DCOM Flag Football Rules – 2011

 Location: LMU soccer practice field at the bottom of DCOM hill.

 Time: Games will begin Saturday October 1, 2011. Games will be played on Saturday mornings. Normally, a team will play one game but can also play two games each Saturday.

Team

∙       Number of Members: Only 7 players from each team are allowed on the field at one time. If there are more than 7 players for a team when a play begins, the play will not be allowed to continue and that team will be penalized five yards—the play will not be a loss of down. At least 5 players are needed for a team to begin playing a game. There is no maximum for players on a team. There is no rule as to how many females need to be on a team or playing at any given time—the other team is not required to play a female if one is on the field. Team can be made up of DCOM health science students (med students, post bacs, PAs, nursing students, and DCOM faculty), spouses/significant others, or LMU undergrads. However, 51% of the players on the field at any time need to be DCOM health science students. (This rule is implemented to encourage integration of spouses/significant others and LMU undergrads and discourage segregation. It is hoped that with more integration and less segregation there will be less on the field conflicts and a big happy LMU-DCOM intramural family.)

∙       One Team: Each player can only be on one roster and play only for one team for the entire season. 

∙       Team Captain: Each team will have one team captain or two co-captains. Captains will be responsible for:

• 1) Submitting the roster, spouse waiver forms, and team name
• 2) Contacting other captains if re-scheduling is needed
• 3) Resolving concerns during games regarding team member’s sportsmanship (if members of the other team are not acting appropriately, please inform the current referees and contact the IM coordinator) and game calls
• 4) Ensuring that a football will be present (contacting the other team may be necessary if you can’t find one in your team)
• 5) Be familiar with, educate team, and make sure that everyone abides by league rules
• 6) Refereeing games—two captains will be needed to referee games(+2 for playoffs=4 total) in which they will not be playing (asking a member of your team to substitute for you is allowed as long as they know league rules).

GAME RULES

Time Management

CLOCK: There will be two 20 minute halves will be played allowing a 10 minute half time. Clock will stop after a touchdown and the teams will have 1 min to be ready for kickoff. If the kicking team is not ready in that time the ball will be moved back 5 yds, if the receiving team is not ready the ball will be moved up 5 yds. After the kickoff time will resume after contact with the ball on kickoff. The clock will also stop when two minutes are left in each half on dead ball occasions if the score is within 16 pts. Dead ball: incomplete pass, player runs out of bounds, change in possession via interception or fumble recovery, and touchdown (extra point attempts and two point conversions are not timed play). When the ball is spotted and play is indicated as ready by the ref, there will be a 30 sec play clock. At the end of the 30 sec there will be a 5 yd delay of game penalty and replay the down.

GRACE PERIOD: Game time will be marked clearly on the schedule. There will be every effort to maintain those times. Teams will be granted a five minute grace period from the original game start time if at least one (1) participant is present at game time. If the team gets enough to play (5 players minimum) before the five minutes are up, the game will begin and the other team will be awarded seven (7) points. The game clock for the first half will be set at fifteen minutes. The late team will receive first possession and the other team will get choice in the second half. If no players are signed in at game time, there is no grace period and the game will be declared an automatic forfeit.

OPTIONAL GRACE PERIOD: After the original five minute grace period has expired, the opposing captain has the option of taking the win or waiting another five minutes. In the event the captain decides to wait, the decision is irreversible. If the team gets enough to play before this optional grace period expires, the game will begin and the other team will be awarded an additional seven (7) points. Therefore, the late team will begin the game with first possession down 14-0 with ten minutes left in the first half and the opposing team will get choice in the second half.

OVERTIME: Regular season games will not go into overtime. If teams are tied at the end of regulation during the regular season games it will count as a tie for both teams. However, during the playoffs a victor must be determined. Overtime will be similar to college in that the ball will be spotted on the 20 yard line of the opposing side and each team will have an opportunity to score. Being spotted on the 20 yard line there will be only one opportunity to obtain a first down. Possession will be determined by a best 2/3 rock-paper-scissors duel between a representative by each team. Possession will change with each round of OT (if Team A starts on offense in the first round and the score remains tied after completion of both Team A and Team B has had an offensive possession then Team B will begin on offense during the second OT). If the game continues into a second OT period each team will be required to attempt a 2 point extra point from the 10-yard line for the rest of the game. If the game continues into a fourth OT period no first down will be able to be obtained. Each team will then only have four downs to obtain a score from the 20-yard line for the rest of the game.

