FLAG FOOTBALL RULES 2023 Definition
SECTION 1. Areas and lines
Article 1 - The Field
The field is the area within the safety area and the space above.
Article 2 - Field of play
The field of play is the area within the boundary lines (side lines and end lines) other than the end zones.
Article 3 - End Zones
The end zones are the 10-yard areas at both ends of the field between the end lines and the goal lines.
Article 4 - No-Running Zones
The no-running zones are the 5-yard areas at both ends of the field in front of the goal lines.
Article 5 - Goal Lines
Goal lines, one for each team, shall be established at opposite ends of the field of play. The goal lines and goal line pylons are in the end zone. Each goal line is part of a vertical plane which separates the end zone from the field of play and extends beyond the side lines. A team’s goal line is the one it is defending.
Article 6 - Middle Line
Midway between the goal lines is the middle line. The middle of the middle line is the line to gain for a new series of downs and is hereafter called middle for short.
Article 7 - In Bounds and Out of Bounds
The area enclosed by the side lines and end lines is in bounds and everywhere else (including the side lines and end lines themselves) is out of bounds.
Article 8 - Team Areas
The team areas are outside the safety area (3 yards away from the side line) and between the 5-yard lines along the side line with a depth of 5 yards (4,58 m). If there is a conflict with the safety area, then the team areas shall be moved elsewhere.
If, due to space limitations, it is necessary to relocate the team areas from their normal positions, both teams must be treated equally. The ground area for both teams must be approximately of the same size, they must be in close sight of the field and there must be a minimum distance of 10 yards (9,15 m) between them.
When the team areas will be located on the same side of the field, both coaches of each team are allowed to work in their respective team area, as always, and use the safety area between their team area and the 5-yd line at the other end of the field.
When the team areas are located anywhere else, both coaches of each team may work anywhere along the sideline outside the safety area between the 5-yard lines on opposing sides of the field; or in case of not enough space it is also possible to allow the coaches to use the safety area on opposing sides.
The use of electronic devices (headsets, video recorders, smart phones etc.) in the team area is legal.
SECTION 2. Team and Player Designation
Article 1 - Offense (O) and Defense (D)
The offense is the team which puts the ball in play by a snap. The defense is the opposing team. A player of the offensive team is either a snapper, a runner or a receiver. A player of the defensive team is either a blitzer, rusher or defender.
Article 2 - Snapper
The snapper is the offensive player who snaps the ball.
Article 3 - Quarterback
The quarterback is the offensive player who first gets possession of the ball after the snap. They are also the first runner.
Article 4 - Passer
The passer is a runner who throws a legal pass.
Article 5 - Runner
The runner is a player in possession of a live ball.
Article 6 - Blitzer
A defender who lines up with all parts of their body more than 7 yards away from the scrimmage line at the snap can establish themselves as a blitzer with a legal signal by raising one hand clearly above the head at least during the last second prior to the snap. This grants them right of way which supersedes the general right of way for the offense, because they are pursuing the runner. The rush of a blitzer shall be immediately after the snap, quick and straight towards the point where the quarterback receives the snap in order to retain the right of way. If a blitzer is rushing late, slowly, towards a different spot, changing direction during the rush or just does not rush the quarterback, the player loses the right of way but still can participate as any other defender.
If a blitzer is forced to change direction due to an offensive foul (shielding), the blitzer will not lose their right of way for a further direct rush to the point where quarterback received the snap. A defender who does not give a signal and legally crosses the scrimmage line is a rusher.
Article 7 - Out of Bounds
A player is out of bounds when any part of their body touches anything out of bounds except another player or official. The ball not in player possession is out of bounds when it touches anything out of bounds.
Article 8 - Disqualified Player
A disqualified player is one who has been declared ineligible from further participation in the game.
Article 9 - Home Team
If neither team is at its home venue or at a tournament with more than 2 teams, then the team listed first shall be designated the home team. The second listed team shall be the visiting team.
SECTION 3. Down, Scrimmage and Play Classifications
Article 1 - Down
A down is the part of the game that starts with a legal snap after the ball is ready for play and ends when the ball becomes dead. Between downs is the interval during which the ball is dead. A play is the action between the 2 teams during a down.
