Rules and Format

Rushing the QB

As soon as the QB says "hike" (with ball in hand already) , the Rusher counts to "5 dog" (about 4 seconds) and can then cross the line of scrimmage (LOS) to pursue the Quarterback. No blocking allowed. Any number of defenders can cross the LOS once one defender has legally crossed the LOS. If Rusher counts too fast, someone else will do the counting instead to insure equal timing per team.

The Rusher also gets to use a "blitz" ONCE every set of 1st thru 4th downs. This means that the rusher can immediately (or delayed) cross the LOS after the hike. The rusher must yell "Blitz!" after the hike to announce they are using it!

The Quarterback is allowed to run the ball past the LOS if a blitz is used.

(Rushing the QB) Option 2:

The team about to do it this way must declare they are using blockers and a center and accepting there is no rush count. After the defense understands, a center hikes the ball to the QB, and there is no count. Also, false start and offsides result in 5 yard penalties (which may result in a first down). Blockers are allowed and there is no rush count. It's like regular NFL football.

Female Advantage

If a female is involved in the last or second to last touch before a touchdown, it is automatically worth 7 points. There is still only a maximum of 8 points per score.

Spreading Receiver Targets Equally

We haven't ever had to actually use this rule on any of our seasons because the QB's have been great at spreading the passes around to all receivers pretty equally. But if not...

All receivers will keep track of how many times they have been targeted (thrown to) by the quarterback. If the spread between the MOST targeted and LEAST targeted is more than 3, the most targeted receiver must sub out until all receivers are within 3 targets of each other. For example: if Sally has been thrown to 7 times, but George has only been thrown to 3 times, Sally must sub out until George has been thrown to at least 4 times in that half.

The quarterback will occasionally ask all receivers to show their targets before a play and the receivers simply hold up that many fingers for the quarterback and other team to see.

Subbing (If you need a sub!)

The Quarterback of the previous drive is a sub on defense.

The Receivers with the most "targets" are the subs on offense (so that the other players can get as many targets as their teammates).

Filming the Game (The camera creates a shared memory log!)

Some players may choose to have their game filmed by other players in order to have some officiating accountability and highlight footage later. This is optional.

A player from a non-playing team might operate a drone tower camera on the sideline. It has a screen that you position towards where ever the action is (super easy to use). It starts near the line of scrimmage to give the best vantage point of the action! It can also be placed on the zero yard line when the offense is in the red zone or at midfield when a first down is coming up to give the best view in case of a close play.

The camera can be used for self officiation accountability, highlights, and even player stats!

Clock Management (Use your timeouts wisely.)

Another player from a non-playing team has the play clock, game clock, timeouts, down, and score on a tablet that is also filming the game from behind the QB or from the opposite sideline as the drone tower camera. If all the equipment isn't available, the ref will just use a "timer app" on their phone.

The game clock does not stop during the first half except for timeouts. During the last 2 minutes of the second half, the game clock stops on incomplete passes, running out of bounds, and touchdowns. Unless it is during the last 2 minutes of the second half, the clock does NOT stop for the conversion after a touchdown (because that is a completion). If a team wants the clock to stop after a touchdown or extra point before the last 2 minutes of the game, use a timeout.

Each team gets 3 timeouts per half which stops the game clock and allows that team an extra 40 seconds before the 40 second play clock starts again (so a timeout essentially gives you 80 seconds before you have to snap the ball).

Scoring (There's a scoreboard!)

A touchdown is worth 6 points. After scoring, that team can go for +1 point from 5 yards out, or +2 points from 10 yards out (+2 points is returnable for 2 points the other way). A safety is also 2 points and the other team gets possession of the ball on the other side of the field.

As mentioned above, if a female is the last or second to last ball touch on a touchdown, it is worth 7 points.

For some games, there will be a tablet screen managed by one of the refs showing the scoreboard so that players know how much game clock, play clock, what down it is, and how many timeouts are left.

Rules adjustments per game

Since this is a "pick-up" type league, and all pick-up groups have slightly different variations and rules on how they play within their group, this league is open to adjusting the rules to accommodate both teams in having more fun. For example, if both teams unanimously agree to have blocking, it can be added for that game to make it more fun. The rule change must be stated clearly to all players and refs and ALL players and refs MUST AGREE beforehand. If even ONE player or ref don't agree to it, it cannot be changed for that game.

If, however, a team realizes that they DON'T like a rule they agreed to play by beforehand, that rule change is removed at the time in which both teams were given equal drives when the rule was in place.

The default rule set for this Seattle Flag Football Pick Up League is what is listed on this webpage at: https://football.knimball.com/defaultsite/rules-and-format .

Officiating (Two players from another team)

The defense makes the initial call. If the "non-playing team refs" agree; that's the call.

The defense cannot make a call that gives themselves points or possession of the ball when it is "too close to call".

There is a hierarchy of who makes the current call:

1 Refs from other team (willing to bet $100 and the game is being filmed).

2 Defense (willing to bet $100 and the game is being filmed).

3 Offense (willing to bet $100 and the game is being filmed).

4 Refs from other team

5 Defense

6 Offense

message to defense and non-playing team:

Some games are filmed to be watched by everyone later, so make sure you only make credible calls for your reputation. Cameras are powerful!!! Your credibility matters! If you didn't FOR SURE see what happen, your response should be: "I don't know". Only stick to a call you are SURE of (as in, you would bet $100). If no one knows for sure on a close call, it's a do-over. We are athletes, not lawyers, (and as a ref, you are not a fan (aka: biased human) of ANY team) so stop arguing and just play!

