Somers Flag Football League

Games

• HOME teams wear DARK jerseys. The VISITING team wears LIGHT color jersey.
• Both teams will meet at mid-field so the officials can check each player for proper cleats and mouth guard. NO Metal cleats are allowed. No player will be able to participate without a mouth guard.
• Each team will select a captain to represent the team in a coin toss to determine who starts with the ball. The VISITING team calls the toss.
• The winner of the coin toss has the choice of offense or defense. The loser of the coin toss has the choice of direction. There is no option to defer. Teams will automatically switch sides of the field and the team that started the game with possession will begin the 2nd half on defense.
• The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 10-yard line and has (4) downs to cross mid-field. Once a team crosses midfield, they have (4) downs to score a touchdown.
• If the offensive team fails to cross mid-field after (4) attempts, the defensive team takes possession at the no run zone line that is just short of midfield, giving them a chance to pick up a first down. Once the offensive team crosses mid-field, they have (4) downs to score a touchdown, if they fail, the opposing team will take over from that spot.

Equipment

• Participants must bring their own official NFL Flag football belts and mouth guards to each game and practice.
• All players must always wear official NFL Flag belts and mouth guards while on the playing field.
• NFL Flag football will be provided. Team footballs are not allowed.
• Players must wear shoes. Metal cleats are not allowed.
• Players may tape their forearms, hands, and fingers. Players may wear gloves, elbow pads and knee pads. Braces with exposed metal are not allowed. Stick-um is not allowed.
• Players must remove all jewelry, hats and do rags. Winter beanies are allowed.
• Players may wear soft shelled helmets, but they must be always secured while on the playing field.
• All Player’s jerseys must be tucked into shorts.
• We recommend players wear shorts or pants that do not have pockets. We also recommend shorts or pants that have strings on the waist and are always tied.
• At the first practice it is a good idea to print the name of each player on their own flag. It saves time to cut and tape the flag to fit. A hanging belt will result in flag guarding penalty.
• FLAG BELTS CAN NOT BE THE SAME COLOR AS SHORTS OR PANTS.
• Uniform additions such as a hand warmer worn around the waist MUST BE A DIFFERENT COLOR than the ball.

Timing

• Games are played on a 48-minute clock with (2) 24-minute Halves. The clock does NOT STOP in the first half except in the final (2 Minutes) only to allow the ref to spot the ball at the LOS, or for a called time-out or a player injury. The clock will restart once an injured player is removed from the field. The clock will NOT STOP in the second half with the exceptions of a called time-out, player injury and the last (2) minutes of the game. The clock stops in the last (2) minutes to allow the spot of the ball, on incomplete passes, touchdowns, extra point attempts, penalties, injuries and called time-outs.
• Half-time is (2) Minutes.
• Each time the ball is spotted by the official a team has (40) seconds to snap the ball. The official will give a “time warning” to the offensive team at the (30) second mark and proceed to count down the last (10) seconds.
• The ball cannot be snapped until the ball is spotted by the official and the rush marker is in place.
• Each team has (1) (30) second time-out per half. (If not used, the time-out can NOT be saved for the second half.)
• Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.
• In the event of an injury, the clock will stop then re-start when the injured player is removed from the field of play.

Overtime

If the score is tied at the end of regulation play, an overtime period will be used to determine the winner. OVERTIME format is as follows:

• VISITING team calls the toss to determine the team that is on offense or defense first. The head official will determine the end to defend.
• Each team will take turns getting (1) play from the defense’s (5) yard line for one point or (10) yard line for two points. The choice to go for (1) or (2) points is up to the offensive 1.
• If neither team scores the rotation is flipped and the team that attempted the extra point last, now goes first.
• All Regulation rules and penalties are in effect.
• Each team gets (1) 30 second time-out.
• Interceptions are returnable in OT and are worth (2) points for the defense.

Scoring

• Touchdowns are worth (6) points.
• PAT (point after touchdown attempt) (1) point from the 5-yard line (Pass only) or (2) points from 10-yard line (Pass or Run Option.) If there is an OFFENSIVE penalty the play is over, and the attempt is no good. If there is a DEFENSIVE penalty the Offensive team is awarded the point(s) of the attempt.
• ALL interceptions run back on extra points are worth (2) points.
• Safety is worth (2) points. Safety occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in their own end zone. Runners can be called down when the flag is pulled by a defensive player, a flag falls out, the player steps out of bounds, the knee or arm touches the ground, a dropped ball that hits the ground or a snapped ball lands in or beyond the end zone.
• A team that scores a touchdown must declare the intention to attempt a (1) or (2) point conversion. Once the ball is placed in play by the official the decision cannot be changed.
• If a team is ahead by 21 points, they are no longer allowed to rush the passer. If the score changes back to under a 21-point difference they are allowed to rush the passer again.

Coaches

• Coaches are expected to adhere to NFL Flag football philosophies, coaching guidelines and code of conduct.
• Only two coaches per team are allowed on the side lines.
• Coaches can be on the field during play to assist with the offense. It is up to the coach to get out of the way in case the play moves towards them. Failure to do so is a penalty. A coach may be on the field on the defensive side if they work towards the sideline prior to the snap.
• All team parents and fans are not allowed to be on the team sideline.
• It is the coach’s responsibility to keep their fans and any other associated members in the designated areas.

Live Ball / Dead Ball

• The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead.
• The official will indicate neutral zone and line of scrimmage.
• It is an automatic dead ball foul if any player on offense or defense enters the neutral zone. Regarding the neutral zone, the official may give both teams a “courtesy” neutral zone warning to allow the player(s) to move back behind the Line of Scrimmage.
• A player that gains possession of the ball in the air is considered in bounds if (1) foot or other body part contacts the ground in the field of play.
• The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals by trying to confuse the offensive players while the quarterback is calling out the cadence to start the play. This will result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
• Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
• Any official can whistle the play dead.
• Play is ruled “dead” when: A. The ball hits the ground. (If the ball hits the ground because of a bad snap, the ball is then placed where the ball hits the ground.) B. The ball carrier’s flag is pulled. C. The ball carrier steps out of bounds. D. A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored. E. The ball carrier’s knee or arm hits the ground. The ball in the ball carrier’s hand touches the ground. (A bare hand can be used to touch the ground.) F. The ball carrier’s flag falls out. G. The receiver catches the ball while in possession of one or no flags. H. The 10 second passing clock has expired. I. Inadvertent whistle. (If this occurs the team in possession of the ball, has the choice to take the ball at the spot where the whistle was blown and absorb the down OR replay the down.) J. Ball carriers leave their feet other than jump cuts, spinning or avoiding a downed player on the field of play.
• There are NO FUMBLES. The ball becomes a dead ball. (The ball will be spotted at the point where possession was lost.) If the ball carrier is running with the ball and it comes out on its own the play is dead at that spot. (Even if the ball carrier retains possession of the ball caught in mid-air or the defender catches it.)
• A team is allowed to use a time-out to question and official’s rule interpretation. If the official keeps the ruling on the field the time-out is lost. If the official changes the ruling on the field the time-out will not be charged to the team.