COED FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

I. Eligibility

A. All men and women must be currently enrolled at UCSB, an alumni

registered with the Alumni Association, staff worker or faculty. There

is a limit of two non-students per team, and they must register as

non-students with the Intramural Office. II. Equipment

A. Each player must wear IM flags around their waist, with their shirts tucked in.

B. Spiked shoes are not allowed, but molded cleats are allowed. All shoes must

be approved by the referee before the game. EVERYONE MUST WEAR SHOES OF SOME KIND. Pads are not allowed on the hand, wrist, or forearm. III. The Game

A. Six players, three women and three men shall constitute a team. A team may

start play with 5 players. The number can be less than five to continue the game if circumstances warrant. The number of male players cannot exceed the number of female players by more than one.

IV. Ball Carrier(s)

A. The ball can be advanced over the line of scrimmage by a woman or a man.

B. The ball carriers must avoid running into or charging a defensive player. V. Quarterback or Passers

A. The passer can be either male or female.

B. An unlimited number of forward, backward, and lateral passes may be thrown during a given play by either sex. VI. Kicking Game

A. At the start of the game and the second half, and after a touchdown, the ball

Will be put into play at the 20 yard line. There are no kickoffs.

B. For punting situations, the punt may be made by a male or a female. VII. Blocking

A. Shoulder blocking and other non-accidental physical contact is NOT allowed

under any circumstances. PENALTY: 10 yards from the point of infraction.

B. If a male confronts a female or vice versa, a screen type block, either moving

Or stationary, must be employed.

C. Contact is not allowed, under any circumstances. PENALTY: 10 yards from

The point of infraction. VIII. First Down

A. For each possession, the offensive team will have 5 plays to advance the ball. IX. Scoring

A. Touchdowns are 6 points (female scoring) or 3 points (male scoring).

B. Pat: will be taken from 3 yards out; males worth 1 point and females worth

2 points.

ALL RULES AND PENALTIES NOT COVERED BY THE MODIFICATION FOR COED FLAG FOOTBALL SHALL BE COVERED BY NCAA AND UCSB INTRAMURAL FLAG FOOTBALL RULES.

MEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL RULES I. Eligibility

A. All participants are subject to the intramural eligibility rules which are

available in the Intramural Office. II. Referees

A. Intramural referees are not paid to take abuse from fellow students. Referees

will have complete control over the game and may forfeit the game at any

time if a player’s conduct is believed to be abusive. Only the team captains may speak to the officials. TEAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF THEIR FANS. III. The Game

A. Six players shall constitute a team; however, a team can start with five and

continue to play with less if conditions warrant.

B. The field shall be 80 yards long and 50 yards wide with ten yard endzones.

C. The game shall consist of two halves (20 minute first half, 15 minute second half) with a five minute half-time. The second half shall consist of a running time followed by ten consecutive downs. During this period, no time will be kept and the tenth down will end the game. NOTE: delay of game penalties will be strictly enforced, i.e. too much time in the huddle or too much time putting the ball in play.

D. The clock will be stopped in case of injury, fights, and/or the referee’s discretion.

E. Each team will have two timeouts per game, consisting of one minute each.

F. Timeouts may only be used in the second half.

G. Possession of the ball or defense of the goal will be decided by a flip of a coin before the first half. The receiving team in the first half will automatically be the kicking team in the second half. IV. Equipment

A. Each player shall wear a set of IM approved flags on their hips with their

shirts tucked in.

B. Rubber molded cleats and screw-on cleats with the screw on the cleat itself

rather than on the shoe will be allowed. Cleats are to be no longer than 1/2 inch. No metal cleats will be allowed. The referees/supervisors may approve or disapprove all cleats. V. Kickoffs

A. On a kickoff, the ball must be kicked off the ground- no tees, tin cans, grass

piles, or any other item(s) that may be used to elevate the ball, may be used. Also, the holder may not place the ball on his/her shoe.

B. Offsides shall be called if any member of the kicking team crosses the 20 yard line before the ball is kicked.

C. If offsides on the kicking team occurs, and the ball is downed within five yards of the line, the five yards will be added, and the line counted as crossed (i.e. first and ONE line).

D. The receiving team must have three players lined up on the 40 yard line and three players behind their own 20.

E. The players on the 40 may not move until the ball is kicked.

F. The receiving team is not permitted to block in any way for the return man. (Any contact initiated by a player on the receiving team- shadow blocking or any intentional action to block or impede the progress of the kicking team- is illegal.)

G. If the ball is kicked out of the endzone, or the ball carrier is downed in the endzone, it shall constitute a touchback and the ball will be placed ON the receiving team’s 20 yard line.

H. If the ball is established outside the endzone (caught outside of the endzone, or run out of the endzone), and then brought back into that endzone where the ball is dropped or downed, a safety results.

I. If the ball is kicked out of bounds on a kickoff, the receiving team has the option of taking the ball at the point where it left the playing field or taking the ball ON the 40 yard line, first and goal.