TC^2 = DO. (too close to call = do over).

Miscellaneous (The other rules you may want to know)

Only 1 foot or body part in bounds needed for a catch (like college).

NO RUN ZONES: If a team is within 5 yards of a first down or the endzone, they must PASS the ball forward. An exception is if a blitz is used; then the QB can run past the LOS.

The default format is 7v7, but if both teams agree to 6v6 or 8v8, we can adjust easily.

Spot Fouls (5 yard penalty):

No blocking (stay in place or get out of the way).
No lowering your shoulder or bull rushing. Keep your body upright when running.
No stripping the ball from a runner or holding on to a part of a runner that isn't their flags. (just pull flags). If they are near out of bounds, you may push the runner out, but not excessively.
No flagrant or excessive contact (automatic first down if committed by defense, loss of down if committed by offense).
No flag guarding or stiff arms. Keep arms up away from flags.

If a defensive penalty occurs in the end zone, the new line of scrimmage is on the 1 yard line. If the penalty yardage would place the new line of scrimmage within the end zone, the yardage is half the distance to the goal.

No fake punts. Receiving team gets half their players on.

If a team fails to convert on 4th down, the other team gets possession at that same spot.

Fumbles are dead balls. Where the ball first hits the ground indicates where the next line of scrimmage is.

The QB can start with the ball (no center necessary). The play starts when the QB "hikes" the ball (says "set hike!" or "go!" or something in their usual but unique way as all QB's are slightly different).

If you want to have blocking using option 2 (above), a center must hike the ball through their legs to the QB. Defensive offsides is a bigger possibility with a fake hike, meaning, the QB yells "hike", but the ball doesn't move in order to draw the defense offsides when the ball is hiked.

Make sure the defense is ready before hiking (since we aren't playing "Ha Ha You Weren't Ready Ball"). However, if the offense is in a time sensitive situation, the defense is responsible for being ready and aware.

If the offense commits a false start (a receiver starts to go before the QB and other receivers are ready), the defense can allow that play to continue as a legitimate down, or can request a redo from 5 yards back (or half the distance to the goal).

If the defense jumps offsides (the rusher comes across the LOS without yelling "blitz" or the rusher counts too fast before crossing the LOS), the offense can choose to continue that play OR advance 5 yards and redo the down (meaning they get a free play opportunity).

If any player touches the ball or even the QB after the hike (or the ball leaves the QB's possession), the defense can immediately cross the line of scrimmage. If it even slightly appears that another player touches the ball besides the quarterback, the defense can immediately rush in. It is the burden of the offense to prove that another player didn't touch the ball or QB if they want to declare defensive offsides (so don't make it appear too close to call or you'll just be giving the defense free blitzes).

A team cannot manipulate (stop or run) the clock to their advantage by purposely causing a penalty. If there is a false start or offsides by either the offense or defense in the last 2 minutes of the second half, the team that did not incur the penalty chooses whether or not the game clock stops or continues running.

Overtime Format: If the score is tied at the end of regulation, each team takes two "snaked" turns going for +1 or +2 extra points from either the 5 or 12 yard lines until the tie is broken. Snaked: One of the teams does the 1st and 4th attempts, the other team does the 2nd and 3rd attempts. If the game is still tied, the teams swap which team does the 1st/4th, and 2nd/3rd attempts. Repeat until tie is broken. Also, if the 2nd/3rd team is ahead by 1 point after the 3rd attempt, the 1st/4th team MUST go for 2 points on the 4th attempt in order to break the tie and end the game. No games can end in a tie in this league.

Everything else is just normal football rules and strategy: Laterals, handoffs, 1 forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage, etc...

Have fun and get those stats! Excessive celebrations are encouraged! =)

Field set up

Two 35 yard wide fields set up like this:

The red line is the only line that isn’t already painted on the field. Put cones or a line of rope or strap on the ground there to indicate the line. All other lines are painted on the turf. Put cones at all corners of each end zone and put cones at each first down. If there are 2 first downs, put two cones on the sidelines at the hashes to indicate that reaching either side of the hashes is a first down. If there’s only 1 first down, put a cone at midfield.

What do the refs do?

Each of the 2 refs in a game have the timer app on their phone as a clock.

Referee 1: (game clock and Line Of Scrimmage ref)

This ref sets their timer to 20 minutes.

Announces game clock time as necessary and when asked.

Tells where the line of scrimmage is at the end of each play.

Makes sure there are no offsides or false starts at LOS.

Referee 2: (play clock ref)

This ref sets their timer to 40 seconds at the end of each play.

Announces play clock time as necessary and when asked.

Announces when there’s 20 seconds if ball isn't about to be hiked.

Announces when there’s 10 seconds if ball isn't about to be hiked.

Loudly counts 5 SECONDS!!! … - 4! - 3! - 2! - 1! - ZERO!!!!

Enforces play clock violations (5 yards back) if defense chooses to accept the penalty (which they should).

Both Referees:

Call obvious penalties and mediate decisions that the offense and defense cannot agree on.

Call a do over on “too close to call” situations where arguing is becoming a problem.

Refs should be on opposite corners of a rectangle from each other so that all 4 lines (front, back, and both sidelines) are being watched like this: