Fall 2010 Intramural Flag Football Rules Overview 

1. Intramural flag football will be played in accordance with National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) rules for 7-om-7 flag football play.  The NIRSA rules book will be the final authority on points of fact and will address any points not specifically covered in this handout.
2. Timing: Each game will consist of two-20 minute halves.  The clock will stop in the last 2 minutes of the second half only.  There will be a 3-minute halftime.
3. Game: The game will begin with a coin toss; the winner will have a choice to be offense or defense.  The loser of the coin toss will have the option in the second half.  In the event of a tie score at the end of regulation, a coin toss will determine an offensive team and a defensive team.  One series of downs from the 15-yard line will determine the outcome.  The offense must score a touchdown to win the game or else the defensive team wins.  A different overtime format will be used for playoffs.
4. Timeouts: Each team has 1 one-minute time-out per half.  Timeouts do not carryover.
5. The Minimum Number of Offensive Players on the line of scrimmage is 4
6. Screen Blocking: There is No Contact allowed in flag football by either the offense or defense.  The offense may set screens (similar to screens set in basketball) but may not use any part of their arms or legs to interfere with the defense.  The defense must go around a blocker without making contact.  It is ultimately the judgment of the officials on the field whether contact was made to gain an advantage or whether it was incidental to the play.  The penalty for illegal contact is 10 yards.
7. Intentional Ball Striping or Slapping:  Defensive players may not intentionally strip or slap a football in possession of an offensive player.  An intentional strip/slap or ATTEMPTED strip/slap will be treated as an Illegal Contact 10-yard penalty.
8. Stances: 2, 3, and 4-point stances are legal.
9. Try for Point: A one-point conversion will take place from the 3-yard line.  A two-point conversion will take place from the 10-yard line.  A three-point conversion will take place from the 20-yard line.
10. Flag Guarding: A runner shall not make contact with an opponent in an attempt to prevent the opponent from removing the flag.  Flag guarding is a 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
11. Encroachment: Neither the offensive team nor the defensive team may enter the neutral zone once the ball is signaled ready-for-play.  Once the neutral zone is entered, the play is over.  Encroachment one either team is a 5-yard penalty.  Two consecutive encroachments by the defense is a 10-yard penalty.
12. Sportsmanship: The Intramural Staff is there to help make participating in intramural sports an enjoyable experience.  Abuse of the officials or staff in any form will not be tolerated.  Ejected participants must meet with the Director of Intramural Sports before they are eligible to play again. 
13. The COED LEAGUE is played 7-on-7. 3 people must be female.  A team may play with 4 men and 2 women or 3 men and 3 women.  If a team is unable to satisfy these requirements at any point, the game will be forfeited.
14. The Coed League has no “open” or “closed” rule.
15. Field: The playing field is 80 yards long including 2 10-yard end zones.
16. First Down Zones: There will be four 15-yard zones that will be designated by lines and markers.
17. First Downs: A team will be allowed four downs to advance the ball across each first down zone.  Each time a team advances across one of these lines the team is awarded a first down and receives four additional downs to reach the next line.
18. Chucking: There is no chucking of receivers.
19. Inadvertent Whistle: The team in possession of the ball at the time of the inadvertent whistle has the option to replay the down or take possession at the point of the whistle.  A pass or punt in flight will be replayed.
20. A player may not use his hands to block, grasp, pull, hook, lock, clamp, or otherwise illegally impede or obstruct an opponent.
21. There is no interlocking blocking.
22. A player may not throw himself down or dive in an effort to block an opponent.
23. There is a 1-yard neutral zone between the ball and the defensive team.  An orange marker (disk) will mark this.
24. Players may not hold.
25. No hitting below the waist or in the back.
26. No barreling, charging into, or over a blocker (i.e. no use of shoulders).
27. Any Player committing flagrant or continuous personal fouls and any player persisting in rough and dangerous play will be ejected form the game.  The Intramural Department will take further disciplinary actions
28. Fumbles: All fumbles are dead balls once the ball touches the ground.  Any mid-air fumble may be advanced.
29. Dead Ball: The ball becomes dead when:
    1. The player in possession is legally deflagged.
    2. The player in possession goes out-of-bounds
    3. When any part of the ball carrier’s body, other than hands or feet, touches the ground.
    4. Following an incomplete pass.
    5. Any fumble touches the ground.
30. Punting: On 4^th down, the team must declare whether it will punt or try for a first down.  There are no fake punts. No one may leave the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.  The defense cannot rush the punter.  If a punter drops the ball it is dead at the spot.  The punter must punt the ball immediately.  Delays in punting will result in a delay of game penalty.
31. Forward Pass: Only one per play even if it is behind the line of scrimmage.
32. Substitutions: Substitutions must be made prior to the snap.
33. Equipment: Players may not wear any device that might cause injury to other players.  These restrictions are at the sole discretion of the Intramural Supervisor and Officials.
34. Jewelry:  Players must remove all jewelry in order to participate.  This includes necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc.  Exceptions may be made for pieces of religious significance - these exceptions will be granted ONLY with approval from the director of supervisor on duty.  In these cases, jewelry must be safely taped to the player's body.

Officials have, at their own discretion, the power to sit players down for an unlimited amount of time.  Any person being ejected from a game or receiving a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct will be automatically suspended for a minimum of one game.  Certain instances will result in the Intramural Department taking further disciplinary actions.