CityWide Sports Adult Flag Football

OFFICIAL LEAGUE RULES

2014

The City and County of Denver’s Adult Flag Football Leagues are governed by USSSA rules. The following is only an overview of the complete rules

Note: The rules below supersede all USSSA rules.

1)LEAGUES are defined as follows:

Men’s Comp (Competitive): teams consisting of 5 to 15 male players, 18+ years old.

Co-Ed (Recreational): teams consisting of 5 to 15 male and female players, 18+ years old.

*NOTE: 1st half: teams play with 3 males and 2 females.

2nd half: teams play with 2 males and 3 females.

*Exception: Teams may choose to play with more females at anytime in Co-Ed play.

2)UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS: Matching colored jerseys are required for league play. Each player must have an easily distinguishable jersey number at least 8” in size.

3)ROSTERS: A roster may contain up to 15 players, 18+ years old. Teams may add players at anytime during the season. All players must play in a minimum of two (2) league games in order to be eligible for postseason play. Players may not be added if they play with another team in the same league. Managers are responsible for keeping the team roster updated. Rosters are due at your first league game.

4)GAME TIME: Each game will consist of two (2) 20 minute halves, with a three (3) minute half-time break. The game-clock will STOP only for team and official timeouts. The game-clock will change to stop-time (clock stops after incomplete passes, spiking the ball to the ground, out of bounds, scoring play, penalty, change of possession or fair catch) for the last two (2) minutes of the 2nd half, unless a team is up by 20 or more points. 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.

5)BASIC GAME PLAY:

  • A coin toss determines first possession.
  • The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four plays to cross midfield for a first down. Once a team crosses midfield and receives a first down, it has four more plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5-yard line.
  • All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offensive team’s 5-yard line. Ifthe defense intercepts the ball, the ball will be spotted from where the defensive player’s flag was pulled.
  • Teams change sides after the first half. Possession changes to loser of coin toss for the 2nd half.
  • ALL games will be played with balls chosen by each team when they are on offense.
  • Only flag-belt combinations are allowed. Belts must consist of 3 (three) flags sized 3” wide x 12” in length (triple-threat style). NO pop-off flags are allowed. Flag must be over your shirt.
  • Mouth guards are optional.

6)SCORING:

  • Touchdown: 6 points
  • Points After Touchdown (PAT): 1 point (played from 5-yard line) 2 point (played from the 10-yard line). If you have not used your QB run for the series, you may use it on a 2 point conversion
  • PAT interception & return to end-zone: 2 points
  • Safety: 2 points

7)RUNNING:

  • Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple handoffs.
  • “No-running zones” located 5 (five) yards from each end zone and 5 (five) yards on either side of midfield are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations.
  • 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 may not 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.
  • No laterals or pitches of any kind are allowed, this includes behind the line of scrimmage.
  • Quarterbacks are allowed to run the ball once a possession.

8)PASSING:

  • Shovel passes are allowed.
  • The quarterback has a seven-second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down. Once the ball is handed off, the seven-second rule no longer is in effect.
  • The seven-second rule does not apply if the quarterback is being rushed.
  • Interceptions may be returned (including PAT’s)
  • You may not throw the ball more than once per play; no double passes.

9)DEAD BALLS:

  • The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play.
  • Play is ruled “dead” when:
  1. Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
  2. Ball carrier steps out of bounds
  3. Touchdown or safety is scored
  4. Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
  5. Ball carrier’s flag falls OFF. If the receiver’s flags fall off prior to a reception the ball is dead once the ball is caught by that receiver. To clarify, if the ball carriers flag falls off at ANY point, they are down where their flag fell off.

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

10)TIMEOUTS: Each team has 2 (two) 60-second time-outs per half.

11)OVERTIME:In case of a tie score at the end of regulation play, the captains will be brought together for a coin toss to determine the options for sudden death. Starting at the 5 yard line each team will have 3 downs to go the same direction. If a team scores, 1 point is awarded and the ball is brought back to the 5 yard line to for the other team to complete their series of 3 downs. Negative yardage is possible. If the score is still tied, the team that advanced the ball the farthest will be awarded one point and the win. There will be no extra point attempts. Penalties will be awarded as in normal game time. If there is an interception during overtime, that will end the 3 plays for that team. All yardage gained will be awarded to that team. The interception will not be returnable and the ball will be dead. The other team will now have their 3 plays.

12)A GRACE PERIOD of five (5) minutes will be given if a team does not have the minimum number of players (4) required to begin. The game clock will begin at the scheduled start time or after the officials complete the pre-game conference. If a team still does not have the enough players after the five (5) minute grace period has expired they will be forced to forfeit.

13)NO JEWELERY is permitted anywhere on your person. Medical bracelets MUST be taped to chest.

14)UNSPORTSMAN-LIKE CONDUCT: Profanity, vulgarity and taunting toward players, league officials, scorekeepers, timekeepers, referees, or spectators will NOT be permitted. There is ZERO TOLERANCE for acts of unsportsmanlike conduct. The first warning will result in a technical foul, if the problem continues the player or spectator will be asked to leave the gymnasium/building. If the player/person fails to do so, the game will be called a forfeit.

15) NO TOBACCO, NO SMOKING AND NO ALCOHOL of any kind will be permitted in the facility.

16)City and County of Denverstaff, referee(s), and other league officials have the right to remove any player from a game if in violation of league rules, recreation center rules, or codes of conduct.

17)Players must provide a valid Colorado Driver’s License or Colorado ID card in the event of a roster challenge. The use of illegal player(s) will result in a forfeit. Remember, players may be added only if there is a roster spot for them and they do not play with another team in the exact same league.

18)CITWIDE SPORTS WEBSITE: League information, schedules and standings for basketball and all other adult sports is available at .

Denver CityWide Sports

PARTICIPANT CODE OF CONDUCT

The City and County of Denver’s Participant Code of Conduct applies to any player, manager, coach, sponsor or anyone affiliated with the team. Remember, although competitive in nature, we are all here to recreate and be observed by friends, family, and other citizens of Denver. Our goal is to maintain a program we all can be proud of.

1)No player, manager, coach, or sponsor shall bump, push, shove, lay hands on, strike or threaten other participants, umpires, league officials, scorekeepers, or any employees of the program.

2)No player, manger, coach, or sponsor shall make derogatory remarks or statements about decision rendered by the game’s officials. Protests of rules are allowed, but only in regard to application or interpretation (not judgment calls). The team manager or coach must file a written protest to CityWide Sports Review Board within 48 hours. The review board will make a decision within 72 hours from receiving the protest.

3)On site reports will be completed for all ejections. The CityWide Sports Review Board will review all ejection report forms and determine if any further actions are warranted. Written notification will be sent out to all involved parties within 72 hours

4)No player, manager, coach, or sponsor shall participate in the game when inebriated.

NOTE: VIOLATIONS OF ANY OF THE ABOVE RULES OR CODE OF CONDUCT MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM.

City and County of Denver

Parks and Recreation Department

CityWide Sports

Please send any questions, comments, or concerns to CityWide Sports Staff:

Matt Draper – CityWide Sports Supervisor

Kelli Garrison – CityWide Sports Coordinator

For additional information about any of our leagues visit: teamsideline.com/denver