Scoring

TOUCHDOWN: Each touchdown scored by a male player counts as 6 points.

            Each touchdown scored by a female player counts as 8 points (this includes a

            Female player passing, running, or catching a touchdown pass)

EXTRA POINT: Each team will chose only one of three options for the extra point attempt.

a. One (1) point from the 3-yard line
            b. Two (2) points from the 7-yard line

c. Three (3) points 12-yard line

INTERCEPTED PAT: A try that is intercepted by the defense and returned for a score is three (3) points, regardless of how many points the offense’s try was for.

SAFETY: Two (2) points shall be awarded for a safety. A safety is scored when a team is de-flagged, downed, or commits a penalty in their own end zone. Exception: a safety is not scored on a change of possession when the ball carrier does not carry the ball out of the end zone or on a change of possession when a player’s momentum carries him/her into the end zone.

MERCY RULE: An act of kindness, the game will be called if a team is up by 25 points with 10 minutes remaining in the second half with the team ahead receiving the win.

General

UNIFORM: Teams should wear the same color jerseys/shirts. All shirts are to be tucked in or above the flag so as to provide a clear path to flags. Flags should be worn with a flag on either hip with each flag angled out.

SPOT OF THE BALL: The spot of the ball will be the location of the ball when the flag is pulled, not necessarily where the flag was pulled. The referee will determine the spot and establish a line of scrimmage as well as a “no rush” zone using cones 3 yards to both sides of the ball. The “no rush” zone is a 6 yard wide dead zone where neither the rushers or QB (unless he the ball has changed possession – see rushing for more details) can pass.

EARNING FIRST DOWNS: The field will contain evenly spaced lines, along with cones on the sideline, to designate the point on the field where a first down is earned. The offense will be allowed 4 downs to reach the next first down line. If the offense moves past that first down line, the offense will have 4 more downs to reach the next line—no matter how close the offense is to it. In other words, the offense won’t be moved back to the nearest first down line that they have crossed.

PENALTIES: (distances marked in parenthesis) This is almost always the most controversial part of the league. Refs are not paid professionals, they are fellow students. Each captain is responsible for providing refs when scheduled (can be other members of the team) as well as for knowing and enforcing league rules. There will be some discretion calls such are contact, pass interference, and jumping just to name a few. Please be respectful of all refs. Any discrepancies or complaints about league rules or refs need to be addressed with the league commissioner.

            Penalty Cheat Sheet

• Rushing between the cones (5 yards plus loss of down)
• Intentional Illegal contact (Personal foul, 10 yards from SOF)
• Illegal Flag Pull (10 yards from SOF AFD)
• Contact of QB arm (10 yards form SOF AFD)
• Flag guarding (5 yards from SOF)
• Pass Interference (10 yards from LOS AFD)
• Offsides (5 yards LOS replay down)
• Illegal Pass Rush including pass rush thru cones (5 yards SOF replay down)
• Illegal Block (5 yards SOF replay down)

SOF – spot of foul

AFD – automatic first down

LOS – line of scrimmage

RUSHING WITH THE BALL: (Penalty – 5 yards plus loss of down) Rushing between the “no rush” cones is not allowed. The ball can only go through the cones if a forward pass is made. This means that if an offensive player receives a “shovel pass” that player is allowed to run between the cones. An example of a shovel pass is demonstrated in various videos on youtube.com. Offensive players WITHOUT THE BALL can run through the cones (ex: a route can be run from the backfield through the cones)

ILLEGAL CONTACT BY THE BALL CARRIER (Penalty – Personal foul, 10 yards from the spot of the foul): The ball carrier must run to avoid tacklers. Deliberate charging of an opponent is against the rules. Officials will use the same judgment on charging and blocking by offensive and defensive players as in basketball. “Brushing contact” and unavoidable contact is not willful “charging.” The ball carrier may move or spin around defenders to avoid de-flagging; however, the ball carrier must remain in control of his/her body during such moves, and MAY NOT initiate contact in doing so. If the foul is intentional or unsportsmanlike, then 10 more yards will be added to the penalty and the player will be ejected from the game.

