Youth Flag Game Rules

YOUTH FLAG GAME RULES

Game Format

RISE FLAG FOOTBALL Game Format

PDF of RULES

6v6 Flag Game Format
- Field is 25 yards wide and 50 yards long, including the 5-yard end zones.
- Games are 6 v 6 or 5 v 5 formats.
- Two 20-minute running clock halves (5-minute break at half) with two timeouts per halves- 20 seconds each
- Each possession starts at the 5-yard line after scores, turnover on downs and/or halftime
- 30-second play clock (45-second play clock for K-2nd Grade Division)
- The offensive team has three downs to get a first down at mid-field, then 4 downs to score once they have crossed mid-field
- All players are eligible!
- NO RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK, unless the QB fakes a handoff, which will trigger a defensive player to cross the LOS and rush the QB.
- Clock stops in the last minute of the game on incompletions and out of bounds
- 3 players must be on the LOS or it will result in illegal formation; the center and one player on both sides need to be on the LOS.

SCORING

Touchdowns = 6 points
Extra Point (5-yard line) = 1 point
Extra Point (10-yard line) = 2 points
Safety = 2 points and the defense gets the ball
- A safety can happen when the ball carrier’s flag is pulled in the endzone

DivisioN rules

K-2nd Grade Division Rules & Goals

45-second play clock
Unlimited runs
One coach is allowed on the field for both offense and defense
Pass count is 5 seconds until “sack”

3rd-4th Grade Division Rules & Goals

30-second play clock
Two runs per offensive possession
One run allowed to gain a 1st Down (teams CAN run the ball within 5 yards of
midfield)
One run allowed to advance towards the end zone
No runs 5yds or less from the end zone
No runs on extra points
One coach is allowed on the field for both offense and defense
Pass count is 4 seconds until “sack”

5th - 6th Grade Division Rules & Goals

30-second play clock
One run per offensive possession (teams CAN run the ball within 5 yards of midfield)
No runs 5yds or less from the End Zone
No runs on extra points
No Coach is allowed on the field
Pass count is 4 seconds until “sack”

7th - 8th Grade Division Rules & Goals

5 v 5 Game Format
30-second play clock
Defense can rush the QB one time per defensive possession
QB can run the ball if defense decides to rush the QB
No coach allowed on the field
Pass count is 4 seconds until “sack”

7th-8th Defense rushing the QB

7-8 Division will allow 1 QB rush/blitz per defensive possession outside of the +5 yard line
The rusher must be 3 yards off the LOS
There is no QB rush/blitz if the LOS is at the +5 to goal line
The defensive player must declare to the official that they will rush/blitz the QB
When the player declares, the sack count is off
When a player declares, whether rush or not, this will count as the rush
If a rusher leaves before the ball is snapped and are inside the 3 yard rush zone, they cannot rush unless they reestablish behind the 3 yards rush zone
If a rusher leaves before the ball is snapped and crosses the LOS, this will be offsides on the defense, resulting in a 5-yard penalty and repeat the down.
The rush/blitz can come from any defensive position as long as they declare and are 3 yards off the line of scrimmage.
Center exception – The center may remain stationary, but may not move to impede the rusher.
Impeding the rusher will result in a 10-yard penalty and loss of down.
There is 5-yard penalty if a player other than the declared player rushes the QB
The only time a QB can run the ball is if a QB rush/blitz occurs
There will be no pass count on a declared QB rush/blitz

Overall Logistic Rules

Coin flip determines choice of possession or direction (winning team can elect to defer to the 2nd half)
The clock will only stop for time-outs and injuries unless it is the last minute of the game; it does not stop for incomplete passes, out of bounds, change of possession
LAST 1 MINUTE OF THE GAME – The clock will stop in the final 1 minute of the game on these actions:
 Incompletions
 Out of bounds
 QB sack and kneel downs
 Change of possession
 Penalties – If it’s an offensive penalty the clock will start on the official unless
dead ball foul
If a timeout is called after a touchdown, the clock will not start until the play
after the conversion attempt
Teams switch sides at halftime
If there is a bad snap, the ball is dead and placed at the LOS – there is no loss of yardage
Center cannot take a handoff from the QB
Ball is placed where a flag pulled, not where the ball is when the flag is pulled.
A receiver must have one foot in bounds when making a reception
Laterals are allowed but if the ball hits the ground, the ball is spotted at that yard mark
Absolutely no tackling or blocking (stationary pick is allowed but player cannot move)
Only one player can be in motion at the same time
Games cannot end on a defensive penalty

SNAPPING THE BALL

K-2nd, 3rd-4th, and ALL girls’ divisions – the center can sidesaddle snap.
If teams choose to do sidesaddle snaps, the center must snap the ball to the QB standing DIRECTLY behind the center – no trick plays can be run from the direct sidesaddle snap.
5th -8th Divisions, the center must snap between the legs.

Special Alert Rules

Defensive players can cross the line of scrimmage when a handoff, fake handoff, or backward pass has occurred.
This “Deception Rule” is applied to define the integrity of the LOS and
development of the passing game for both offense and defense; the rule applies to all divisions
Interceptions can be returned for a TD if the intercepting team’s flag is pulled before the end zone; possession will begin where the defender is flagged.

Mercy Rule

If a team is up by 30 or more points, they only have 2 downs to get a first down and 2 downs to score until that point difference is trimmed below 30 points, then regular game rules apply
The team that is behind by 30 or more points will start their offensive possession at the +10-yard line and gets 4 downs to score
If the point difference is trimmed below 30 pts, then regular game rules apply
The winning team in 7-8 division cannot rush the QB when ahead by 30 or more points.

