Flag Football Rule Book
The Haddon Township Athletic Association (HTAA) Flag Football organization is associated with the National Football League (NFL) and will primarily follow the NFL guidelines and the HTAA Flag Football By-Laws.   The NFL guidelines are slightly modified for HTAA Flag Football rules that are summarized in this document.
The HTAA Flag Football league rules are organized as follows:
Contents
I.       League Overview.. 2
II.      Game Overview.. 2
III.         Field. 3
IV.         Coaches. 3
V.     Rosters. 3
VI.         Equipment and Uniforms. 4
VII.        Timing. 4
VIII.      Scoring. 4
IX.         Formations. 5
X.      Live Ball / Dead Ball 5
XI.         Running. 6
XII.        Passing. 6
XIII.       Receiving. 7
XIV.      Flag Pulling. 7
XV.        Pass Defense. 7
XVI.      Rushing. 8
XVII.     Penalties. 9
 
 
 

 
I.League OverviewThe purpose of this organization is to introduce football to the youth in Haddon Township, while providing instruction in the fundamentals of football and to teach the principles of sportsmanship and fair play.  The league is organized as follows:
  1. Games are played on Sunday afternoons during the spring from approximately Mid-March to Early June.  There is no flag football on Easter, Mother’s Day or Memorial Day weekends.
  2. There are no practices during the week and activity is limited to Sunday afternoons
  3. The divisions are as follows:
  • Rookie League (Kindergarten & First Grade)
  • Semi-Pro League (Second & Third Grade)
  • All-Pro League (Fourth, & Fifth & Sixth Grade)
II.Game Overview
  1. At the start of each game, captains from both teams meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who starts with the ball.  The visiting team calls the toss.
  2. The winner of the coin toss has the choice of offense or defense.  The loser of the coin toss has the choice of direction.  Possession changes to start the second half to the team that started the game on defense.
  3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its own 5-yard line and has 3 plays (4 plays for rookies division) to cross midfield.  Once a team crosses midfield it gets a first down, and has 3 plays (4 plays for rookies division) to score a touchdown.
  4. If the offensive team fails to cross midfield and fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team starts its drive on its own 5-yard line.
  5. All possession changes, including interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.
  6. Teams change sides after the first half. 
III.Field
  1. The field markings include two end zones, a midfield line, and no run zones that precede each line by 5 yards.
  2. While in the no-run zones (the 5-yard imaginary zone before midfield and before the end zone), teams cannot run the ball. All plays must be pass plays.
  3. Stepping on the boundary line is considered out of bounds.
  4. No one other than the two Coaches and team Players are allowed in the areas between flag football fields.
 
IV.Coaches
  1. Coaches are expected to adhere to NFL Flag philosophies, coaching guidelines and codes of conduct (see https://www.nflflag.com/pages/coaches).
  2. Coaches are expected to complete and adhere to the HTAA code of conduct.
  3. All Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must complete the Coaching course currently offered through the Rutgers Program BEFORE serving as a Head Coach or an Assistant Coach.
  4. Coaches should be limited to two (one head coach, one assistant) on the sidelines.
  5. Coaches are allowed on the field to direct players according to need and division summarized as follows:
  1. Rookies:  Coaches are permitted on the field for both offense and defense for the entire season but are encouraged to coach from the sidelines as the season progresses.
  2. Semi-Pro:  Coaches are permitted on the field until Week 4 at which time they must coach from the sideline.
  3. All-Pro:  Coaches must remain on the sideline for all games.
 
V.Rosters
  1. 5 players on the field at one time
  2. Rosters should consist of at least 5 players with a maximum of 12 players
  3. A minimum of four players are needed to start a game. The opposing team can play five players.
  4. Home teams wear dark color jerseys.  Visiting teams wear light color jerseys.
 
VI.Equipment and Uniforms
  1. Players MUST wear NFL Flag team jerseys and an official flag belt.
  2. Players MUST wear mouth guards during warmups and the game.
  3. Flag belts and flags must be over top of the jersey at the waist.
  4. Teams will use footballs provided by the league.
  5. Players must wear shoes (sneakers or cleats).  Cleats with exposed metal are not allowed.
 
VII.Timing
  1. Games are played on a 40 minute continuous clock with two 20 minute halves.  The clock stops only for timeouts or injuries requiring a coach coming onto the field.
  2. Halftime is approximately 2 minutes.
  3. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.  Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced. This is enforced at the referee’s discretion.
  4. Each team has one 30-second timeout per half.
  5. Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.
 