Article 2 - Scrimmage Line (SL)
When the ball is made ready for play the scrimmage line for each team is the vertical plane that passes through the point of the ball closest to its own goal line and extends to the side lines. A player has crossed the scrimmage line if any part of the body has been beyond their respective scrimmage line.
Article 3 - Forward Pass Play
A legal forward pass play is the interval between the snap and when a legal forward pass beyond the scrimmage line is completed or intercepted. Also, any forward pass from behind the scrimmage line becoming incomplete or touched by the defense is considered as a forward pass play.
Article 4 - Running Play
A running play is any live ball action other than that during a legal forward pass play. Passes completed behind the scrimmage line are legal and are running plays.
SECTION 4. The Ball Live or Dead
Article 1 - Live Ball
A live ball is a ball in play. A pass that has not yet touched the ground is a live ball in flight.
Article 2 - Dead Ball
A dead ball is a ball not in play.
Article 3 - When Ball is Ready for Play
A dead ball is ready for play when the ball is placed on the ground and the Referee blows the whistle.
SECTION 5. Forward, Beyond and Forward Progress
Article 1 - Forward and Beyond
Forward, beyond or in advance of denotes the direction toward the opposing team's end line. Backward or behind denotes the direction towards a team's own end line.
Article 2 - Forward Progress
Forward progress is a term indicating the end of advancement by the runner or airborne pass receiver of either team and applies to the most forward point of the ball when it becomes dead by rule between the end lines (dead ball spot).
SECTION 6. Spots
Article 1 - Enforcement Spot
Forward progress is a term indicating the end of advancement by the runner or airborne pass receiver of either team and applies to the most forward point of the ball when it becomes dead by rule between the end lines (dead ball spot).
Article 2 - Dead Ball Spot (DB)
A dead ball is ready for play when the ball is placed on the ground and the Referee blows the whistle.
Article 3 - Spot of Foul (SF)
The spot of the foul is the point at which that foul occurs. If out of bounds, it is the adjacent spot on the sideline. If behind the goal line, the foul is in the end zone.
Article 4 - Out-of-Bounds Spot
The out-of-bounds spot is the point at which the ball becomes dead due to being out of bounds.
SECTION 7. Foul, Penalty and Violation
Article 1 - Foul
A foul is a rule infraction for which a penalty is prescribed by rule. A flagrant foul is a rule infraction that places an opponent in danger of injury.
Article 2 - Penalty
A penalty is a result imposed by rule against a team that has committed a foul and may include one or more of the following: loss of yardage, loss of down, automatic first down or disqualification. If the penalty involves loss of a down, the down shall count as 1 of the 4 in that series.
Article 3 - Violation
A violation is a rule infraction for which no penalty is prescribed, it does not offset a foul.
Article 4 - Loss of Down (LOD)
“Loss of Down” is an abbreviation meaning “loss of the right to repeat a down”. A loss of down will be only applied if the foul is by the offense prior to a change of team possession.
Article 5 - Automatic First Down (AFD)
“Automatic First Down” is an abbreviation meaning “award the offense a new series”. An automatic first down will be only applied if the foul is by the defense prior to a change of team possession.
SECTION 8. Shift and Motion
Article 1 - Shift
A shift is a simultaneous change of position by 2 or more offensive players after the ball is made ready for play and before the snap. The shift ends when all players have been stationary for 1 full second.
Article 2 - Motion
A motion is a change of position by one offensive player after the end of a shift and before the snap.
SECTION 9. Handling of the Ball
Article 1 - Hand-off
A hand-off is a successful transfer of possession from one teammate to another that does not involve a pass. A fake hand-off is any movement of the runner with the hands towards a nearby teammate that simulates a transfer of possession. A faked pass (pump or simulated pitch) or the runner turning the body towards a teammate without movement of the hands is not a fake hand-off.
Article 2 - Pass
A pass is any intentional act to throw the ball in any direction or drop it to the ground. A pass is identified by a period where the ball is not in any player’s possession. A pass starts with the final release after firm control during an intentional movement of the hand or arm. A pass continues to be a pass until it is completed to a player or the ball becomes dead.
Article 3 - Fumble
A fumble is any act other than passing or successful handing that result in loss of player possession.
A fumble can only occur after a player gains possession of a ball.
Article 4 - Possession
Possession means firmly holding or controlling a live ball.
