FLAG FOOTBALL RULES 2023 Rule 9 - Conduct of Players
SECTION 1. Contact Fouls
Article 1 - Illegal Contact (IC)
a. No player shall intentionally contact an opponent or an official.
b. No player shall step, jump or stand on another player.
c. No player shall hold another player.
d. All stationary players have the right of place and opponents shall avoid contact.
e. The runner has no right of way and is fully charged with avoiding contact with opponents. If runner and defender contribute equally to the contact, the foul is by the offense.
f. All offensive players have the right of way as long as a legal forward pass is still possible and defenders shall avoid contact. When the forward pass is in the air all players have the right to play the ball, but not by aiming (playing through) an opponent. If receiver and defender contribute equally to an illegal contact, the foul is by the defense.
g. All blitzers rushing according the rule have the right of way and offensive players shall avoid contact.
NOTE: If there is no contact, it still could be a shield by the offensive player.
h. No player shall commit aiming.
PENALTY - 10 yards, also loss of down, enforced from the basic spot. Automatic first down for fouls by defense. [S38]
AR 9-1-1-R-I to VIII, AR 9-1-1-B-I to XV
Article 2 - Game Interference
No substitute or coach shall contact or interfere in any way with the ball, a player or an official during the game.
PENALTY - 10 yards, also loss of down, enforced from the basic spot. Automatic first down for fouls by defense. [S38]
SECTION 2. Non-Contact Fouls
Article 1 - Unsportsmanlike Acts
a. Use of abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures, or engaging in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning. AR 9-2-1-I
b. If a player is neither returning the ball to the next spot nor leaving it near the dead ball spot.
c. If a player is neither immediately returning a pulled flag to the opponent nor leaving it near the spot where it has been pulled. It is preferable for players to return the flag to the opponent.
PENALTY - 10 yards, enforced from the dead ball spot, administered as a dead ball foul. [S27]
Article 2 - Unfair Acts
a. No player shall shield an opponent.
PENALTY - 5 yards, enforced from the basic spot. [S43]
b. No runner shall commit jumping or diving.
PENALTY - 5 yards, also loss of down, enforced from the spot of foul. [S51]
c. No runner shall commit flag guarding. AR 9-2-2-I to IX
PENALTY - 5 yards, also loss of down, enforced from the spot of foul. [S52]
d. No player shall pull a flag from an opponent other than the runner, an opponent who simulates being the runner or when an opponent has touched the ball in flight. AR 9-2-2-X to XV
PENALTY - 5 yards, enforced from the basic spot. [S52]
e. No player shall intentionally kick a pass or a fumble. This foul does not change the status of the ball, except if a teammate of the fumbler kicks the ball.
PENALTY - 5 yards, enforced from the basic spot. [S19]
f. Participation by more than 5 players of one team is illegal.
PENALTY - 5 yards, spot of foul is the scrimmage line, enforced from the scrimmage line. [S22]
g. Coaches and substitutes may not be outside the team area during a down.
PENALTY - 5 yards, spot of foul is the scrimmage line, enforced from the scrimmage line. [S27]
h. No player wearing illegal equipment or missing mandatory equipment shall be permitted to play. A player with a bleeding wound shall leave the field. Players shall leave the field immediately after being ordered to do so by an official.
VIOLATION - Charged timeout for the offending team. [S3] Penalty - 5 yards, if no timeouts remain. [S21]
SECTION 3. Substitutions
Article 1 - Substitution Procedures
Any number of legal substitutes may enter the game to replace teammates after the ball is dead. The offense may substitute until the snapper touches the ball. The defense may substitute until the ball is snapped.
a. After the ball has been snapped, no substitute from either team shall enter the field of play. PENALTY - 5 yards, spot of foul is the scrimmage line, enforced from the scrimmage line. [S22]
b. No offensive player shall enter or leave the field of play after the snapper has touched the ball.
c. No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents. No tactic associated with substitutes or the substitution process may be used to confuse opponents. AR 9-3-1-I to II
PENALTY - Ball remains dead, 5 yards, enforced from the scrimmage line. [S22]