VIII.Scoring
  1. Touchdown = 6 points
  2. PAT (Point After Touchdown) = 1 point (5-yard line) or 2 points (10-yard line)
  3. 1 point PAT is pass only
  4. 2 point PAT is pass only
  5. A team that scores a touchdown must declare whether it wishes to attempt a 1 point conversion or 2 point conversion.
  6. An interception (returned conversion attempt) on a PAT returned to the other end zone results in the points the team was attempting (e.g., a returned 1 point PAT = 1 point for the opposing team)
  7. Safety = 2 points
A safety occurs when the ball-carrier is declared down in his/her own end zone.Runners can be called down when their flags are pulled by a defensive player, a flag falls out, they step out of bounds, their knee or arm touches the ground, a fumble occurs or if a snapped ball lands in or beyond the end zone. There are no safeties in the Rookie League. The down counts and the ball is placed at the 5 yard line for the next down.
  1. Interception Returned for a Touchdown  = 6 points
 
IX.Formations
  1. Offenses must have a minimum of one (1) player on the line of scrimmage (the center) and up to four players on the line of scrimmage.  The quarterback must be off the line of scrimmage.
  2. One player at a time may go in motion behind and parallel to the line of scrimmage.
  3. The center must snap the ball with a rapid and continuous motion between his/her legs and/or from a side position to a player in the backfield.  The ball must completely leave the hands of the center.
 
X.Live Ball / Dead Ball
  1. The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead.
  2. The official will indicate the line of scrimmage.
  3. Any official can whistle the play dead.
  4. A player who gains possession in the air is considered inbounds as long as one foot comes down in the field of play.
  5. The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals to confuse the offensive players.
  6. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
  7. Play is ruled dead when:
    1. The ball hits the ground.  If the ball hits the ground as a result of a bad snap, the ball is then placed where the ball hit the ground.
    2. The ball carriers flag is pulled.
    3. The ball carriers flag falls out.
    4. The ball carrier steps out of bounds.
    5. A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored.
    6. The ball carriers knee or arm hits the ground.
    7. The receiver catches the ball or a runner is handed the ball while in possession of one or no flags.
    8. The 7 second pass clock expires.
  8. Fumbles cannot be recovered by the defense.  The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet were at the time of the fumble or where the ball hit the ground (depending on referee’s discretion).
  9. In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:
    1. Take the ball where it was when the whistle blew and the down is consumed.
    2. Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.
 
XI.Running
  1. The ball is spotted where the flag is pulled as judged by the referee.
  2. The quarterback cannot directly run with the ball.  The quarterback is the offensive player who receives the snap.
  3. Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted.  Handoffs may be in front, behind or to the side of the offensive player but must be behind the line of scrimmage.
  4. The offense may use multiple handoffs.
  5. No laterals in the Rookie and Semi-Pro level.  Laterals are allowed at the All-Pro Level.
  6. No-run zones are located 5 yards before each end zone and 5 years before midfield to avoid short yardage run situations.  Team are not allowed to run in these zones.
  7. Any player who receives a handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage, provided it is done us 7 seconds before the snap of the ball.
  8. Once the ball has been handed off in front, behind or to the side of the quarterback, all defensive players are eligible to rush.
  9. Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball.  Diving, leaping or jumping to avoid a flag pull is considered flag guarding.  Runners may leave their feet to avoid collision with another player or to attempt catching the ball.
  10. No blocking, screening or picks are allowed at any time.
  11. Flag obstruction – all jerseys must be tucked in before play begins or flags must be on the player’s hips over the jersey.  Flags must be free from obstruction.
 
XII.Passing
  1. All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage, thrown forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.  All passes that do not cross the line of scrimmage, whether received or not, are illegal forward passes.
  2. Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
  3. The quarterback has a 7-second “pass clock” rule.  If a pass is not thrown within 7 seconds, the play is dead, the down is consumed and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage.  Once the ball is handed off, the 7-second rule remains in effect.  This rule will be enforced to speed up play at Semi-Pro and All-Pro level but is at the referee’s discretion for the Rookie level.
 

 
XIII.Receiving
  1. All players are eligible to receive passes.  This includes the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage.
  2. Only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
  3. A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
  4. In the case of simultaneous possession by an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense.
  5. Interceptions are returnable for touchdowns or on conversions (points are limited to the conversion attempt).  If an interception is not returned for a touchdown, the possession begins for the intercepting team on the 5-yard line (e.g., a new possession).
 
