2025 Supplemental Flag Football Rules

ELIGIBILITY

 Kindergarten league includes players in Kindergarten who are 6 years old or

younger as of August 1, 2025.
· Division 1 league includes players in the 1st grade who are 7 years old
or younger as of August 1, 2025.
· Division 2 league includes players in the 2nd grade who are 8 years
old or younger as of August 1, 2025.
· Division 3 league includes players in the 3rd grade who are 9 years old
or younger as of August 1, 2025.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION

· Kindergarten is required to play an equal amount of playing time in which their team is involved.
· Division 1 is required to play half of every game in which their team is involved.
· Division 3 is required to play a minimum of 4 plays per half of every game in which their team is
involved, provided the child has attended practices regularly and has not been a discipline
problem.

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PRACTICE TIME

· Practice is limited to a maximum of six (6) hours per week.

· Team practice may begin on July 28, 2025

GAME FORMAT

· A coin toss will determine which team begins on offense. The loser of
the coin toss will decide which goal to defend.

· Kindergarten each team will have three players on the field during the
game. A coach will serve as quarterback. The center will snap the ball to the
quarterback.
· Division 1 & 2 each team will have five players on the field during the
game. A coach will serve as quarterback. The center will snap the ball to the
quarterback.

· There will be no kickoffs. Every possession will begin at the 5-yard

line and the offensive team will have 4 plays to cross midfield for a first down.
Once a team crosses midfield, it will have 4 more plays to score a touchdown.
· There will be no running the ball from the 5-yard line to the end zone

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 when attempting to score. All plays must be pass plays in this area of the field
(No Run Zone). However, in D4, if the QB is rushed, the QB is allowed to run.

· There are no punts. If the offense fails to get a first down, or

score, the ball changes possession and the offensive team takes over at
its own 5-yard line.

· All possession changes will begin on the offense's 5-yard line with
the exception of interceptions. After an interception/turn over on downs, the
football will be placed at the end of the return.

· Teams change directions after halftime and possession goes to the

team that started on defense at the beginning of the game.
· Teams will have one (1) one (1) minute timeout in the last minute of
the game.
· Offense will have the option of going for it on 4th down rather than
flipping the field and turning the ball over to the opponent. If offense fails to
earn a 1st down the defense gets the ball at the spot of the failed 4th down
attempt.

PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT

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 · A player shall not wear anything which is dangerous to himself or any other player.
· Metal or metal-tipped cleats are not allowed.
· Mouth guards may be worn but are not required.

· Players may wear gloves, elbow pads and knee pads.

· Players must remove all watches, earrings and any other jewelry that is
deemed hazardous by league officials.
· All players on a team must wear the same color uniforms and have
identifying number on the front and back of the uniform shirt.
· Flag must be of contrasting color to the players shorts and worn on their
side.
· If a player's jersey goes below the waistline, it must be tucked into their
shorts.
· No towels or other items that may resemble a flag can be tucked into a
player’s pants.

FIELD REGULATIONS

· Kindergarten field size is 20 yards wide and 30 yards long - including the end zones (5 yards
each)

· Division 1 & 2 the fields are 50 yards long – including the end zones (5 yards
each) – and 25 yards wide.

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 · The boundary lines will be marked on the sidelines and end zones.
· The mid field line and the no run zone lines will be marked.

DURATION OF THE GAME

· Kindergarten and Division 1 games will consist of Four (4) eight (8) minute quarters. Two (2)
minutes between quarters. Four (4) minute halftime.
· Division 1 the first 3 quarters and the first 7 minutes of the 4th quarter will be a running clock.
The last minute of the 4th quarter will be a regular clock kept on the field by the officials.

· Division 2 games are divided into four, 10-minute quarters. There will
be two (2) minutes between quarters and four (4) minutes between halves.
· Division 2 the first 3 quarters and the first 9 minutes of the 4th quarter
will be a running clock. The last minute of the 4th quarter will be a regular clock
kept on the field by the officials.
· All Games will begin at the same time (1st Half and 2nd Half).
· Delay of game penalty in the last 2 minutes of the game will result in
a loss of down plus penalty yardage.

