8v8 COED FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

 

LXC  Flag Football plays under the guidelines of NCAA Football with these exceptions for 8on8 Coed:

Beginning of game

Before every game paper, rock, scissors will be played between a member from each team.  The winner will choose whether to kick or receive in the first half.

Ball

Each team must use a ball that is equal to or greater than the dimensions used in NCAA football.

The Game

The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has 4 plays to cross each cone. If the offense fails to get a first down or score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over at the line of scrimmage.

All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line. Teams change sides after the first 25 minutes. There will be a 3-minute half time. This is a non-contact game. Basic NCAA rules apply except where otherwise listed.

Downing the ball carrier:

When a flag is pulled the ball carrier is down at their lead foot.  Any loose articles hanging off defenders belts or out of pockets are considered flags- (towels, shirts, etc)   If a players flag falls off accidentally they just have to be touched to be down.  No pulling defenders flags before they get the ball.

Coed Rules

Females must have possession of the ball once every 3 plays. (Being quarterback or an attempt to receive the ball – unsuccessful attempts count) Simply receiving the snap and immediately handing the ball off does not count as a female play. If a female is used as quarterback, she must make a pass beyond the line of scrimmage.  

Female Scoring Plays

A touchdown scored by a female beyond the last first down line is worth 8 points.  

Players/Game Schedules

Teams must field a minimum of 7 players at all times. If at any time a team cannot have 7 players on the field then they must forfeit.

There is a maximum of 4 males on the field at all times. There is no male minimum. 

If a team fails to produce a full team at game time the team must forfeit. Both teams are still obliged to play a game with as many players as available just for fun! Official keeps official time.

Forfeits and Cancellations:

Everyone pays to play in the league and they expect to play every week.  WHEN YOU DO NOT SHOW UP FOR A GAME YOU ARE CHEATING THE OTHER TEAM OUT OF MONEY!   You must give LXC at least 3 days notice if your team cannot make a game so we can try to find people to give the other team a game.  If proper notice is not given and LXC cannot get another team to play for you a monetary fine can be issued, the fine will be given to the team that did not play to spend at the post game happy hour.  More than one foreifit per season and team will be excluded from league championship tournament.   

Timing/Overtime

Games are played with 2 22-minute halves and a 3-minute halftime. The clock is a running clock except for the the last 2 minutes of the second half.

If time permits and the score is tied at the end of the game, a coin flip will determine first possession. The winner will be determined by the “penetration method.”

The ball will start on the fifty-yard line. Each team will have 4 plays to drive towards the end zone. Possession will alternate each play. At the end of 8 plays whoever has penetrated farther will win.

Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 25 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before the delay-of-game penalty is enforced.

Each team has one 60-second and one 30-second timeout each half. Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.

Scoring

Touchdown: 6 points

Female touchdown from outside the 20- 8 points

Extra Point: 1 point (played from 5 yard line – throw only) or 2 points (played from 12 yard line) 

Safety: 2 points 

The Snap

The snap must come from in front of the quarterback and between the legs of the center.  The qb must be at least 2 yards behind the snapper. 

Punting

No punting. On 4th down the offensive team will either elect to go for the first down or hand the ball over to the other team. If the offense chooses to hand the ball over the team will start with the ball on there own 5-yard line.

Running:

The quarterback can run with the ball. Offense may use multiple handoffs.

The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.

Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player. (No diving)

The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.

A runner shall not charge into nor contact an opponent in his/her path nor attempt to run between 2 opponents or between an opponent and a sideline, unless the space allows a clean path with no contact.  If a runner in progress has established a straight line path they may not be crowded out of that path, but if an opponent is able to legally establish a defensive position in that path the runner must avoid contact.

Receiving

All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).

Only one player allowed in motion at a time. A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.

Passing

 Must be done behind the line of scrimmage.   Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the point of interception. Interceptions are the only changes of possession that do not start on the 5-yard line.

Dead Balls

The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.

Play is ruled dead when: -Ball carrier’s flag is pulled. -Ball carrier steps out of bounds. -Touchdown or safety is scored. -At the point of an interception. -Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground. -Ball carrier’s flag falls off and ball carrier is touched by defensive player.

Note: there are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.

Rushing the Quarterback

The ref will count to five then yell GO.  Defense is then allowed to rush.

Once the ball is handed off, the five-second rule is no longer in effect, and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage. NO blocking or tackling is allowed.

Mercy Rule

If a team is more than 20 points ahead at the 2 minute waring of the 2nd half the game is over.

Roughing

If the referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

Trash Talking

Trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams, or spectators.) If trash talk occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game. Fighting will result in immediate ejection from league. No refund will be given.

Arguing with Officials

We understand that players will be unhappy with calls at time but please consider we are trying to keep the game going.  Arguing with officials will not be tolerated during the game and officials are advised to ignore it.  If you wish to call time out to discuss a call you may use one of your mandated time outs and only the team captain will be allowed to discuss calls.  If arguing becomes an issue the player arguing will be asked to sit out a full possession and if persist removed from the game.

Penalties

All penalties will be called by the referee and are final.

Defensive:

Offsides: defense rushes before 5 second count-  5 yards from line of scrimmage and replay down

Pass interference:  any contact initiated by the defender before or during the action of catching the ball.   Swiping the ball out of receivers hands after it is caught.  Waiving hands in front of receivers face.  