XIV.Flag Pulling
  1. A legal flag pull takes place when the ball-carrier is in full possession of the ball.
  2. Defenders can dive to pull flags but cannot tackle, hold or run through the ball-carrier when pulling flags.
  3. It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball-carriers possession at any time.
  4. If a player’s flag inadvertently falls off during the play, the player is down immediately and the play ends.  The ball is placed where the flag lands.
  5. A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in possession of the ball.
  6. Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball-carrier to obstruct the defenders access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping the head, hand, arm or shoulder or intentionally covering the flags with the football jersey or their hand.
 
XV.Pass Defense
  1. Defenders may not hold, interfere or obstruct receivers.
  2. Defenders must be attempting to defend the ball, not interfering with the passer
  3. The defender can pull the flag once the offense has actually made a reception, not before.
 

 
XVI.Rushing
  1. All players who rush the quarterback must be a minimum number yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped (see below).  Any number of players can rush the quarterback.  Players not rushing the quarterback can defend on the line of scrimmage.
    1. Rookies, Semi-Pro:  10 yards minimum from scrimmage
    2. All-Pro:  12 yards minimum from scrimmage
  2. Once the ball is handed off, the 10 or 12 yard rule is no longer in effect and all defenders may cross the line of scrimmage.
  3. The referee will designate a rush line 10 or 12 yards from the line of scrimmage.  Defensive players should line up with the referee to confirm they are eligible to rush.
  4. A legal rush is:
    1. Any rush from 10 or 12 yards from the line of scrimmage after the ball is snapped (not necessarily on the word “hike”)
    2. A rush from anywhere on the field after the ball is handed off
    3. If a rusher leaves the rush line (10 or 12 yards back) early, they may return to the rush line, reset and then legally rush the quarterback
    4. If a rusher leaves the rush line (10 or 12 yards back) early and the ball is handed off before he crosses the line of scrimmage they may continue to pursue the runner.
  5. A penalty may be called if:
    1. Illegal rush - the rusher leaves the rush line before the snap crosses the line of scrimmage before a hand off or pass.  5 yard penalty and replay the down.
    2. Off-sides - any defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.  5 yard penalty and replay the down.
  6. Teams are not required to rush the quarterback
  7. Teams are not required to identify the rusher before the play
  8. Players rushing the quarterback may attempt to block a pass; however, NO contact can be made with the quarterback.  Blocking the pass and then making contact with the passer will result in a roughing the passer penalty.
  9. The offense cannot impede the rusher in anyway.  The rusher has a right to a clear path to the quarterback.  If the offensive player is not moving, the rusher must go around the offensive player to avoid contact.
  10. A sack occurs if the quarterback’s flags are pulled behind the line of scrimmage.  The ball is placed where the flag is pulled.
  11. A safety (2 points) is awarded if the sack takes place in the offensive team’s end zone (except in the Rookie League).

 
XVII.Penalties
  1. Referees will call all penalties.
  2. Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal play.
  3. All penalties will be assessed from line of scrimmage unless otherwise noted (e.g., spot fouls)
  4. Only the coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarifications.  Players may not question calls.
  5. Games may not end on a defensive penalty, unless declined by the offense.
  6. Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal yardage when the penalty yardage is more than half the distance to the goal.
  7. Penalty yardage can be declined if the additional yardage puts the offensive team in the “no rush” zone.
  8. Penalties
    1. Offensive
  • Delay of game (plays not run in 30 seconds) – loss of down (warnings are provided at the Rookie level)
  • 7 second pass clock infraction – loss of down
  • Flag Guarding – 5 yards from the infraction and loss of down
  • Illegal Forward Pass – 5 yards from spot and loss of down
  • Offensive Pass Interference – 5 yards from scrimmage and loss of down
  • Downfield Blocking, screening – 5 yards from infraction and loss of down
  • Dropped snaps – Loss of Down
  • Offensive player with shirt over belt or one flag – Dead ball from spot; Loss of Down
  • No laterals or pitches of any kind in Rookies or Semi-Pro – Loss of Down
  • Quarterbacks cannot run – Loss of Down Running plays from “no running zones” – Loss of Down                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2.    Defensive
  • Tackling – 5 yards from spot of foul and automatic first down. Tackling, at the referee’s discretion, may include pulling of the jersey to slow a player down, or any other similar infraction (pushing out of bounds) where little or no effort is made to pull a flag.
  • Illegal Rush/Blitz – 5 yard penalty and replay the down. Replay of down in Rookies at Ref’s discretion.
  • Offside – 5 yard penalty and replay the down. Replay of down in Rookies at Ref’s discretion.
  • Early Flag Pull - 5 yard penalty and replay the down. Replay of down in Rookies at Ref’s discretion.
  • Defensive Pass Interference – 5 yards from scrimmage and automatic first down.