PO Box 526
Avondale, PA 19311
p: 610-869-3635
f: 610-869-0510
e: agflag@aol.com

Avon Grove Flag Football League
DIVISIONS – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Rules and Guidelines
(Rules in RED indicate variations between the Divisions)
(Rules in BLUE are updated)

General Rules

• A coin toss determines first possession. The Away team makes the call for heads or tails. The
coin toss winner gets first offense possession. Deferring the choice is not an option. The
team that is on defense first chooses which end zone they would like to defend first.
• Coaches on the field during play:
o Division 1 – Coaches are not permitted on the field during play.
o Division 2 – Teams may have one (1) coach on the field during play, however
coaches should encourage and teach their players to call their own plays and set up
their own defensive schemes and/or take direction from coaches on the sidelines.
o Divisions 3, 4, 5 – Teams may have (1) coach on the field during play.
o In General, if a coach is on the field during play, the coach should, depending on
which side of the ball they are on, be 10 yards behind the furthest defender, or 5
yards behind the furthest offensive player.
• The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5 yard line and has four (4) plays to cross
midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, the offensive team has four (4) 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.
• “No Run Zones” are located 5 yards from the end zone and 5 yards on the midfield line. Within
“No Run Zones” teams are only permitted to execute pass plays, in order to avoid short yardage,
power running situations.
• All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.
• At the start of the 2nd half, teams change sides and the team that started on defense in the
first half will start on offense in the second half.
• There are no kickoffs.
• No blocking is allowed at any time.
• The ball must be snapped between the Center’s legs, not off to one side, to start play.
• The ball must LEAVE the Center’s hands completely to be a valid play.
• There are no Fumbles; the ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.

Players

• • Number of players:
  o Divisions 1, 2, 3 – Each team will field (5) five players.
  o Divisions 4, 5 – Each team will field (6) six players.
  • Teams must give every player an equal amount of playing time.
• Teams must field a minimum of four (4) players at al times.

Scoring

• Touchdown: 6 points
• Extra Try Attempts:
o 1 point - played from the 5-yard line – Must be a pass beyond the line of scrimmage.
o 2 points - played from the 12-yard line – Can be a run or pass play.
• Safety: 2 points

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Receiving

• All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed
off behind the line of scrimmage).
• Only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
• A player must have at least one (1) foot inbound when making a reception.

Running

• The quarterback cannot run with the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
• Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple
handoffs.
• Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind.
• 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 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.

Passing

• All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.
• Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
• The Quarterback has a seven (7) 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 (7) second rule is no longer in effect.
• Interceptions:
o Divisions 1, 2, 3 – Change the possession of the ball and can be returned.
o Divisions 4, 5 – Change possession at the point of the interception, but can not be
returned.

Rushing the Quarterback

• Rushing the Quarterback:
o The player(s) that rush must be a minimum of seven (7) yards from the line of scrimmage
when the ball is snapped
o Divisions 1, 2 – Any number of Defenders may rush the Quarterback on any down.
o Division 3 – No more than one Defender may rush the Quarterback on any down.
o Division 4 – One Defender may rush the Quarterback once every set of four (4)
downs including the extra point(s) attempt, i.e. if the offense scores a touchdown on
the 4th down try, and the defense had not used it’s one rush attempt on any of the
previous 4 downs then the defense may rush on the extra point attempt if they elect
to do so. Conversely, if the defense did use its one rush attempt on one of the
previous 4 downs then they can not rush on the extra point(s) try attempt.
o Division 5 – There is NO rushing the Quarterback.
• Once the Quarterback has handed the ball off any number of players can rush the
Runner/Quarterback behind the line of scrimmage and the seven (7) yard rule is no longer in
effect.
• A side line referee will mark the seven (7) yard line for every play.
• Players may defend on the line of scrimmage.