PULLING OF THE FLAG: (Penalty – 10 yards from spot of the foul automatic first down) A defensive player may pull the flag from an offensive player in possession of the ball. If for any reason an offensive player loses a flag before becoming in possession of the flag, a one hand touch rule will be enforced, meaning that the player is ruled down after contact by any defensive player’s one handed touch. Grabbing of cloth or flag belt is illegal and can result in a 10 yard penalty with an automatic first down. Wrapping up or tackling by a defensive player is also illegal and will result in a 10 yard penalty with an automatic first down. If the foul is intentional or unsportsmanlike, then 10 more yards will be added to the penalty and the player will be ejected from the game.

FLAG GUARDING: (Penalty 5 yards from spot of foul) Simply put the ball runner cannot block his flag. Slapping, low elbows, high stepping, or leaving your feet in what an ref judges to be a jump or dive are all considered illegal and will result in an a five yard penalty from the spot of the foul. “Juking” or sidestepping can be allowed based on referee discretion. If a first down is achieved before the foul the first down will be awarded regardless of spot after the penalty, however the next first down marker needs to be achieved before another first down is awarded. Let me reiterate, jumping or leaving your feet as judged by the ref as “excessive” will result in a five yard flag guarding penalty. Spinning without jumping however is legal, turn yourself into a topspin if you want.

FUMBLES: If the ball hits the ground it becomes a dead ball. On punts and kickoffs the  ball is live until it touches a player, after the ball makes contact with any player it then follows normal fumble rules and will be deemed dead if it touches the ground (this includes muffed kicks or even if it simply touches a player). There is not stripping a player of a ball. There will be no change of possession for a ball that is stripped.

CATCHES: A catch is made when a player has control over the ball and lands with at least one foot in bounds. Control will be determined by the referees.

SIMULTANEOUS CATCH: A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch in which there is joint possession of a live ball by opposing players who are inbounds. The ball will be blown dead at that spot and possession will be awarded to the offense.

PASS INTERFENCE: (Penalty 10 yards automatic first down) College rules. No grabbing or tackling the pass receiver while the pass is in the air. The defender must wait until the ball arrives. However, the defender can try to catch the ball himself and make contact with the receiver as long as he has a legitimate chance on the ball.

OFFSIDE: (Penalty 5 yards replay of down) This is something that should be minor. Offensive players are allowed to move laterally or backward, one at a time, while the ball is put into play. EVERYBODY IS TO BE SET! AS MENTIONED BEFORE ONLY 1 PERSON CAN BE IN MOTION AT A TIME. The defense can be called for an offside penalty if a defensive player touches an offensive player before the ball is put into play, if the defensive player is across the line of scrimmage when the play begins, or if the defensive player jumps into the neutral zone and draws an offensive player offsides. THE PLAY IS NOT TO BE BLOWN DEAD ON A  DEF OFFSIDES IT IS A FREE PLAY! If Off jumps the play is blown dead and penalty is assessed.

RUSHING THE PASSER: (Penalty 5 yards from spot of the foul) There is unlimited rushing without a time limit by any number of defensive players except for a six yard “no rush” zone to be established 3 yards to the left and right of the set football on the line of scrimmage. Using hands or arms to move defenders while rushing is NOT allowed. Initiating contact or “Bull rushing” a blocker is not allowed. Each player is in charge of being in control of their body at all times. If an offensive player is placed and set before the defensive player arrives to that area and a collision occurs, the penalty will be against the defensive player similar to charging in basketball. If the quarterback is in motion and becomes contacted then it is up to the ref’s discretion as to who initiated contact. FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER IS THERE TO BE CONTACT ON THE QUARTERBACK’S THROWIG ARM. (Penalty 10 yards automatic first down)

BLOCKING: (Penalty 5 yards from spot of the foul) Placing one’s self in front of rushers or defenders is allowed. Using arms or hands is not allowed—this includes holding out elbows (not allowed).Hands should be behind the blockers back with elbows in contact with the body at all times. Initiating contact or “Bull rushing” defenders as a blocking technique is not allowed. However, if the play is moving down the field, running along with the blocker, without “bull rushing” is allowed. If an offensive player is placed and set before the defensive player arrives to that area and a collision occurs, the penalty will be against the defensive player.

Tournament

DCOM Flag Football Champion will be determined by a single elimination tournament at the end of the season. 25 point mercy rule and 16 point difference for clock stopping under 2 min are eliminated.

SEEDING: Rankings will be earned based on regular season performance. Criteria for seeding will be as follows:

1. Win/Loss Record
2. Head to Head
3. Point Differential (Points Scored – Points Allowed)
4. Points Allowed
5. Rabbit out of a hat

FOREFEITS: Count as a win for the receiving team with a 25-0 point value.