· When the ball is spotted by the official, the offensive team has
30 seconds to snap the football.
· With a running clock, the official may add a bonus of one (1)
or two (2) minutes to a given game if there is a significant stoppage of
play due to an injury.

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OVERTIME

· If the game is tied at the end of 40 minutes, each team will get one
possession from the 15-yard line with four (4) downs to score. One (1) overtime
period will be played during the regular season. If either team does not score
the game will end in a tie.

OFFICIAL GAME BALL

· CYO shall furnish the ball of proper size, quality and condition for each game
· K - Franklin Neo Grip
· D1 - Franklin Neo Grip
· D2 - Wilson GST 1782
· D3 - Wilson GST 1782

SCORING SYSTEM (Division 2)

· Touchdown - 6 points
· Point After Touchdown (PAT)

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 • 1 point (from 5-yard line) “NO RUN ZONE”
• 2 points (from 10-yard line) MAY RUN OR PASS

· Safety - 2 points to the defensive team and possession

of the ball at their 5-yard line.
· Score is not kept in DK & D1

COACHES’ PARTICIPATION

· In Kindergarten thru Division 2 a coach will serve as the quarterback.

· In all divisions a defensive coach may be on the field to direct players but must be a minimum
of 5 yards behind the deepest player or to the sidelines before the football is snapped.
· In ALL divisions after the ball is snapped, the on-field coaches cannot instruct.
· The maximum number of coaches is limited to three (3).
· The quarterback coach may not fake a pass. A violation of this rule will result in a 15-yard penalty
· A coach may fake a handoff but may not “ride” the running back into the line while doing so or turn
his back (No RPO’s).

LIVE BALL/DEAD BALL

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 · The ball is live at the snap and remains that way until the official
whistles the ball dead.
· A player who gains possession in the air is considered to be in bounds
if they can get one foot down in the field of play.
· If the ball hits the ground on the snap, the QB has the opportunity to
pick up and continue the play. This is the only time the ball is not dead when it
hits the ground.
· Substitutions can be made between plays.

Play is "dead" when:

• the ball hits the ground
• the ball carrier's flag is pulled
• the ball carrier's flag falls off
• the ball carrier steps out-of-bounds
• a touchdown, PAT or safety is scored
• the ball carrier's knee or elbow hits the ground
• the 6-second pass clock expires
• inadvertent whistle (replay down).

· There are no fumbles, therefore, defensive players should not reach,

grab or swat at offensive ball carriers in an attempt to pull the ball loose.

PASSING

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 · All passes must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage,
thrown forward and received beyond the line-of-scrimmage.

· The quarterback has a six-second "pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown

within six (6) seconds, the QB is "sacked" and the ball is placed at that spot. If
this occurs in the end zone, the defense will be awarded 2 points for a safety
and gain possession of the ball at their own 5-yard line.
· Only the quarterback can pass the football. No lateral or reverse
passes are allowed to be thrown by other players.
· The quarterback is required to take at least a 1-step drop.
· There is no rushing the Quarterback
· In Kindergarten one (1) player may be in the backfield and two (2) on
the LOS at the snap or all three (3) on the LOS.
· In Division 1 & 2 one (1) player may be in the backfield and four (4) on
the LOS at the snap or all five (5) on the LOS.
· In all Divisions defense is required to play man to man (head up a
maximum of 5 yards off the LOS. Defense may play zone after the ball is
snapped.

RECEIVING

· In Kindergarten all three (3) position players are all eligible receivers.
· In Division 1 & 2 all five (5) position players are all eligible receivers.
· A player must have at least one foot in bounds when making a reception.
· If a simultaneous catch occurs between an offensive and defensive player, the
possession will be awarded to the offense.
· Interceptions can be returned and are the only possessions that do not start at the 5-yard
line.
· It is the defense’s responsibility to avoid contact with the receiver running a route and

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 when attempting to break up a pass.
· No motion is allowed before the snap.

RUNNING

· When a ball carrier's flag is pulled, his forward progress will be marked at the spot of his
front foot.

