line of scrimmage

Scoring

  1. A player shall score when and only when the ball and the player's entire body has crossed the plain of the goal line. The ball crossing the goal line is insufficient for a score.
  2. A touchdown shall count for 8 points when scored by a female player, or by a male player who catches a pass in the end zone from a female quarterback, and interceptions returned for a touchdown by a female.
  3. A touchdown scored during a play involving a lateral pass beyond the line of scrimmage shall count for 6 points, regardless of the gender of the individual who scored.
  4. All other touchdowns shall count for 6 points.
  5. A ten-yard conversion shall count for 1 point if scored by a male or 2 points if scored or thrown by a female.
  6. A twenty-yard conversion shall count for 2 points if scored by a male or 3 points if scored or thrown by a female.
  7. A "safety" counts for 2 points.
  8. Each game won shall count as 2 points in the League standings. A tie shall count as 1 point. Losses and forfeits shall count as 0 points.
  9. Interceptions on point after attempts that are returned to the opposing endzone shall count for 2 points for males and 3 points for females.

Mercy Rule

  1. A game shall be immediately called whenever a team achieves a 50-point or more advantage.

Playoff Tie Breaker

  1. There will be an overtime in which both teams will have equal chances to score 20 yard line. 
  2. A coin toss will take place with the victor deciding to either attempt to score first or defer.
  3. Each team will have 4 downs to score. Gender rules still apply including points. If a turnover is committed, the team on offense will either convert to defense or the game will be over.
  4. If a team scores, they have an option to go for 1 or 2 points from the aforementioned designated spots.
  5. If the teams are still tied after each has attempted to score on offense, the team that started on offense will begin on defense and vice versa.  If the teams are still tied after 2 rounds, you must attempt a 2 point conversion after a touchdown.
  6. The game cannot end on a penalty.

Forfeits

  1. Teams must be ready to play and meet game start requirements at the posted game time. Any team not ready to play at this time shall forfeit, and the opposing team shall take a default win.  The team that is available will win 50-0.
  2. If neither team is ready to play, both teams shall forfeit.
  3. Any team found to be playing with a player not registered with the League or team shall forfeit the game.

Cancelation Policy

  1. Our cancelation and make-up policy is explained our FAQ.

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