1. Flag Football Officials Training Fall 2008
fsu.campusrec.com

2. Flag Football Rules Equipment
Jewelry is NOT Allowed to Be Worn by Any Participant. Visible Rings, Watches, Necklaces, Earrings, Studs, Bracelets, Etc. are Prohibited.
All Players MUST Wear Shoes.
Sandals and Flip Flops are NOT Allowed.
Metal Spikes or Metal Cleats are NOT Allowed.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

3. Flag Football Rules Equipment Shorts or Pants WITHOUT Pockets
NO Front, Back, or
Cargo Pockets Allowed.
NO Taping of Pockets Allowed.
Flag Belt Clipped in Front with
1 Flag on Each Hip
& 1 Flag at the Back.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

4. Flag Football Rules Equipment Shirts Must Be Long Enough to Remain
TUCKED IN At All Times, OR
End At Least 4 Inches Above the Waist.
The Bottom of the Shirt’s Arm Holes
Must Be Within 4 Inches of the Armpit.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

5. Flag Football Rules Game Time & Length
Games Consist of Two 20-Minute Halves.
A Running Clock is Used Throughout the 1st Half
& Until the 2:00 Mark of the 2nd Half.
The Clock Stops ONLY for Timeouts.
The Clock Runs Following All Plays & Penalties.
Teams Receive 2 Timeouts per Half.
Timeouts Do NOT Carry Over.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

6. Final Two Minutes of the Game
Flag Football Rules
Final Two Minutes of the Game
The Game Clock will STOP on
Plays Ending Out-of-Bounds, Incomplete Passes, Time-outs, First Downs, Touchdowns,
& for Penalty Administration.
The Clock will NOT STOP on
Running Plays, Pass Plays Ending In-Bounds, Fumbles, & Bad Snaps.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

7. Final Two Minutes of the Game
Flag Football Rules
Final Two Minutes of the Game
The Clock RESTARTS on the SNAP Following
Out-of-Bounds Plays, Incomplete Passes,
Time-outs, Change of Possession.
The Clock RESTARTS on the WHISTLE Following
First Downs (Non-Out-of-Bounds Plays),
Penalty Administration (Unless on Snap By Rule).
The Clock Does NOT RUN on PATs in the Last 2 Minutes.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

8. Flag Football Rules Overtime Overtime is Played in ALL Playoff Games.
NO Overtime is Played in Any Regular Season Games.
Overtime is Played in ALL Playoff Games.
Each Team Receives a 4-Down Possession from the
10 Yard Line to Score a Touchdown (and Convert the PAT).
Defense Has Opportunity to Match the Opponent’s Score.
Each Team Receives 1 Timeout for the Entire OT Session.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

9. Flag Football Field
Player & Fan Area G 20 40

10. NO Kickoffs, Start at the 14 Yard Line.
Flag Football Field
NO Kickoffs, Start at the 14 Yard Line. G 20 40 14

11. Teams Gain a First Down By Crossing a Zone-Line-to-Gain.
First Downs
Teams Gain a First Down By Crossing a Zone-Line-to-Gain. G 20 40
1st to the 20
1st to the 40
2nd to the 40
3rd to the 40
1st & Goal TD

12. PAT Attempts from the 3, 10, or 20 Yard Line.
Flag Football Field
PAT Attempts from the 3, 10, or 20 Yard Line. 3 2 1 G 20 40 20 G

13. Flag Football Field
Inbounds Lines G 20 40

14. Offensive Lines Up on Orange Disk, Defense Behind Yellow.
Flag Football Rules
Line of Scrimmage
Offensive Lines Up on Orange Disk, Defense Behind Yellow.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

15. Flag Football Rules Line of Scrimmage
The Offense MUST Have at Least 4 Stationary Players
on the Line at the Time of the Snap.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

16. The Defense is NOT Required to Have Any Players at the Line.
Flag Football Rules
Line of Scrimmage
The Defense is NOT Required to Have Any Players at the Line.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

17. Flag Football Rules Line of Scrimmage
Neither Team May Jump Across Their Scrimmage Line at Any Time. This is a Penalty. Players Cannot Jump Back Onside.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

18. Flag Football Rules
PENALTY: Offsides
fsu.campusrec.com/im

19. Flag Football Rules Snapping the Ball Direct Snaps are NOT Permitted.
1 Player May Be in Motion Parallel or Away from the Line of Scrimmage at the Snap.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

20. Flag Football Rules Snapping the Ball
The Player Receiving the Snap Must Be
2 Yards Behind the Line of Scrimmage.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

21. Flag Football Screen Blocking is Similar to Screening Basketball.
Flag Football Rules
Screen Blocking
Flag Football Screen Blocking
is Similar to Screening Basketball.
A Defender Must Avoid Contacting the Blocker in Any Way. The Blocker May NOT Initiate Contact By Moving into a Defender. Blockers May Move to Gain a Position.
Any Number of Defenders May Rush the Quarterback at Any Time. The Offense May Have as Many Blockers as It Wishes.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

22. Flag Football Rules
LEGAL Screen Blocking
fsu.campusrec.com/im

23. PENALTY: Illegal Contact Defense
Flag Football Rules
PENALTY: Illegal Contact Defense
fsu.campusrec.com/im

24. PENALTY: Illegal Block Offense
Flag Football Rules
PENALTY: Illegal Block Offense
fsu.campusrec.com/im

25. PENALTY: Illegal Block Offense
Flag Football Rules
PENALTY: Illegal Block Offense
fsu.campusrec.com/im

26. Flag Football Rules Eligible Receivers
ALL Players on the Field are Eligible Receivers.
The Passer May NOT Catch
His/Her Own Untouched Pass.
The First Part of a Receiver’s Body to Contact the
Ground Shall Determine In-Bounds or Out-of-Bounds.
Only 1 Foot is Required to Be In-Bounds.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