J. If the ball is touched by a member of the receiving team, no matter how slightly, and subsequently touches the ground, the ball shall be declared dead at the point of contact.

VI. The Line of Scrimmage

A. A team receives four downs with every first down. A first down may be

earned by advancing the ball across two lines.

B. The offensive team has 25 seconds to place the ball in play after it is spotted

by the referee. The penalty for taking too much time putting the ball into play is a loss of five yards from the line of scrimmage.

C. The offensive team must have at least three players on the line of scrimmage

with a minimum of one yard between them. The back field begins one yard back of the line of scrimmage. Defensive players must start three yards from the line of scrimmage.

D. Offensive players must start five or more yards from the sideline.

E. One offensive player may be in motion either parallel to the line of scrimmage or backwards when the ball is snapped. All other offensive players must remain stationary for at least ONE second prior to the snap of the ball.

F. Direct runs are LEGAL. However, downfield blocking is not permitted until the ball crosses the line of scrimmage.

G. In case of a dropped lateral or fumble, the ball is dead at the sot of contact with the ground.

H. The referee shall sound the whistle if the runner’s knee touches the ground.

I. If the playing time for a period expires during a down in which the defensive team fouls, playing time shall be extended until a down free from such fouls is completed. If the offensive team or both teams commit a foul, the period is not extended.

J. A ball snapped from scrimmage that hits the ground is considered dead at the spot where it hit the ground.

K. Snaps must be between the center’s legs to someone in the backfield.

L. If the ball is snapped from the field of play through the endzone, a safety will be called.

M. It is a touchdown whenever the ball penetrates the goal line.

N. If, after intercepting a pass or receiving a punted ball within five yards of the goal line, a player’s momentum carries the player into the endzone, the ball will be marked at the point of interception or reception.

O. If a player intercepts a pass, runs several yards parallel to the goal line in an attempt to avoid an opponent, and steps into the endzone, where the player’s flags are pulled, a safety will be called.

P. The ball is dead at the point where the official blows the play dead. A referee’s inadvertent whistle will cause the play to be dead immediately.

VII. Passing

A. Only one forward pass is allowed past the line of scrimmage per down.

There are an unlimited number of laterals, forward passes, or backward passes behind the line of scrimmage.

B. DROPPED LATERALS OR BACKWARD PASSES CONSTITUTE A

DEAD BALL…THERE ARE NO FUMBLES!

C. All offensive players are eligible to receive a pass.

D. A receiver must have one foot in-bounds with possession and control of the ball for a pass to be ruled complete.

E. A pass caught simultaneously by an offensive and defensive player belongs to the offensive team.

F. A pass may be touched by two players and still be considered a complete pass or interception.

G. If a player goes out of bounds on their own impetus, they are ineligible to receive a pass. VIII. Flags

A. If a player’s flags are intentionally pulled by the defense before having

possession of the ball, then the player may be downed with a ONE HAND

TOUCH- from the shorts to below the neck.

B. If a player intentionally pulls their own flag, play is stopped and the team

receives a loss of down and a 15 yard penalty. Repeated offense results in ejection from the game.

C. If a player enters the game without a flagbelt, play will stop at the time it is

noticed by the official and a loss of down results.

D. Early pulls of the flag results in a five yard penalty and the one hand touch

rule applies.

IX. Scoring

A. A touchdown, worth six points, is scored when any part of the ball is on or

over the goal line. IF A PLAYER’S FLAG IS PULLED FROM BEHIND WHILE THE BALL IS IN THE ENDZONE, IT IS STILL A TOUCHDOWN EVEN IF THE PLAYER’S FEET OR FLAGS HAVE NOT CROSSED THE GOAL LINE.

B. Extra points are attempted following each touchdown. A run or pass from

Three steps out is worth one point. A run or pass from ten steps out is worth two points.

C. A safety, worth two points, is scored when the offensive player’s flag is

pulled while the player is in their own endzone. A SAFETY CAN ONLY E SCORED WHEN THE OFFENSIVE TEAM’S OWN FORCE CARRIES THEM INTO THE ENDZONE.

D. Following the safety, the ball is put into play via a free kick (punt) or place

kick. The ball may be punted or propped up for the kicker on the scored upon team’s 20 yard line. The receiving team must remain 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage and the rules pertaining to punt returns are in effect.

E. If a defensive player intercepts a pass in the endzone, the offensive team

cannot down the player for a safety unless the player goes out of the endzone and returns, and then the ball is downed. If a player is downed before leaving the endzone, the ball is placed on the 20 yard line and play begins from there.

X. Punting

A. A ball may be punted on any down; punts must be kicked.

B. A punted ball may be returned by the receiving team if caught on a bounce, on the fly, or picked up off the ground. The ball may also be downed by the kicking team.

