Summary of CDAA Flag Football Rules

(2006)

… Every player on the roster should have equal play time.

… All kickoffs and punts are free kicks.

… Defense:

Aggressive play is not permitted (including collisions with ball carriers prior to securing the flag)

Tackling is not allowed.

The Safety, Linebackers and Defensive Backs cannot rush or cross the line of scrimmage

… Offense/ Defense:

No movement until the ball is snapped

Team Player Designations

Offensive Team Line

… Right and Left Ends

… Right and Left Guards

… Center

Offensive Backfield

… Left Halfback

… Right Halfback

… Tailback

… Quarterback

Offensive Team Line

Left end Left guard Center Right guard Right end

Tailback-----------------or-------------------Tailback

Quarterback

Left halfback Right halfback

Defensive Team Line

… Right and Left Ends

… Right and Left Tackles

… Right and Left Linebackers

… Right and Left Defensive Backs

… One Safety

Defensive Team Line

Left End - Left Tackle - Right Tackle - Right End (1 yard off ball)

Defensive Back-Linebacker-Linebacker-Defensive Back (3 yards off ball)

Safety (at least 3 yards off ball)

Flags

• Each Player must wear a belt with three flags
• The flags will be attached to a belt that is tight and will hang one on each side and the third on the rear of the player's body.
• The flags will be 14 to 20 inches long and 3 inches wide.
• If the player's flag inadvertently becomes lost, he/she is ineligible to handle the ball.

Game Uniforms

• All team members must wear the league issued jersey and pants.
• Pants must be a different color than the flags.
• Jerseys will be tucked in at all times.
• Only tennis shoes or non detachable rubber cleat (soccer) shoes are allowed.

Eye Glasses

• Eyeglasses must be of athletically approved construction with non-shattering glass (safety glass).
• Contact lenses can be worn.

Prohibited Equipment

• Padding of any kind, including hard surfaces padding such as shoulder pads, hip pads, and helmets.
• Hard metal or any other hard substance on a player's clothing or person.
• Sticky substances of any kind on the player's clothes or hands.
• Any equipment, in the opinion of the referee, which will endanger or confuse players.

Referees

• One coach from each team.

Players

• The free substitution rule is always in effect and a player may enter the game at any time the ball is dead.

The Game

• There will be two 25 minute halves.
• One time-out per half.
• 7 minutes between halves.
• Each half will start with a kickoff.
• The kickoff will be from the 30 yard line.
• Receiving team will be 10 yards off the kickoff team.
• The referee will call the team captains together for the coin toss. The team that wins the toss will get to decide between kicking and receiving or which end they want to defend; the other team gets to choose from the remaining options. It switches in for the 2^nd half kickoff
• There are no onside kicks.

Punting

• The offensive team may punt at any time.
• A punt is always a free kick and the opposing team shall be notified.
• There can be free catch of punt. The receiver must signify his/her intentions for a free catch by waving his/her hand clearly over his/her head.

Downs

• Each team will have four consecutive downs to advance the ball into the next zone or score a touchdown.
• The Zones are: Goal-line to 20 yd. line; 20 yd. line to 40 yd. line; 40 yd. line to 20 yd. line; 20 yd. line to Goal-line.
• Once a team enters the next zone, it is a first down and a new series of downs begins.
• A team failing to move the ball into the next zone will lose possession. The opposing team takes over at the point where the ball is declared dead and begins its series of first down and zone to go.
• The forward part of the ball touching any line will be the determining factor in measuring a first down.
• When the offensive team is within the last zone and has a first down, it will be first down and goal to go.

De-flagging

• There shall be no tackling of the ball carrier, passer or kicker.
• The player carrying or having possession of the ball is down when the flag is removed from his/her waist. After a de-flagging, the defensive player will stop where they are and hold the flag above his/her head.
• The defensive player cannot hold or push the ball carrier down to remove his/her flag.
• An accidental touch of the body or shoulder while reaching for a flag will not be considered a violation; however, touching of the head or face will be considered a violation.
• Defensive players may not run over, push or pull a blocker away from them. Defensive players may push offensive players sideways if they get past the defensive players, but the blocker may not be pushed down.
• A defensive player must go for the passer's flag.

Blocking

• All linemen must stand up to block.
• Blockers must have both feet on the ground at all times. Leaving the ground for a block is illegal.
• Cross body, butting, elbowing, roll blocking or knee blocking are not permitted.
• There will be no two-on-one blocking for a ball carrier beyond the line of scrimmage.
• Blocking a player from behind is not permitted

Ball Carrier

• The ball carrier can spin to avoid de-flagging.
• The ball carrier cannot use his/her hands to protect his/her flags.
• The ball carrier cannot lower his/her head to drive or run into a defensive player.
• The ball carrier may run in any direction until the ball is declared dead.

Center

• The center must snap the ball between his/her legs.
• The center must have both feet on the line of scrimmage with no part of his/her body beyond the forward point of the ball.
• The center may adjust the ball prior to the snap.

Passing

• The quarterback, halfbacks and tailbacks can pass the ball.
• A lateral pass is a pass thrown parallel to the line of scrimmage or back toward the passer's own goal line.

Receiving

• All players are eligible to receive forward passes.
• A receiver may catch a ball even if he/she steps out of bounds or out of the end zone as long as he/she comes down with one foot in bounds.
• If an offensive and defensive player catches a pass simultaneously, the ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch and the passing team is awarded possession.
• An offensive player cannot be out of bounds and return in bounds to catch a pass. This is ruled an incomplete pass.

Scoring Values

• Touchdown 6 points
• Safety 2 points

Points after touchdown will not be run

Dead Ball

• All balls except kickoffs and punts that touch the ground are considered dead balls.
• When the ball carrier touches the ground with his/her body other than hands and feet.
• When the ball carriers flag has been pulled.
• If a receiver or a ball carrier has a missing flag.
• Following a touchdown, safety or a touchback.
• When the ball goes out of bounds for any reason.
• If the centers snap hits the ground before reaching a backfield position. (expect during the 1^st 2 games)
• If a player on the kicking team touches a punt before a player on the receiving team touches it.
• A fair catch.