5-15 (official discretion) yards and automatic reset of downs and girl play.

Pass interference in the end zone-  When pass interference is called in the end zone when…

the ball is thrown within the last first down- ball spotted on the 5

the ball is thrown from beyond the last first down marker-  ball placed on the 2 point conversion line

the ball is thrown from the first third of the field- ball placed on the last first down line

Illegal contact- any contact on the offensive player that stops them from advancing the ball, pushing them off their route or any contact deemed unnecessary by the official even if unintentional- 5 yards from spot of foul or line of scrimmage and replay down and possibly automatic first down in extreme cases)

Roughing ng the passer-  Any contact with the quarterback above the waist and contact at or below waist that inhibits QBs throwing motion. (official discretion) 5 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down and reset girl play

Pulling flag well before catch is made- (Official discretion)  5 yards from final spot 

Offensive:

ALL OFFENSIVE PENALTIES ARE DEAD BALLS

Flag Guarding:  any action that guards the flags from being pulled including stiff arms- 5 yards from spot of foul

Blocking:  moving in the way of a defender pursuing the ball carrier 5 yards from spot of foul

Screening:  stopping a defender from guarding his or her man- 5 yards from line of scrimmage replay down

Not using a female on designated play:  5 yards from line of scrimmage and replay down.  Unless it is due to a fumbled snap then ball is spotted where it hit the ground and upcoming play still is a female play.

Running in no run zone:  ball placed on line of scrimmage and loss of down

Pass Interference:  contact with the defense prohibiting them from making play on ball see above- 5-15 yard penalty (official discretion)

Illegal Contact: contact with defender to further separation 5 yards from line and replay down

Offsides:  this will be up to officials discretion in extreme cases a penalty of 5 yards will be called most cases official will blow whistle and simply restart play.   Offsides will be strictly enforced under 1 minute in the 1st and 2 minutes in the 2nd half.

Illegal Motion:  more than one player moving when the ball is snapped.  This will only be called in extreme cases and under 1 minute in the 1st and 2 minutes in the second half.

Illegal Forward Pass:  5 yards from spot of foul and loss of down (if pass was thrown to female it counts as the girl play)

Lowering shoulder or plowing:  (officials discretion) 10 yards from spot of foul and loss of down

Shovel or underhand pass inside no-run zone- ball placed on original line of schrimmage and loss of down

Diving to advance the ball:  5 yards from spot of foul

Charging- 5 yards from spot and loss of down

 

Penalties and rules subject to change dependent on league and facility

 

Playoffs:

All teams will play on week 8.  We will do our best to let everyone in the league championship tournament however sometimes field and time restraints make it impossible we only guarantee that the top 4 teams in the league will make the post season tournament and other teams will play consolation game on last week.  If a team has foreifit more than 1 time they will be excluded from league championship tournament.

 

Attire

Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes.

(indoor league-NO CLEATS)

Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Shorts with cargo pockets are prohibited. Flag belts must be worn around the waist with flags at the hips.

Note: There are no kickoffs, and no blocking is allowed.

 

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MEN'S LEAGUE RULES

 

All rules are same as coed above except:

 

Interceptions can be returned.

 

Defenders are allowed to make a play on the ball once it touches the receivers hands.  The penalty will be called similar to a foul in basketball.

 

There is a 2 second rush count to rush the passer.

 

No Coed Rules.

 

 

League Info and Policies

 

Payment
Payment is due in full by noon the day after your first game.  Remaining balance will be charged to your card at that time.  Any teams not paid will not be added to week 2's schedule. 

 

League Start Dates
We do our best to start all leagues as initially scheduled.  Every league needs at least 4 teams to start.  If there are not 4, a league will be pushed back 2-3 weeks in hopes of adding enough teams.  We will notify you as soon as their are enough or if the league will be postponed again.  At any point after a league is rescheduled, refunds can be issued upon request.

 

Schedule
Week 1's schedule will be released at least 3 days prior to the start date.  After week 1's games the full schedule will be out.  After week 2's games no schedule requests will be taken.  Schedules are subject to change due to weather, field availability, or other unforeseen issues.

 

T-Shirts
A team shirt will be given to each player that is on the roster at least 3 days prior to the start date.  Players not on the roster by that time may have to make arrangements to pick one up at the LXC office.

 

Rosters
Only players on the online roster are eligible to play.  Rosters will be frozen after week 3's games.  After that, all additions will have to go through the LXC office.  Subs are allowed and should be added to the roster accordingly.  Subs for the tournament must be approved by the LXC office.

 

Forfeits
If you forfeit you are cheating a team out of a game that they paid to play.  Please always make every effort to get enough players to the game.  Even if it is not a full team we can make a game happen.  If you must forfeit please let us know ASAP so we can do our best to get the other team game.  Multiple forfeits may result in an extra fee.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP
The idea of LXC is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when
becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be
competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed
unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.
Abuse of staff will not be tolerated. LXC reserves the right to remove a player from a
game or a league if they are considered to be bringing down the quality of the league.
LXC will not tolerate fighting! Fighting will be an automatic ejection from any game
and in most cases ejection from the league for the remainder of the season. If you feel
that someone on your team or on another team is not practicing good sportsmanship,
please let us know.