Delaware Sports League Flag Football Rules have been loosely adopted from the University of Maryland Intermural Coed Flag Football Set of Rules
1. The playing field shall be 80yds long and 40yds wide.
2. Shoes must be worn. Shoes with metal cleats, exposed metal screw-in cleats, boots, and/or sandals are strictly prohibited. Furthermore shorts or pants with pockets and/or belt loops are prohibited. No article of clothing may cover any portion of the players flag (sweatshirts and shirts MUST be tucked in). Unsecured half shirts and exposed knots are not permitted as with hats with protruding rims. JEWELRY IS ILLEGAL AND SHALL NOT BE WORN. All type of earrings, eyebrow rings, nose rings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches (not meant to be inclusive) must be removed.
3. KICK-OFF will be done from the 40 yard line at the beginning of the game. Minutes before game time the captains should meet with all game officials to determine who gets the ball and direction. If the ball does not reach the opponents 20 yard line the receiving team can choose to either re-kick or play the ball where it lies.
4. PLEASE BE PROMPT. GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME!
5. The game shall consist of four 10-minute quarters, running clock. There is no halftime after the second quarter ends play will resume after a short break. When there is 3 minutes left the referee will announce 10 plays. This means there are 10 plays left in the game. Kickoffs and extra point plays do not count as plays.
6. The offense is responsible for the ball on all plays and over throws. Teams may take the ball to the huddle and bring it up to the line themselves.
7. MERCY RULE. There is no mercy rule. Let’s have fun.
8. NO FUMBLES. The ball is dead when it hits the ground! The only exception is on kickoffs and punts.
9. 4th Down. You can either punt or go for it. If you go for it “Where the ball lands rules apply” So if it is incomplete the defense would get the ball where it hits the ground.
10. TRY-FOR-POINT. After a team scores a touchdown they will be asked if they want to go for 1 point (ball placed on the first orange line), or 2 points (ball placed on second orange line) You can either choose an offensive play or snap from this spot for a kicked extra point. Where you snap it from determines whether it is 1 or 2 points. You can set up the hold as far back as you like. If the snap is botched and the ball hits the ground the play is dead. The snap can be a toss back and does not have to be between the legs. The defense can not rush but may try to block from the line of scrimmage. No Fake Kicks. If the defense intercepts a try-for-point attempt and returns it for a score they shall receive the 1 or 2 pts.
11. Field Goals. No Fake Field Goals. You can set up the hold as far back as you like. If the snap is botched and the ball hits the ground the play is dead. The snap can be a toss back and does not have to be between the legs. The defense can not rush but may try to block from the line of scrimmage. If the kick occurs behind the 20 yard line the kick is worth 5 points.
12. Offense must have at least 3 people on the line of scrimmage including the snapper. The max number of females is 1. All players must start out in front of the Quarterback to identify them selves and may only move laterally. After the 3 second rush count all lineman are eligible as receivers. If it is the automatic rush then all lineman are immediately eligible. There is 1 automatic rush per set of downs and you must announce rush. The official will keep the 3 second delayed rush count. He or she will drop her hand when the time is up. In the event that a player is in the backfield with the quarterback, the defensive team is allowed to rush the moment that an offensive player other than the quarterback touches the ball.
13. If a player’s flag belt inadvertently falls off, then two-hand tag rules apply. No Striping.
14. Players MAY dive to catch a pass, defend a pass, or to remove an opponent’s flag. However if you make contact diving for a flag it will be a penalty. You cannot dive for a first down or touchdown. If no-one is around and are doing it for fun that is fine.
15. Players may not guard their flag. The offense must be given the opportunity to remove the flag belt. Slapping a hand away, lower of the shoulder, placing the ball near the belt, and stiff-arming is illegal.
16. The defense may not HOLD someone to remove their flag and they MUST GO FOR THE FLAG.
17. SCREEN BLOCKING ONLY. Similar to basketball the block/charge theory will be used. Blockers MUST have their hands and arms BEHIND THEIR BACK or INFRONT OF THEM. Any use of the hands, elbows, knees, or feet is illegal and will be penalized. Conversely, the defense MUST GO AROUND a blocker, not through them. Undue roughness will be penalized and a subsequent ejection will result.
18. CO-ED RULES
a) The game shall be played between 2 teams of 8 players (5 men and 3 women).
b) The offensive team must have 3 players on the line at the time of snap.
c) If the play is OPEN there are no restrictions on how can RUN the ball. The quarterback can not run unless the defense crosses the line of scrimmage which is 5 yards back from the snap point.
d) Female Play. A female must be involved in every 3rd play. It doesn’t have to be the 3rd play, but out of 3 she must be involved in one. So it can go like this (Male Male Female) (Female Male Male) (Male Male Female). As long as it a female within the group of 3. If this does not apply that play would be null and void and loss of down. Female involvement includes a reception, a throw or a run. A lateral after a completion does not count. If an attempt is made but incomplete or dropped that will count.
e) If a female player scores a touchdown, the point value is 9. If a female player (QB) throws a legal forward pass and a touchdown is subsequently scored the value shall also be 9.
19. Penalties – Most penalties (offsides. Crossing the line too early, accidental tripping, holding) will be 5 yards. A-hole penalties (tripping, illegal blocks, running into people) will be 10 yards. Pass interference will be spot fouls.
20. First Downs. Every 20 yards. For example if a team gets the ball after their own 20 yard line then the next available first down is the 40 yard line.