C. THE RECEIVING TEAM MAY NOT BLOCK FOR THE PUNT RETURN. Once the ball is punted, all members of the receiving team, with the exception of the ball carrier, MUST REMAIN IMMOBILE. NO PLAYER ON THE RECEIVING TEAM MAY MAKE AN EFFORT TO BLOCK, SCREEN, OR OTHERWISE IMPEDE THE PROGRESS OF A MEMBER OF THE KICKING TEAM.

D. A punt may be blocked by the opposing team.

E. Once the ball is touched by a player (offensive or defensive) and then strikes the ground, the ball is DEAD. Play shall then begin where the ball hit the ground.

F. A ball that strikes the ground before or after reaching the punter on a punt from scrimmage is dead at the spot where it struck the ground and it counts as a down.

G. After a safety is scored, the ball shall belong to the defending team at its own 20 yard line and that team shall put the ball in play by a free kick (punt) of place kick. Blocking or moving by the return team is NOT allowed. XI. Blocking

A. Offensive blocking is limited to shoulder blocking only. A player’s own

arms may not become fully extended (locked elbows) at any time or be wider apart than that player’s own shoulders. The player’s elbows may never precede the hands on any block. BOTH FEET MUST BE ON THE GROUND!!!

B. A defensive player may use their own hands to move an offensive player, but

may not hold onto or impede the offensive player’s progress. The defensive player cannot use their hands above the shoulders of, or on the back of, an offensive player (i.e. “swim” moves, arms spread, and push-past moves are all illegal).

C. AN OFFENSIVE BALL CARRIER MUST AVOID RUNNING INTO A

DEFENSIVE PLAYER WHO HAS ALREADY ACQUIRED A SET POSITION. An offensive player must go out of bounds rather than charge into a defensive player.

D. Diving blocks, cross-body blocks, high-low blocking, tipping, or blocking

with both knees on the ground WILL NOT BE ALLOWED!!!

E. Pushing with arms extended, clipping or blocking a player from behind is

NOT ALLOWED.

F. TACKLING IS ILLEGAL!!! Reaching across the body of a runner to grab a

flag constitutes tackling.

G. Contact between offensive and defensive receivers is legal only within one

one yard of the scrimmage line. Bump and run tactics are NOT legal.

H. Eligible players of either team have equal rights to the ball and if

simultaneous contact is made between opposing players going for the ball, pass interference will NOT be called.

I. Face guarding will be ruled as pass interference.

J. An offensive player may not impede a defensive player in their attempt to intercept a pass.

K. Defensive players must play the flags, NOT the ball. ANY contact to a quarterback’s arm while in the act of passing shall be deemed Roughing the Passer. Likewise, any player who attempts to strip the ball from the ball carrier will receive a ten yard penalty from the point of infraction (no loss of down).

XII. Penalties

A. The following violations will result in a five yard penalty from the line of

scrimmage with NO loss of down

1. Offsides.

2. Illegal procedure (backfield in motion).

3. Illegal formation.

4. Too many players on the field.

5. Delay of game.

B. The following violations will result in a five yard penalty from the point of

infraction and a LOSS of down.

1. Illegal forward passing.

2. Flag guarding.

3. Hurdling or diving.

C. The following violations will result in a ten yard penalty from the point of

infraction with NO loss of down

1. Roughing the passer.

2. Defensive unnecessary roughness.

3. Defensive holding.

D. The following violations will result in a ten yard penalty from the line of

scrimmage and a LOSS of down

1. Offensive pass interference.

2. Offensive charging

3. Illegal offensive blocking, clipping, or holding.

4. Intentional grounding

E. The following violations will result in a fifteen yard penalty

1. Pulling one’s own flag (LOSS of down).

2. Inappropriate conduct, dependent of which team.

F. Pulling a receiver’s flag before they have possession of the ball will result in

a 5 yard penalty, tacked onto a successful play, or the line of scrimmage on an unsuccessful one.

G. Defensive pass interference will result in an automatic first down from the

point of infraction. If defensive interference occurs in the endzone, the ball will be placed on the one yard line with a first down and goal situation.

H. Unsportsmanlike conduct will be called when the referee deems that any

blatant rule violations have occurred and will enforce a fifteen yard penalty accordingly. This includes tying one’s flags, pulling one’s own flags, fights, blocks to the face, running/diving blocks, excessive contact, or any other action deemed as such, XIII. Protests

A. All protests must be reported to the field supervisor(s) at the time of the

problem. The team then has 24 hours to come into the IM office to file a written complaint. Judgment calls and decisions MAY NOT be protested. XIV. Tie Breakers- applies to both league and playoff games

A. Each team shall have four downs, starting at the 40, advancing in the same

direction.

B. If neither team scores a touchdown, the team advancing the ball furthest wins

the game.

C. If the team that has the first possession scores a touchdown, the other team

must score in at least as many plays to win the game.

D. If both teams score in the same number of downs, the ball will be placed at

the midfield mark and each team will again be given four plays in which to advance the ball the furthest.

E. If the ball is intercepted, the team losing the ball shall forfeit their remaining

downs, and the ball shall be marked at the point where the ball was returned.