UPDATED: 02/12/12

Youth Flag Football Rules

These Games are designed to be FUN and PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT.  Fair Play and Good Sportsmanship are expected by ALL. Please be respectful to the Officials. This includes not arguing calls made by officials. The officials call is the Last Word on the subject and will not be changed except at His/Her discretion. Failure to be respectful of the officials could result in, but is not limited to, you being asked the leave the Arena.  Each Player must play 50% of the Game.  Games will be played indoors on Saturdays.

If there is an issue with an official’s call and or conduct, please contact the Youth Football Director to discuss.  The football director can be contacted by email at footballdirector@stampedesports.com.  Parents are encouraged to escalate any concerns with officiating through their head coach or they can contact me at the email listed above.  Parents DO NOT approach the officials to discuss calls.

Game Times:

Stampede schedules the games very close to one another and each Coach is responsible for having his/her team at Stampede prior to the game starting.  In order to play your team must have at least 5 players ready to play.  If you do not have enough players at the start of the game the refs will give you a 2 minute rundown on the game clock.  If you are unable to field the minimum amount of players then you will have to forfeit the game.  (updated 02/12/12)

Coaches will set practice times and locations.  Coaches will also be responsible for coordinating a team shirt or jersey.  Stampede Sports does not provide jersey's or team shirts.  Coaches will also be responsible for having each of the parents and their assistant coaches sign the Stampede Sports Code of Conduct.  The code of conduct is available and will be provided by the Football Director to the coaches.

Teams will be permitted to have at least three coaches on the sidelines.  Head Coach, Assistant Coach, and Bench Coach to assist in keeping the kids organized.  All disputes will be handled by the Head Coach only.

Sportsmanship:

Each participant at Stampede Sports is required to read and sign the Stampede Sports Code of Conduct.  Unsportsmanlike, Foul, or Dangerous play will NOT be tolerated at any point.  If the official witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, blows to the head, trash talking, or fighting… play will stop and the offending player(s) will be immediately ejected for a minimum of one minute of one quarter up to a maximum of the entire game at the official’s discretion.

MERCY RULE:

For the Bantam League (6-8) there is a new rule.  When a team is up by 15 points the coach will place one of his players as the QB for his team.  The coach may come back in as the QB when the opposing team pulls within 10 points.  Coaches will be allowed to be on the field to assist their QB in getting the play set and the players in the right position.  The kid QB will not be allowed to run the ball and they are governed by the same rules as the coach would be as the QB.  The kid QB will only have 5 seconds to throw the ball as the coach would.  I ask that all coaches use good judgment on running up the score on teams.  This league is designed to promote a fun atmosphere and an opportunity for the kids to learn the game of football.  Even if your team only has 5 players you will still be required to place a kid at QB. (updated 02/12/12)

OVERTIME:

If the game ends in a tie the offical will flip a coin to determine who will get the ball first or play defense first.  Offense will line up at mid field and have four plays to score.  The other team will also get the chance to play offense as well.  If after the first overtime the score is still tied each team after they score will be required to go for two points.

All Players will have shirts tucked in and flag belt on during the game. All players are advised to wear a protective mouth-piece. NO Metal Cleats are allowed!

All flag belts must be facing out as the flag is designed.

Possession at the start of the game will be determined by a coin toss.

Offense must have at least 3 Players on the line of scrimmage.

Defense cannot rush the QB but can advance past the line of scrimmage if the QB hands the ball off or tosses it behind the line of scrimmage.

Flag Guarding: 5 yards

Illegal Contact/Blocking Past the line of Scrimmage: 5 yards

Illegal Defensive Contact: 5 yards (tackling, grabbing clothing instead of the flag to impede the runner, or pass interference)  Shirts must be tucked in at all times on offense and defense.  The official will assess the penalty at the spot of the foul or at the end of the run.  If the tackle occurs on a fourth down the offense will recieve an automatic first down.  First offense the player will be pulled by the coach for two plays and instructed on how to pull a flag.  Second offense the player will have to sit out the half.  Third offense the player will have to sit out the second half. (effective 11/13/11)

Diving: Players are not permitted to leave their feet and go horizontal in an attempt to pull a flag.  This is a safety issue and can result in the injury of both the defensive player and the offensive player.  If the play results in a knockdown or tackle then the Official shall refer to the Illegal Defensive contact rule.  First offense the player is pulled by the coach and instructed on how to pull the flag without diving.  Second offense the player has to sit for the half.  Third offense the player sits for the rest of the game.  Lunging for a player is not considered diving because the player still has their feet on the ground. (effective 11/13/11)

Illegal Rushing: 5 yards (QB rushing the ball)

Illegal Pass Rush: 5 yards and replay the down

Illegal Coach assist or interference: 5 yards and replay the down (effective 11/16/11)

Illegal Flag Pull: 5 yards

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 10 yards and loss of down

Receiver must have one foot inbounds before going out of bounds for a completed pass.

Play will be ruled dead when:  an offensive players flag is pulled, ball carrier’s knee or ball hits the ground, ball carriers flag falls off, ball carrier goes out of bounds, or a touchdown is scored. Ball is spotted where ball carriers flag is pulled off or where the ball carrier falls.  The play will also be ruled dead if the opposing defense strips the ball from the offensive player.