27. Unlimited Backward Passes or Laterals are Permitted Each Down.
Flag Football Rules
One Legal Pass Per Down
Only ONE Legal Forward Pass is Permitted Per Down, Regardless of Where It is Caught by a Receiver.
The Passer’s Feet Must Be Behind the Line of Scrimmage at the Time of the Pass.
Unlimited Backward Passes or Laterals
are Permitted Each Down.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

28. Flag Football Rules
LEGAL Forward Pass
fsu.campusrec.com/im

29. Flag Football Rules Flag Guarding Players Shall NOT Use Their Hands or
Arms to Block
Defenders from
Reaching His/Her
Flag.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

30. PENALTY: Flag Guarding
Flag Football Rules
PENALTY: Flag Guarding
fsu.campusrec.com/im

31. Flag Football Rules Flag Guarding Players Shall NOT Use The Ball from
Reaching His/Her
Flag.
NO Stiff Arms.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

32. Flag Football Rules
LEGAL Running Form
fsu.campusrec.com/im

33. Flag Football Rules Other Illegal Contact
Defenders May NOT Attempt to Strike or Strip the Ball from an Offensive Player in Possession.
Holding, Tripping, or Other Contact
with Opponents is NOT Permitted.
A 10-Yard Personal Foul Will Be Assessed.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

34. PENALTY: Roughing the Passer
Flag Football Rules
PENALTY: Roughing the Passer
fsu.campusrec.com/im

35. PENALTY: Illegal Contact Defense
Flag Football Rules
PENALTY: Illegal Contact Defense
fsu.campusrec.com/im

36. Flag Football Rules Fumbles Fumbles are Immediately DEAD When
The Ball Touches the Ground.
There are NO Scrambles for a Fumble.
Fumbles and Bad Snaps are Considered Running Plays for Timing Purposes.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

37. Flag Football Rules Punting On Fourth Down, the Referee Will Ask the
Offensive Captain if His/Her Team Wishes to
Try for the First Down (Go for It) or Punt.
The Decision Will Be Announced to the Defense and Cannot Be Changed Unless a Time-out is Taken.
There are NO Quick Kicks or Fake Kicks.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

38. Blocking Punts is Highly Unlikely.
Flag Football Rules
Punting
On the Punt..
The KICKING Team Must Remain Behind the Line of Scrimmage Until the Ball is KICKED.
The RECEIVING Team May Not Cross Their Line of Scrimmage Until the Ball is KICKED.
Blocking Punts is Highly Unlikely.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

39. Flag Football Rules Mercy Rule In Men’s and Women’s Games…
If a Team is Ahead by 19 or More Points
at or Inside the 2:00 Mark of the 2nd Half,
The Game Will Be Called.
In Co-Rec Games…
25 or More Points at 2:00 of the 2nd Half.
fsu.campusrec.com/im

40. Game Control Being an Official Looking Professional = Respect
Know the Rules
Being Confident With Calls
HUSTLE
Having and Maintaining the Right Attitude

41. Working Together as a Crew
Game Control
Working Together as a Crew
Start with your own pre-game meeting
Communicate during the game
Support your other officials

42. Preventive Officiating
Game Control
Preventive Officiating
Correcting the problem before you have to throw a flag
Warn promptly
Explain later
Flag it the first time (setting the tone)
BE AWARE (of what type of game you are officiating)

43. Dealing With IM Participants
Game Control
Dealing With IM Participants
Be courteous to participants
Be open but not too friendly
Be helpful
Start at the pre-game captains meeting

44. Dealing With IM Participants
Game Control
Dealing With IM Participants
Fans and players should stay at least 2 yards from the sideline and in between the 20 yard lines.
The offensive team must retrieve the ball after every play. Set the “pucks” not the ball.
After a player scores a TD or try, the player must raise arms so the nearest official can check the flag.

45. FSU IM Procedures Captains Meeting Game Format Demonstrations:
Uniforms (No Jewlery or Pockets)
Game Format
Demonstrations:
Flag Guarding
Suggested Running Form
Receiver Contact
Addressing Officials
Any Questions?
Coin Toss: 1 or 2 or Paper, Rock, Scissors

46. FSU IM Procedures Coin Toss Choices Defend Goal of Their Choice
Offense
Defend Goal of Their Choice
Defer Choice to 2nd Half

47. Game Control 2 Minute Mechanics
Time out signal on out-of-bounds plays, penalties, time-outs, and first downs. Don’t use on incomplete passes or scores.
When the ball becomes dead near the sideline, indicate the start clock signal by winding your arm two times.

48. Game Control Inadvertent Whistles
During a legal forward pass or a punt, Replay Down at Previous Spot.
Any other play, without a penalty, the team in possession has the choice of result of play (when whistle was blown), or replay down at previous spot.
If a penalty is accepted, disregard flag.

49. FSU IM Procedures Protests Only Incorrect Rulings can be Protested.
Judgment Calls CANNOT be Overturned
If a team captain says they want to protest,
after the play is completed,
stop game and find a supervisor.