Pass Game Rules

The Offense must throw the ball within:
K – 2nd Grade – 5 seconds
3rd – 8th Grade – 4 seconds
- Pass count sounds as follows:
K-2^nd Division – ONE one-thousand, TWO one-thousand, THREE one-thousand, FOUR one-thousand, SACK!!
3^rd – 8^th Division – ONE one-thousand, TWO one-thousand, THREE one-thousand, SACK!!
The sack count starts on the snap of the ball no matter what the offensive play is attempted – the word SACK ends the play.

Forward pass can be underhand or overhand if it is beyond the LOS
If the QB does not release the ball before time expires, the result of the play is a sack and the ball stays at the LOS
There are NO forward passes behind the LOS; this will result in a 5-yard penalty and loss of down
NO RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK (except in the 7-8 division; see rushing rules). In grades K-6th, the QB can hand or pitch the ball off to another player and they can throw the ball within the allotted time; if/when the QB hands or pitches or throws a backward pass to another player, this alerts the defense that they can cross the LOS to pull the flag of the player with the ball

All grade levels have the option to throw a backward pass for a double pass play; this alerts the defense that they can cross the LOS to pull the flag of the player with the ball
Defense must start 2 yds off the line of scrimmage unless the ball is at the +1 then the defense can start at the goal line.

Snapping the Ball

K-2^nd, 3^rd-4^th, and ALL girls’ divisions – the center can sidesaddle snap.
If teams choose to do sidesaddle snaps, the center must snap the ball to the QB standings DIRECTLY behind the center – no trick plays can be run from the direct sidesaddle snap
5^th-8^th– the center must snaps between the legs

Run Game Rules

A play will be considered a run play, when the ball carrier crosses the line of scrimmage, or if a player takes a hand-off from the quarterback and does not cross the line of scrimmage in the allotted time.
A play in which a player takes a hand-off from the quarterback, and then throws a forward pass will be considered a pass play,and not count as a team’s run play.

If you are going to use a run/pass Option (RPO) play with your RB, this will alert the defense that they can cross the LOS to pull the ball carrier’s flag
If the QB gives the ball to the RB after a run play has been executed within the offensive possession, the RB can only throw the ball within the sack count.

The play is dead when the following occurs to the ball carrier when the flag is pulled when:

- Runner’s knee or elbow touches the ground
- Runner steps out of bounds
- Runner loses his flag then the opposing team must touch him down.
- Runner DIVES; ball is spotted where the runner left his feet.
- Runner JUMPS; ball spotted where the runner left their feet
- Runner LEAPS; ball spotted where the runner left their feet
- NO direct QB runs (except in 78 Division)

RISE FLAG GAME PENALTIES

The ball carrier can spin to avoid their flag being pulled but cannot flag guard
No fumbles (a fumbled, or stripped ball is dead and placed at the spot of the fumble with the offensive team retaining possession)

OFFENSE PENALTIES:

Offensive Pass Interference
-10-yard penalty and replay the down

Roughing the Passer
-10-yard penalty and automatic 1^st down

Illegal motion (2 men in motion)
-5-yard penalty and replay the down

Illegal Formation
-5-yard penalty and replay the down

Illegal Run
-5-yard penalty and loss of down

False Start
-5-yard penalty, replay the down

Illegal Forward Pass
-5-yard penalty and loss of down (QB steps over the LOS or QB throws a forward pass behind the LOS with both feet)

Blocking
-5- yard penalty from the spot of the foul and loss of down

Leaping
-5-yard penalty from the spot of the foul and loss of down

Flag Guarding (including stiff arms)
-5-yard penalty from the spot of the foul and loss of down

Unsportsmanlike conduct
-15-yard penalty (possible ejection)

Delay of Game
-clock is stopped and a 5-yard penalty

DEFENSIVE PENALTIES:

Defensive Pass Interference
-10-yard penalty and replay down unless it’s an offensive catch; Offense decides. 1st down can occur depending on the yardage.

Illegal Contact (holding, jams, etc.)
-5-yard penalty and replay down unless it’s an offensive catch; Offense decides. 1st can occur depending on the yardage.

Defensive Holding while pulling flag
-5-yard penalty added to the end of the play. 1st down can occur depending on the yardage.

Illegal Flag Pull (before player has ball)
-5-yard penalty and replay down. 1st down can occur depending on the yardage.

Off-sides
-5-yard penalty and replay down. 1st down can occur depending on the yardage

Illegal Rushing (before a hand-off has occurred)
-5-yard penalty and replay the down; offense decides depending on the result of the play. 1st down can occur depending on the yardage.

Roughing the Passer
-10-yard penalty and automatic 1^st down

Inadvertent tackle
-5-yard penalty added to the end of the play and replay down

Inadvertent tackle From Behind w/clear path to end zone
-automatic touchdown

Unsportsmanlike conduct
-15-yard penalty and automatic 1st down (possible ejection) Defensive Penalties inside the 10-yard line will result in half the distance to the goal line if applicable.

OVERTIME FORMAT - ONLY IN THE PLAYOFFS NOT THE REGULAR SEASON

Coin flip determines choice of overtime offensive possession
Possession begins at the 5-yard line (both teams will go in the same direction)
Offensive team will get 1 down to score from the 5-yard line
If a touchdown is scored, the scoring team must go for a 2-point conversion
An extra point cannot be returned for points; it is a dead ball play
If the defense intercepts the ball, it’s a change of possession unless the defense returns it
Game Over if intercepting team returns it for a TD on its 1st defensive possession per OT
Game Over if the intercepting team was ahead in points in OT prior to playing defense
Game Over if a team has more points than the other team, after both shared an offensive possession
If the game is still tied, overtime will be repeated until there is a winner

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