FBF GAME RULES

CSA SPORTS LEAGUES

5on5 FAST BREAK FLAG FOOTBALL GAME RULES

"FBF" TOURNAMENT

CSA MEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL GAME RULES

THE GAME

5 Players on the field

Teams may provide their own football to use (ball must be college size or larger and approved by CSA)

First down by crossing mid-field

----> Two 12 Minute halves

Choice of 1 or 2 extra points on PAT's (3 paces/ yards for 1 point, 8 paces/yards for 2 points)

Ball is dead when touching the ground.

Quarterbacks cannot snap the ball to themselves.

Receiver must have 1 foot in bounds

1 time-outs per half

Non-Contact Game - Blockers (Running Backs and Offensive Lineman) must screen block (hands behind back).

Basic NCAA rules apply except where otherwise listed. On judgment calls, the referee's decision is final.

BEGINNING OF GAME

The team that wins the flip at the start of the game will have first choice of offense/defense or direction in the first half. Team that does not have first choice in first half will have the first choice in the second half. There are no kickoffs. Teams start 10 paces/yards from goal line.

THE FIELD

The field is 50 yards long and 20 yards wide. The endzones are seven (7) yards long.

TEAM SIZE

Each team will field no more than 5 players and no fewer than 4 players.

Eligible receivers must be on the field before the quarterback starts calling the signals.

Substitutions must be made from the same sideline during the game.

THE PLAY

Line of Scrimmage.

· Players on the line must be set before the snap. The offensive team must have at least 2 players on the line. Teams may have one (1) player in motion, but they must be going parallel to the line and at least two yards back.

Cadence/The Snap

· The snap must go to the player that calls the cadence. Only one player may call the cadence once the line is set. A direct snap to a player that does not call the cadence is a dead ball foul.

TIME

Play will be divided into two 12 minute halves. There will be a running clock maintained by the referee for the entire game. The clock runs continuously with the exception of time-outs and officials time-outs. Each team is allowed one (30 second) time-out per half.

TIE GAMES/OVERTIME

Round robin games can end in a tie.

Elimination games that end regulation tied will use the following tie-break format:
Each team will get a chance to score from midfield. The touchdown values are the same as in regulation.

SCORING

All touchdowns are worth 6 points

Teams can elect to try for 1 or 2 points on extra point attempts

After a touchdown the opposing team will take possession of the ball at their own 5 yard line

All safeties are awarded 2 points. The official will call a safety in the following instances:

The ballcarrier is deflagged in their own endzone.

The ball touches the ground in the offenses endzone (except for forward passes)

The ball goes out the back of the endzone or the side of the endzone (except for forward passes)

The offensive team commits a penalty in their own endzone

After a safety, the opposing team (defense) will take possession of the ball at their own 5 yard line.

FIRST DOWNS

Teams have the opportunity to earn one first down per possession. The offense will start at their own five yard line and have to cross midfield to earn a first down.

CHANGE OF POSSESSION

If a team fails to earn a first down by crossing midfield, the defensive team will take over possession at the midfield line (regardless of where the opponents possession ended).
If a team fails to score after getting in a goal to go situation, the defensive team will take over possession at their own five (5) yard line (regardless of where the opponents possession ended).
If a team scores a touchdown, the opponent will get the ball on their own five yard line.
If the defensive team intercepts the ball, they will begin their offensive possession at the spot where the play ended.

PUNTS

No punts allowed

CONTINUANCE OF PLAY

Play shall continue until:

Ball-carrier has complete flag belt pulled by an opponent (see flag specifics for the few exceptions/additions concerning flag pulling)

Ball-carrier leaves the field of play

Ball-carrier scores

Ball touches the ground as a result of a fumble, punt or incomplete pass

TURNOVERS

A change of possession can only occur due to downs or an interception on a forward pass or lateral. A fumble is not a turnover. The ball is dead at the point of the fumble and the offense retains possessions (see exception). A lateral is a live ball until it touches the ground and CAN be returned by the opposing team. On a fumble the ball is spotted at the point of the fumble or at the point it touches the ground (whichever has the greater advantage) and the offense retains possession.

Exception - On a fumbled ball that lands in the endzone, the play is dead when the ball touches the ground. If the ball was fumbled into the endzone by a ballcarrier that had not yet entered the endzone it will be ruled a touchback and the defensive team will take possession on their own 5 yard line.

RUSH

Once the line of scrimmage has been marked, the referee will walk of five yards in the direction the offense is going and place another marker. This "5 yard" marker is the "RUSH LINE". Only defensive players that are behind this marker when the ball is snapped may cross the line of scrimmage to rush the passer. A player may line up inside this "zone", but they cannot cross the line of scrimmage until the QB releases the ball.

RUSH LINE inside the five yard line.
The rush line can never be placed inside the endzone. If the line of scrimmage is between the goalline and the five yard line, the RUSH LINE will be the goalline.

QUARTERBACK RUSH

The quarterback may cross the line of scrimmage immediately upon receiving the snap.

NO CONTACT AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE

Players acting as offensive lineman must have hands behind their back when protecting their quarterback from pursuing defensive rushers. There is no contact at or behind the line of scrimmage. Offensive lineman can position their body at any particular angle as an attempt to direct the rushers to a particular area, but they may not physically direct them.

FLAG SPECIFICS

1) No flag guarding *** Will result in a 5 paces/yard penalty from the spot of infraction. Defensive player returning an interception, who flag guards, will be penalized 5 paces/yards from the spot of infraction.

2) Shirt must be tucked in and flags must be securely attached. Loose hanging articles (i.e. sweatshirts, long T-shirts, etc.) that are held/ripped will not result in a holding penalty, unless in refs eyes player was not attempting to go for flag.

3) Any ball-carrier whose flags are (in refs opinion) not accessible to be pulled will be down at 1^st point of contact with the defense.

4) Any ball-carrier who has a flag or both flags missing for whatever reason (falls out, accidentally pulled before reception, not noticed before snap, etc.) will be down at the first point of contact.

5) Players may leave their feet to pull flag.

6) Spin moves will be allowed.

MISCELLANEOUS

· Receivers need only one foot in bounds for a reception.

· Receivers intentionally leaving the field of play are ineligible to receive a pass.

· Excessive roughness can get a player/team ejected from the game and or league