· The quarterback cannot run the football.

· Direct handoffs or designed pitches behind the line-of-scrimmage are
allowed. No laterals or pitches downfield are allowed.
· Only one (1) exchange after the snap is allowed.
· No Reverses are allowed.

· Flags cannot be obstructed by "long" jerseys and must be worn at

hip level with the flags at their side.
· Ball carriers cannot use a "stiff arm", slap defender’s hands away,
or lower their head or shoulders to prevent a defensive player from getting to
their flags.
· Down field WRs cannot block for the ball carrier. Players do not
have to be still but must not intentionally or unintentionally block for the ball
carrier.

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FLAG PULLING

· A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession
of the ball.
· Flags cannot be pulled before player has possession of the ball.

· Defenders can dive to pull a flag, but cannot tackle, hold, or run
through a ball carrier.

· Defensive players cannot attempt to strip or pull the football away

from a ball carrier.

· If a ball carrier's flag inadvertently falls off during the play, he will
be ruled down immediately and the ball will be placed at that spot.
· If a receiver’s flag falls off prior to possession he will be ruled
down at the spot of possession.
· If the ball carrier fumbles the ball during the play, he will be ruled
down immediately and the ball will be placed at that spot.
· If a jersey comes untucked, or a flag is repositioned, the referee

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 has the option to whistle the play dead at the first attempt at a flag pull.

PENALTIES

· Games cannot end on a defensive penalty.

· All penalties will be assessed from the line-of-scrimmage. (Exceptions: Charging, Flag
Guarding, Downfield Blocking)

· Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal when they
occur inside the 10-yard line.

OFFENSIVE PENALTIES

· False Start/Illegal Motion - 5 yards

· Delay of Game - 5 yards

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 · Illegal Forward Pass - 5 yards

· Illegal Touching (going out-of-bounds, then catching

pass in bounds) - 5 yards
· Offensive Pass Interference – 10 yards

· Unnecessary Roughness/Unsportsmanlike
Conduct – 10 yards
· Charging (head/shoulders down) – 10 yards

· Flag Guarding – 10 yards

· Downfield Blocking – 10 yards
· Intentional grounding – 10 yards

DEFENSIVE PENALTIES

· Off sides – 5 yards

· Illegal Flag Pull – 5 yards
· Stripping/Grabbing/Swatting – 5 yards
· Holding – 10 yards
· Defensive Pass Interference – 10 yards

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 · Unnecessary Roughness/Unsportsmanlike
Conduct –10 yards

POST SEASON SEEDING – DIVISION 2

· If the higher seed cannot be determined through win-loss record the following criteria will determine
the higher seed.
· Head-to-Head Competition. If one team has a superior head-to-head record in games played
versus other tied teams, that team will be the higher seed.
· Winning Percentage. If (1) fails to determine the higher seed…

The team which has the highest winning percentage against all the other tied teams during regular
season play will be designated the higher seed.
The team which had the highest winning percentage against the highest ranked team in the
standings not involved in the tie will be determined as the highest seed.

· Coin Flip. If all above methods fail, the higher seed will be determined by a coin flip.
· Will be determined after final regular season game

Kindergarten Rules

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 · 3 v3
· Field Size 20 yards x 30 yards
· Coach is the Quarterback
· Man on man coverage
· No run zone 5 yard line
· No score kept
· No PAT
· Equal playing time
· 8-minute quarters
· 4-minute halftime
· 2 minutes between quarters
· No overtime

Division 1 Rules

· 5v5
· Field Size 25 yards x 50 yards
· Coach is the Quarterback
· No run zone 5-yard line
· No score kept first half of the season
· No PAT
· Kids are required to play half of the game
· 8-minute quarters
· 4-minute halftime
· 2 minutes between quarters
· 1 overtime in the second half of the season

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Division 2 Rules

· 5 v5
· Field size 25 yards x 50 yards
· Coach is the Quarterback
· No run zone 5-yard line
· 10-minute quarters
· 4-minute halftime
· 2 minutes between quarters
· 1 Overtime

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