The offense has 4 plays to get to mid-field for a first down. If the offense does not reach mid-field by the end of the 4^th play, the ball turns over to the other team at that spot.

There will be no actual kick-offs or punts. If a team wishes to punt instead of “going for it”, they will tell the referee, before the fourth play that they wish to punt. The referee will then place the ball at the opposing teams 5 yard line and possession will the change to the opposing team.

Offensive players can spin around, but cannot dive, leap over, or “go through” defenders; i.e. a runner cannot charge into or contact a defender who has an established position in the runner's path - the runner MUST avoid contact by changing direction.

An offensive player receiving a hand-off can throw as long as he does not cross the line of scrimmage.  But the QB cannot get the ball again and throw it once he has handed it off, the only exception is the Junior and Senior leagues can pass it back to the QB or do a flea flicker to the QB after a hand off. (udpated 11/17/11)

Offensive players may block on a running play ONLY with arms behind them. Elbows and forearms are not allowed. Blocking with arms behind, on a running play, is only allowed at the line of scrimmage. Blocking downfield or screening players is not allowed.  Once the offensive player advances the ball past the line of scrimmage all other offensive players must move out of the way of the play.  (updated 11/21/11)

This age group is coach pass. Coaches will hand off or pass to a Player.  Coaches do have the option of placing one of their players as the quarterback.  Coaches or their kid QB will have 5 seconds to throw the ball.

Small Fry coaches are allowed to underhand pass the ball to one of their players.

Bantam Coaches are not allowed to underhand pass the ball to players.

IMPORTANT: The offensive player must attempt to avoid contact by attempting to make a move when a defensive player is approaching them to pull the flag.  If the offensive player attempts to run through the defensive player the official will call a penalty on the offensive player.

Center will hike the ball to the QB who will then hand-off or pass the ball.

QB must hand-off/toss or throw the ball within 7 seconds of the snap or the play is whistled dead.

QB can toss or lateral the ball to a player behind the line of scrimmage. 

3 players on the line of scrimmage.  You are considered on the line of scrimmage if you are within one yard (3 ft) of the line of scrimmage.  (updated 11/17/11)

Motion is allowed on offense, one person in motion at a time.  The player in motion cannot be in motion moving towards the line of scrimmage prior to the ball being snapped.  If you do motion you must still have three guys on the line of scrimmage, meaning the motion man cannot motion to the backfield and set up as a running back if there is already a running back in the backfield.  This would only leave two players on the line of scrimmage. (effecitve 11/16/11)

If the offensive players flag inadverntantly (meaning not pulled by a defender) falls off during the play; the play is still live till the player is touched by the opposing team by either one or two hands. (effective 11/16/11)

Center may not keep the ball and run, but can receive the ball from the QB via a shuttle pass or regular pass.  Or like in Bantam if the center snaps the ball and steps back into the backfield the center can receive the ball on a hand off.  (updated 11/17/11)

*Note: if the ball carriers knee or elbow touches the ground, the play is dead at that point.

An interception during an extra point attempt can result in a score. (effective 11/16/11)

A defensive player cannot strip the ball from the offensive player.  The play will be ruled dead at the point of the strip.  If the offensive player is impeded by the stripping of the football a five yard penalty will be accessed at the point of the infraction.

If the defensive player pulls the flag prior to the offensive player gaining possesion of the ball the play will be ruled dead at the spot of the foul and 5 yards will be marked off.  If the player does not gain possession of the ball and the flag has been pulled prior, then the officials will replay the down and assess the 5 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage.  If the defense persists in pulling flags prior to the offense gaining possession of the ball the coach will be warned and at the next infraction the player will be asked to sit out for 8 minutes. 

A defense can play any formation… i.e Zone, Man to Man, Stack the Line..ect.

An interception during an extra point attempt can result in a score. A score is defined by what extra point the offense is attempting.  For example if the offense goes for one point and the defense intercepts the pass and returns it to the endzone then the defensive team is awarded one point.  The same rule applies to the two point conversion as well. (effective 11/16/11) (updated 11/21/11)

A defensive player cannot strip the ball from the offensive player.  The play will be ruled dead at the point of the strip.  If the offensive player is impeded by the stripping of the football a five yard penalty will be accessed at the point of the infraction.

If the defensive player pulls the flag prior to the offensive player gaining possesion of the ball the play will be ruled dead at the spot of the foul and 5 yards will be marked off.  If the player does not gain possession of the ball and the flag has been pulled prior, then the officials will replay the down and assess the 5 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage.  If the defense persists in pulling flags prior to the offense gaining possession of the ball the coach will be warned and at the next infraction the player will be asked to sit out for 8 minutes. 

Touchdown: 6 points

Extra Point : 1 point from the 5 yard line.,. 2 points from the 10 yard line.

Safety: 2 points awarded to the defensive team.

Touchdown: Ball carrier crosses opponents goal line.

Extra Point: ball carrier crosses goal line from either the 5 yard line or 10 yard line.

Safety: Offensive player fumbles or has flag pulled in his own end zone.