LMYA, SPYA, EPEMFA, AFC FLAG FOOTBALL
RULE ADDENDUMS AND CHANGES
DIVISIONAL DISTINCTIVES
U6 – FOUR downs for a first and FOUR to score, TWO coaches allowed on the field, no run-zone is not enforced, blue ball is used
U8 – THREE downs for a first and THREE to score, ONE coach allowed on the field, no run-zone enforced, blue ball is used
U10 – THREE downs for a first and THREE to score, ONE coach allowed on the field (although this is discouraged), no run-zone enforced, brown ball
U12, U14 and U17 – THREE downs for a first and THREE to score, NO coach allowed on the field (during a play), no run-zone enforced, brown ball
STREAMLINED PENALTIES
All penalties have been streamlined. Each penalty is a FIVE yard penalty and loss of that down. There are TWO exceptions to this: Defensive Pass Interference is spot of the foul and automatic first down and Unsportsmanlike Conduct is a TEN yard penalty.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT PENALTIES
Any player or coach that receives TWO unsportsmanlike conduct penalties will be ejected from that game AND suspended for the next game. Should another unsportsmanlike penalty occur by that team, that team will forfeit that game AND the next game. Parents/fans on the sidelines can also be assessed a “sideline unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.” Two such sideline penalties will result in a team’s forfeit.
SIDELINE RULES
NO parents/fans are allowed on the sidelines, and there is a MAXIMUM OF 3 coaches allowed on a sideline. The visiting team will ALWAYS be on the scoreboard sideline, while the home team is on the sideline without the scoreboard.
INTERCEPTIONS ON EXTRA-POINTS
If the ball is intercepted on an extra point attempt, and returned by the defense to the opposite end zone, the defense will be awarded one point for an interception return of a 1 point try, and two points for an interception return of a 2 point try.
MERCY RULE
When a team is up by TWENTY-EIGHT or more points, the following things occur: On offense, the team winning must remove its starting QB and can only pass. If a TD is scored, this team must go for two. On offense, for U6, the team winning loses TWO downs and now has THREE for a first and THREE to score. For U8 and up, the team winning loses ONE down. On defense, the team winning cannot blitz nor return an interception for a score. The team winning also has NO time-outs while in mercy rule.
END OF GAME TIME OUT RULE
When a team is winning by two or more scores, and on offense with under a minute to go, any request
for a time-out will be denied.
GENERAL TIME OUT RULE
If a team does not use their first half time out, it will carry over to the second half.
FORFEIT
ALL games are played as the schedule dictates. (We will not allow for teams to change their scheduled start time after the schedule is released.) Any team that cannot field FIVE players by FIVE MINUTES AFTER its scheduled start time must forfeit. Exceptions made for when a team says a player is in route and will be at the field shortly.
OVERTIME
Overtime involves each team getting one try to go for a two-point conversion. Each team will get such a try until only one team is successful.
RUNNING INTO THE BLIZTER/INTERFERING WITH THE PATH OF THE BLITZER
This is not a rule change by our league. However, this past season, we tightened up how this penalty had previously been enforced. It is important for defenses to note that a rusher is entitled to a straight path to the QB. Should the rusher be run into or forced to significantly alter his/her path to the QB, a penalty will be called. EXCEPTION – If a rusher is NOT coming from within a few yards either side of the bean bag, this penalty will only be enforced when contact is made.
NEW LEAGUE DISTINTIVES FOR SPRING 2018
50% PLAYING TIME RULE
League coordinators will be working to make sure that each team is adhering to a 50% playing time rule. Each player should count on being able to play at least half the game (if a roster is ten players and under). Certainly, some players may play 75% or more of a game, but such instances should not take away from any other players getting in for at least half of a game. Any coach refusing to abide by this policy will face suspension.
U6 CARRY RULE
At the U6 level, we expect EVERY player on each team to get AT LEAST ONE carry of the ball per game. Any coach refusing to abide by this policy will face suspension.