A change of team possession (COP) occurs when an opponent gains possession of the ball.
Article 5 - Batting
Batting the ball is intentionally striking it with the hands or arms.
Article 6 - Kicking
Kicking the ball is intentionally striking it with the knee, lower leg or foot and is illegal.
SECTION 10. Passes
Article 1 - Forward and Backward Pass
A pass is forward if the ball first touches anything beyond the spot where the ball is released. All other passes are backward passes, even if it is lateral (parallel to the scrimmage line). A snap becomes a backward pass when the snapper releases the ball. If a snapper loses control of the ball as they begin the snap, it is an illegal snap.
Article 2 - Crosses Scrimmage Line
A legal forward pass has crossed the scrimmage line when it first touches anything beyond the scrimmage line in bounds.
Article 3 - Catching and Interception
A catch is the act of firmly establishing and maintaining control of a live ball in flight. A catch of an opponent’s pass or fumble is an interception. A player who leaves the ground to make a catch or interception must have the ball firmly controlled when first returning to the ground with any part of the body touching the ground in bounds and then maintain complete and continuous control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground to complete the pass. If the player loses control of the ball and the ball touches the ground before the process of the catch is completed, then it is not a catch.
Article 4 - Sacking
A sack is the removal of a flag (flag pull) from the quarterback behind the scrimmage line who is in possession of a live ball. A player is in possession of the ball until the ball is completely released.
Article 1 - Holding
Holding is grasping an opponent or their equipment, not releasing immediately and impacting the opponent.
Article 2 - Shielding
Shielding is obstructing an opponent without contact by moving into their path. A moving player without right of way who impedes an opponent from running a pass route, getting to the runner or impedes a legal blitzer is guilty of shielding.
A player standing still (with the right of place) is not shielding, even if the player is obstructing an opponent.
Article 3 - Contact
Contact is touching an opponent with impact. Touching with no impact is not a foul.
Article 4 - Aiming
Aiming is to target and initiate contact with an opponent or to run into an opponent, even with right of way.
Aiming is any deliberate or avoidable contact with force against an opponent, even in an attempted flag pull or while playing the ball during a pass.
Aiming is to attack a ball in possession or take away the ball from the runner.
SECTION 12. Flag Pulling, Flag Guarding, Jumping, Dipping, Spinning and Diving
Article 1 - Flag Pull
A flag pull is the removal of one or more flags from an opponent with one or more hands. The defender has the right to move towards the runner and attack the flags.
Article 2 - Flag Guarding
Flag guarding is an attempt by the runner to avoid a flag pull by covering the flag with any part of the body (hand, arm or leg) or with the ball or waving the hand below the hip in front of the flag before the flag pull attempt.
Flag guarding is also stretching out a hand, with or without the ball, towards the opponent to make it more difficult for the defender to reach the flag.
Article 3 - Jumping
Jumping is an attempt by the runner to avoid a flag pull by pushing off the ground and thus raising the level of the flags significantly compared to regular running. Jumping is a type of flag guarding and illegal.
Article 4 - Dipping
Dipping is an attempt by the runner, with continuous movement, to avoid a flag pull by extra bending of the knees and lowering the level of the flags significantly compared to regular running. Dipping is legal.
Article 5 - Spinning
Spinning is an attempt by the runner to avoid a flag pull by rotation of the body along the vertical axis. Spinning is legal if the height of the flags is not significantly raised. Spinning combined with dipping is legal, combined with jumping or diving is illegal.
Article 6 - Diving
Diving is an attempt by the runner to avoid a flag pull or make the approach to the flag more difficult by leaning the upper body forward, with or without jumping, dipping or spinning. Diving is a type of flag guarding and is illegal.
SECTION 13. Down
Article 1 - Right of Place (ROP)
Right of place is given to any stationary players who maintains normal player posture and make no movements in any horizontal direction to change their position. A purely vertical movement, including a lift from the ground, in order to throw or catch a pass does not mean that a previously established right of place has been lost.
Right of place supersedes right of way when determining who is guilty of a foul.
Article 2 - Right of Way (ROW)
Right of way is given to a player according to rule who has established a direction of movement in a regular manner and does not alter that direction.
A player with right of way has a higher privilege when determining who is guilty of a foul than all other players except those with right of place.