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Penalties

• All penalties will be called by the referee(s).
• Only the team captain or head coach may ask the referee questions about the rule clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgement calls.
• All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage, except as noted (spot fouls).
• Spot Fouls
• Flag guarding ...........................................................................10 yards & loss of down
• Charging ...................................................................................10 yards & loss of down
• Defensive Pass Interference................................................. First Down
• Stripping ....................................................................................10 yards & first down
• Offensive Unnecessary Roughness ...................................10 yards & loss of down
• Screening, Blocking or Running with the ball carrier ........ 5 yards & loss of down
• Defensive Unnessary Roughness .......................................10 yards & first down
• Defense
• Offside ........................................................................................ 5 yards from the LOS & automatic first down
• Illegal contact (Holding, blocking, etc.) ................................ 5 yards from the LOS & automatic first down
• Illegal flag pull (Before receiver has ball) ............................ 5 yards fromthe LOS & automatic first down
• Illegal rushing
• (Starting rush from inside 7 yard marker)..............................5 yards from the LOS & automatic first down
• Roughing the passer................................................................10 yards from the LOS & first down
• Taunting ..................................................................................... 10 yards from the LOS & first down
• Unnecessary Roughness ...................................................... Spot foul, 10 yards & first down
• Stripping ..................................................................................... Spot foul, 10 yards & first down
• Defensive Pass Interference .................................................. Spot foul & first down
• Offense
• Illegal motion
• (More than one person moving, false start, etc.)...................5 yards from the LOS & loss of down
• Illegal forward pass
• (Pass received behind line of scrimmage ............................ 5 yards from the LOS & loss of down
• or throwing a pass beyond the line of scrimmage)
• Offensive pass interference ..................................................... 5 yards from the LOS & loss of down
• (Illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender)
• Flag guarding ............................................................................. Spot foul, 10 yards & loss of down
• Screening, Blocking or Running with the ball carrier .......... Spot foul, 5 yards & loss of down
• Charging ...................................................................................... Spot foul, 10 yards & loss of down
• Delay of game ............................................................................. 5 yards from the LOS & loss of down
• Offensive Unnecessary Roughness ....................................... Spot foul, 10 yards & loss of down
• Offside ........................................................................................... 5 yards from the LOS & loss of down
• Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal yardage when the penalty yardage is more than half the distance to the goal.
• Quarterback fails to throw or hand the ball off within 7 seconds - Play is dead and loss of down, there is no yardage penalty assessed.
• NOTE: If any of the above penalties are called against the offense while they are
  within either of the 5 yard “No Run” zones, then the offense loses the down and is
  not assessed the yardage penalty.
• Referee(s) determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.
• Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
• Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.
• If the referee(s) witness 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.
  FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
• 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(s) will give one warning. If it continues, the player will be ejected from the
  game.
  

Dead Balls

• Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
• Play is ruled dead when:

o Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
o Ball carrier steps out of bounds
o Touchdown or safety is scored
o Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
o Ball carriers flag falls out

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Timing/Overtime

• Games are played in two (2) running 20-minute halves, with a 5-minute halftime period.
• Each time the ball is spotted a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.
• Each team has two (2) 30-second timeouts per half in regulation.
• Each team will have one (1) 30-second timeout in each extra overtime period.
• The clock will continually run, unless stopped by the referee for an injury, a called timeout,
a delay of game penalty, or at the discretion of the referee.
• If the score is tied at the end of regulation play for Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 4, teams move
directly into extra period(s) - overtime. There is no overtime for Division 5.
The NCAA Football format for Overtime will be followed:
o Teams will flip a coin to determine who gets the ball first. The winner of the coin toss
may choose to start on offense or to start on defense, they can not defer. The loser of the
coin toss will choose which end of the field will be used for both series of that overtime
period. The ball will be placed 20 yards from the goal line (the “no-run zone” line closest
to mid-field). If team A won the toss and elected to get the ball first they will have 4
downs to score. All penalties will be called and assessed as in regulation play. If team A
scores a touchdown they may choose to go for one extra point try (ball is placed at the 5
yard line – pass only) or a 2 point conversion try (ball is placed at the 12 yard line – run
or pass). After team A has completed their series the ball will be placed back 20 yards
from the goal line (the “no-run zone” line closest to mid-field) and team B begins their
series and will have 4 downs to score. The team with the most points at the end of the
first extra period wins. If the score is tied after the first period, teams will begin the
second extra period. There is no coin flip for the second extra period. The team that had
the ball first in the first period will again have the ball first in the second extra period.
The same end of the field will be used for the second extra period. If after the second
extra period the score is still tied, the game is over and considered a tie.
o Interceptions during an extra period (Divisions 1, 2, and 3) excluding try attempts:
�� If on the first series of either the first or second extra period, Team A has the
ball and Team B intercepts the ball and runs it back for a touchdown, the
period is over and Team B is the winner.
�� If on the first series of either the first or second extra period, Team A has the
ball and Team B intercepts the ball, but does NOT score a touchdown, Team
A’s series is over and Team B begins their series 20 yards from the goal line.
o Interceptions during an extra period (Division 4) excluding try attempts:
�� If on the first series of either the first or second extra period, Team A has the
ball and Team B intercepts the ball, the play is dead at that point, Team A’s
series is over and Team B begins their series 20 yards from the goal line.

Attire

• Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes.
• All players must wear a protective mouthpiece; there are no exceptions.
• Official NFL Flag jerseys must be worn during play.
• Home team will wear the dark side of their jersey; visiting team will wear the white side.
• Jerseys must be completely tucked in at all times during play.
• Flags must be on the sides of the player, not in front or back.
• Players must remove all watches, earrings, and any other jewelry deemed hazardous.