Macungie Flag Football League Rules and Regulations Edition: March 24th, 2013 OVERVIEW AND FIELD SIZE

o 7 active players per side, less than 5 would result in a forfeit. You may start with 5 players. o One down lineman (center) is required on offense to make the snaps. The center is illegible which means he/she cannot receive the ball on any play, except in the event to recover a fumble. o Field is 100 yards long by 40 yards wide. o Endzones are 10 yards deep. o Total playing yards goal line to goal line is 80 yards, first downs by crossing the 20 or 40-yard lines. o Team area - all players must be between the 20-yard lines. KICKOFFS o Coin toss choices - receive, kick, direction or defer. o All kickoffs must be from a tee or held. Kickoffs are from the 20-yard line, unless there is a penalty. o No onside kicks. Receiving team must have 4 players on the 40-yard line. o The ball must be kicked forward 10 yards, unless the receiving team touches it before that point. If the ball does not go 10 yards, it is placed on the kicking team's 20-yard line. o If offside penalty on the kicking team, receiving team has option of taking ball on its own 35-yard line or result of play. o Out of bounds kicks will be placed at the 35-yard line. PUNTING o Defense must have 4 players on the line. Penalty - Illegal Procedure: 5 yards EXTRA POINTS o Extra point options - 2 points if run/pass from the 10-yard line or 1 point if run/pass from the 5-yard line. o The captain must tell the referee which extra point option is desired. Once declared, it costs a timeout to change this choice. You may not change the choice after a penalty. RULES ABOUT THE CLOCK o Game consists of two 30-minute halves with stopped clock only after scores and in the last 2 minutes of each half.

o 25-second play clock is in effect. o Teams are allowed 3 timeouts in each half. o Half time is 5 minutes. IN THE LAST 2 MINUTES o Clock will stop on incomplete passes and player going out of bounds, scores, and change of possession. o After a first down, the clock starts on the set of the ball. o Onside Kick Rule - During last 2 minutes of the second half only, all free kicks that follow scores must be returned by the receiving team to the 20yard line or beyond, or else the kicking team gets the ball on the 40. TIE GAMES o Coin toss determines first possession in overtime. o Each team receives one offensive play. 2 points if run/pass from the 10yard line or 1 point if run/pass from the 5-yard line. o If the teams are tied again, overtime repeats and first possession swaps. SPECIAL RULES o Offense must have 4 players on the line of scrimmage. Penalty - Illegal Formation: 5 yards o Receivers must have 2 feet in bounds. o Offensive player may not dive, except to catch a pass or score a touchdown. o Offensive player may not hurdle over a defender. o Inadvertent whistles - play is blown dead. o Offensive players must keep their shirts tucked into their pants, otherwise the referee will rule you down. o Ball spot is determined by where the hips are when player is de-flagged. o Failure to have flag belt legally attached prior to the snap is a 15-yard penalty and repeat of the down. o Inverted flags are unsportsmanlike fouls. There is a 15-yard penalty from previous spot and loss of down. o QB must be a minimum of 5 yards from the snapper. Center must snap ball between his legs. o Rusher must be a minimum of 5 yards off the line of scrimmage and may rush immediately. Encroachment occurs if the defender enters the neutral zone after the center has picked up the ball to snap it. o The defender cannot use contact to break up a pass. It does not matter if he/she is going for the ball. Penalty - Illegal Contact: 10 yards and first down o Do not make contact with the passer above his waist under ANY circumstance. If you hit the ball and the QB, you will be penalized. Go for his flag. Penalty-Roughing the Passer: 10 yards and first down or penalty

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tacked on to the end of the play. No holding. This may be a judgment call. If a player grabs another player to impede his progress, they will be penalized. Penalty - Holding: 10 yards There is no tackling. Any tackle within 10 yards of the endzone, officials can judge the play a touchdown. Penalty - Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 15 yards No pushing ball carrier out of bounds. Penalty - Illegal Contact: 10 yards and first down or tacked on to the end of the play. If player inadvertently loses the flag belt, 2-hand touch prevails. Defense can score on the extra point attempt, 2 points from the 10-yard line or 1 point from the 5-yard line. Defense may dive for the flag, however offensive players cannot dive to advance the ball unless to score a touchdown. Players may make blocks but only with hands. No shoulder blocks, body blocks or clipping (block from the back). Penalty - Illegal Block: 10 yards

EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS o o o o No metal cleats. Only plastic cleats and athletic shoes are allowed. All teams should have their own color matching jerseys. No pads. Supportive wraps and sleeves may be worn. No caps with extended bills.

GUARDING THE FLAG BELT Runner shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull the flag. Penalty Flag Guarding: 10 yards from the spot of the infraction and loss of down. Flag guarding includes: o Swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging. o Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging. o Lowering the shoulders in such a manner that the defender is shielded from the flag. o Holding the flag belt with the off hand. PENALTIES AND SPORTSMANSHIP o 5-yard penalties include: offsides and encroachment. o 10-yard penalties include: flag guarding, illegal block, illegal contact, roughing the passer, and holding (all defensive fouls include first down) o 15-yard penalties are for unsportsmanlike conduct. o Verbal abuse of the officials will not be tolerated. Penalty Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 15 yards

o Fighting will not be tolerated. If players get into a shoving match, it results in unsportsmanlike conduct. If players get into a wrestling match, they will be ejected from the game. If punches are thrown, they will be ejected and removed from league. o Trash talking, racial or religious remarks will not be tolerated. Results in unsportsmanlike conduct for first offense and ejection from game on second offense. o If any player assaults a referee, he/she will be removed from the league. o The league reserves the right to suspend any player or team for unsportsmanlike conduct. No refund of money will be given. o No littering on the fields. Please pick up your teams trash so we can use the fields in the future. No alcohol is allowed by anyone under 21 years of age. There will be no excess alcohol consumption that results in public drunkenness. Any acts of this will result in ejection from the game and removal from the league. o Please remember that this is a recreational football tournament. The referees and league will give all their effort to provide your team with comparable competition and most importantly, have fun. o Defender cannot throw flag away from the ball carrier. Penalty Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 15 yards