Click here to download the 2023 7vs7 Flag Football Rules 

Field & Game Set-up

• Games shall be comprised of (2) 20 minute running time halves with a 5 minute halftime

  • There shall be NO overtime during the regular season

• Fields will be 40 yards long with a 10 yard end-zone

  • 6-7-8 teams will play on a standard width field

  • 3-4-5 teams may shorten the field to play sideline to far hash

• First team listed shall be the visitors and wear their WHITE jerseys; second teams listed on schedule shall be home and wear their COLOR jerseys.

• Teams shall line up on the SAME side of the field

  • HOME (dark jersey) Team shall sit between the 10-20 yard lines

  • AWAY (white jersey) Team shall sit between the 30-40 yard lines

• Parents and spectators shall sit on the OPPOSITE side of the field from the players

Teams & Season

• Prior to the season there will be a “practice session” for all registered players

• After that practice session teams will be formed with the following considerations:

  • Competitive balance is of the utmost importance

  • Player/Coach requests will be honored where possible

    • Requests made in an effort to create “super” teams will not be tolerated

  • All teams are to be Coed to the fullest extent possible

• Athletes will be divided evenly into teams with roughly 10 players per team

• Regular season will consist of 9 games over 12 weeks

• Playoffs will be after the regular season

  • All teams will make the playoffs

Player Equipment

• Each player will be given a reversible game jersey

• All players MUST wear sneakers or standard athletic cleats (metal cleats are NOT permitted)

• Players are permitted to wear mouth guards.

• Players are permitted to wear gloves, elbow &/or knee pads at their discretion

• Players are permitted to wear soft helmets at their discretion

  • Standard tackle football helmets are NOT permitted

• Players MUST remove all jewelry

• Players are permitted to wear face coverings or masks.

Basic Game Rules

• Each team shall field (7) players on the field

• Visiting team shall call the coin toss

  • Winner of the coin toss can elect to kick or receive in the first half

• Game will be comprised of two 20 minute running clock halves.

• At the start of the game, start of the half and at each change in possession the ball will start on the 40 yard line going into the endzone

  • An interception will result in a change of possession and the offense will assume the ball at the 40 yard line going into the endzone

• If an interception is returned for a touchdown the original offense will retain the ball on the 40 yard line

• First down can be obtained at the 20 yard line, or by penalty

• Teams have (4) downs to make the line to gain (or score)

• Teams shall have 30-seconds between plays

• Teams are allowed (1) timeout per half, the game clock will stop

• (1) Offensive and (1) Defensive coach will be allowed in the huddle

  • Once the teams come to the LOS the coaches shall leave the field of play

• Teams are required to play all players the same number of snaps throughout the game

  • Teams are encouraged to utilize at least (1) underclassman at quarterback for a portion of each game

Offense Rules

• General & Formations

  • Offense shall be comprised of the following positions:

    • (1) - Center

    • (1) - QB

    • (5) – Receivers/ Backs

• All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass

• There is NO blocking

• (3) Players, including the center, must be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped

• Only 1 player may be in motion prior to the snap of the ball

  • Motion CANNOT be made towards the line of scrimmage

• Snaps can be shot-gun between the legs or shot-gun side snap

  • Direct snaps under center are not permitted in 2020

• Once the ball is snapped the QB has (4) seconds to pass or hand-off the ball

  • After (4) seconds the ball is dead on the LOS

• Once a player is in possession of the ball beyond the LOS all offense players are to remain motionless

  • Picks, screens or blocking is NOT permitted

• Running:

  • The QB is NOT permitted to run the ball past the line of scrimmage

  • The center is NOT permitted to run the ball

  • The ball may NOT be handed off and then passed

  • The ball may only be handed off ONE time per play from scrimmage

    • Once a runner is past the line of scrimmage the ball cannot be handed off

  • There is a “NO RUNNING ZONE” 5 yards from the end-zone & first down marker

  • Once the ball is handed off all defensive players are eligible to rush

  • Players are NOT permitted to leave their feet (no diving or jumping to avoid a defender)

  • A fumbled ball is dead where the ball is dropped

• Receiving:

• All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass

• A player must have (1) foot in bounds for a legal catch

• Interceptions are returnable

• Once a receiver catches the ball they become a runner (see rules above)

Defense Rules

• General & Formations

  • The defense may play zone or man-to-man defense

• Blitzing

  • There will be NO blitzing.

• Dead Balls

  • A play is over when:

    • Ball carrier flag is pulled

    • Ball carrier steps out of bounds

    • Ball carrier falls to the ground

    • Ball carrier knee hits the ground

    • Ball carrier crosses the end zone

    • Ball is fumbled or touches the ground

    • Play reaches 4-seconds and the QB is still in possession of the ball

Scoring

• Touchdown – 6 points

• Extra Points – (ball on the 5 yard line) – 1 point

  • No run plays

• Extra Points – (ball on the 10 yard line) – 2 points

• Interception – 3 points

  • No points on an interception of a PAT

• Interception Returned for a Touchdown – 6 points + 3 points for the interception

• Turnover on Downs – 2 points

Penalties

• Defensive Penalties:

• Offensive Penalties: