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2007 NFL FLAG Regional Tournament Rules

Tournament Format

  • Your team and participants can only register for and play in one regional tournament each year.
  • Round Robin Tournament. Teams participate in pool play and first place teams go on to playoffs.
  • Only one head coach and one assistant coach allowed on sidelines during game. All fans must remain a minimum of 10 yards off the field in the end zone area.
  • Intermediate sized NFL FLAG footballs will be provided by NFL. Team balls are not allowed.
  • Team check in and registration ends at 8:30 AM. If team arrives during or after their first scheduled game, your team will be forfeited for the rest of the tournament and cannot advance.
  • All decisions made by the National Football League are final.

NFL FLAG

  • No Contact Allowed At Any Time
  • A coin toss determines first possession. The coin toss choices are Offense/Defense or direction.
  • The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its five-yard line and has three plays to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has three plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its five-yard line.
  • If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its five-yard line.
  • All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offenses five-yard line.
  • Teams change sides after the first 10 minutes (halftime) and possession changes to the team that started on defense.

Players/Game Schedules

  • Team must register and start their day with a minimum of five players on their team. In the event of an injury to one team without available substitutions during the event, that team may play with four players on the field, but no fewer than four.
  • Teams should consist of eight-10 players (five on the field with substitutes).
  • For the winning team in each age bracket, only those players present during the entire tournament will be eligible to participate at the NFL FLAG National Tournament of Champions. Pictures of each player and head coach (as determined by the NFL registration roster) will be taken at the conclusion of the tournament and everyone on the winning team must be photographed by the NFL prior to leaving the event. These photographs will be used for participant/coach credentials at the NFL FLAG National Tournament of Champions.

Timing

  • Games are played to 20 minutes running time with a one minute halftime (at halftime teams will change sides of the field) & possession changes to loser of coin toss.
  • 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.
  • Each team has one :30-second time out per half.
  • Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.

Scoring

  • Games are played to 20 minutes, unless one team has a 28 point margin (i.e. 35-7).
  • Touchdown: 6 points
  • Extra point: 1 point (played from 5-yard line), 2 points (played from 12-yard line)
  • Safety: 2 points Flag Guarding in the end zone is a safety.
  • Forfeits: 6-0 win for winning team
  • The scorekeeper must initial score sheet and hand over score sheet to a field runner.
  • Field runners will submit their score sheets to the main scoring table.

Overtime

  • If the score is tied at the end of 20 minutes, teams move directly into overtime. Overtime begins with a coin toss. The team who wins the coin toss decides whether to take the ball first or second. Both teams will have one drive from their five-yard line to get as many yards as possible or score a touchdown. The team with the most yards after one drive wins the game. If both teams score a touchdown, each team has the option to go for 1 point (five yard line) or 2 points (12 yard line). In the event that the teams are tied after the conversion attempt, both teams must go for 2 points on all ensuing possessions. There are no time outs in overtime. All penalties are in effect.
    Interceptions end offensive possession and are dead at the spot. Team must advance one yard to win.

Running

  • The quarterback cannot run with the ball. Only direct handoffs, forward or backwards behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple handoffs.
  • Runner must attempt to avoid any defender with established position. If not, then charging penalty applies.
  • Absolutely NO laterals, pitches, swing passes or flare passes of any kind behind the line of scrimmage. All passes MUST be received beyond the line of scrimmage (LOS).
  • No-Running Zones, located five yards from each end zone and five yards on either side of midfield (designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations). Players cannot run in the No-Running Zone preceding a Line-to-Gain. A Line-To-Gain is the midfield line or Goal line.
  • 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 (jump) or dive to avoid a defensive player.
  • No straight arming allowed while running with the ball.
  • The ball is spotted where the ball carriers flags are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
  • No blocking or screening is allowed at any time. Running with the ball carrier can be construed as screening if obstructing a defensive players path to the ball carrier.

Receiving

  • All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
  • As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
  • A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
  • Illegal pitches beyond the line of scrimmage (once a receiver catches the ball, he and he alone is only allowed to advance it).

Passing

  • All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage. Only one forward pass per play.
  • No bumping/chucking or obstructing receiver.
  • Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
  • 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.
  • If ball is tipped/blocked by rusher and QB catches ball behind the line of scrimmage, the play is dead and ball returns to the line of scrimmage.
  • Interceptions may be returned. Ball is dead if intercepted on a PAT.

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 carriers flag is pulled.
  • Ball carrier steps out of bounds.
  • Touchdown or safety is scored.
  • Ball carriers knee hits the ground.
  • Ball carriers flag falls out.
  • Ball Carrier with only one flag gains possession of the ball.
  • Ball hits the ground.
  • Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.

Flag Pulling

  • A legal Flag Pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.
  • Defenders can dive to pull flags, but cannot tackle or run through ball carrier when pulling flags
  • It is illegal to attempt to strip the ball or pull from the ball carriers possession at any time.
  • Flag guarding is the attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping of hand, arm or shoulder, intentionally covering flags with football or jersey.

Rushing the Quarterback

  • All players who rush the passer must have an unobstructed path to the passer and be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback.
  • If the rusher breaks the seven-yard area, player cannot break the line of scrimmage. The play still continues, but the rusher cannot rush the QB. However, the rusher can now defend.
  • Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage.
  • Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.
  • A special marker, or the referee, will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage.

Sportsmanship/Roughing

  • FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
  • Any unsportsmanlike or roughing behavior - 10 yards LOS and loss of or automatic first down depending on offender. First occurrence comes with warning and further occurrence results in player ejection from game and/or tournament.
  • Remember, no blocking, screening, or tackling is allowed.
  • If the Field Monitor or 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 from the game and/or tournament.
  • 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 talking occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.
  • Adhere to NFL Youth Programs Seven Guiding Principles (found on nflyouthfootball.com website)

Penalties

  • Any penalty can be called by any official. All penalty enforcement will be called by the referee.
  • Dead ball and live ball fouls are enforced live ball first and in order of occurrence.
  • Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.
  • All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage with exception of downfield flag guarding and defensive pass interference.
  • Only the team captain or head coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgment calls.
  • Game and first half cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.

 

Defense:

  • Off-sides five yards LOS and automatic first down
  • Pass Interference Spot Foul and automatic first down
  • Illegal contact (bumping, chucking, holding, blocking, etc.) 10 yards LOS and automatic first down
  • Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball) - 10 yards LOS and automatic first down
  • If the rusher breaks the seven-yard area, player cannot break the line of scrimmage. The play still continues, but the rusher cannot rush the QB. However, the rusher can now defend. If the rusher crosses the line of scrimmage, it is off-sides five yards OS and automatic first down

Offense:

  • Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start, etc.) five yards LOS and loss of down
  • Illegal forward pass (pass received behind line of scrimmage) five yards LOS and loss of down
  • Illegal pitches or laterals (behind the line of scrimmage) five yards LOS and loss of down
  • Illegal pitches beyond the line of scrimmage five yard loss of down from the spot (once a receiver catches the ball, he and he alone is only allowed to advance it)
  • Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) 10 yards LOS and loss of down
  • Flag guarding /straight arm 10 yards LOS and loss of down
  • If play originates on the offense side of midfield and flag guarding occurs beyond midfield - 10 yard loss (from spot of penalty) and loss of down (i.e. 2nd down)
  • Delay of game 5 yards LOS
  • Blocking/screening impeding the rusher or obstructing a defender while attempting to pull flags 10 yards LOS and loss of down
  • Running in the no run zone - Loss of down & back to previous line of scrimmage

Attire/Requirements

  • Cleats are allowed (unless specified by individual site location), except for metal spikes. Inspections will be made; there are no exceptions.
  • All players must bring and wear a protective mouthpiece; there are no exceptions (NFL will not provide).
  • Official 2007 NFL FLAG Regional jerseys (provided by the NFL) must be worn jerseys must be tucked into shorts.
  • Participants are encouraged to wear shorts without pockets. Shorts with pockets must be turned inside out or have pockets taped.
  • Official NFL FLAG flag belts must be worn flags must be placed on either hip.
  • No hats or jewelry.
  • 2007 NFL FLAG Regional tournament waiver must be submitted to participate.
  • Copy of birth certificate is required for registration and advancement to National Tournament.
  • Tournament will be held rain or shine. However, the NFL reserves the right to cancel or change the location of a Regional Tournament due to inclement weather.

Divisional Tie Breakers:

Two teams tied for one place
1. Head to head competition
2. Total points allowed during tournament play
3. Point differential (total points scored total points allowed)
4. Coin toss

Three or more teams tied for one place
1. Total points allowed during tournament play
2. Point differential (total points scored total points allowed)
3. Total Points Scored
4. Draw for seed: (1-2-3)

Divisional Playoff Seeds are determined by:
1. Winning percentage in pool play, total wins
2. Average points allowed per game
3. Average point differential per game (average points scored average points allowed)
4. Average points scored per game
5. Coin toss

Coach and Spectator Conduct/Responsibilities

  • Coaches, family members, parents, and spectators are required to observe the contest from a designated area.
  • Coaches are permitted to coach on the sidelines at all Regional tournaments however players will coach themselves at Nationals. NO COACHES WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PLAYERS DURING THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS UNLESS A TIMEOUT IS CALLED. All family members, parents and spectators will observe play from the end zones. We strongly recommend coaches train their players to coach themselves at our Regional tournaments.
  • Participants, coaches, parents, and family members must conduct themselves appropriately during tournament.
  • Illegal behavior by coach and or team may lead to disqualification from tournament.
  • Misconduct may lead to removal from the premises at the discretion of the National Football League.

Field Layout

End Zone Layout

  • Outside lines are out of bounds
  • Goal line is in end zone
  • No Running Zones live only preceding Line-To-Gain