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Youth NFL Flag Football Rules

General Rules
 

NFL FLAG football is a non-contact sport. There’s no tackling, diving, blocking, screening or fumbles.

  • All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage

  • Only direct handoffs are permitted—there are no laterals or pitches anywhere on the field 

  • The quarterback has seven-second pass clock to get rid of the ball

  • The quarterback can’t run with the ball unless it was handed off first

  • Offensive players must steer clear of the rusher and may not get in his/her way

  • Any defensive player lined up seven yards off the line of scrimmage is eligible to rush

  • If the ball is handed off, any defender may rush

  • Interceptions are returnable (even on extra point attempts)

  • The ball is dead when it hits the ground, the offensive player’s flag is pulled from their belt, the ball-carrier steps out of bounds, or the ball-carrier’s body—outside of their hands or feet—touches the ground.

  • All offensive flag football penalties result in a loss of down and yardage.

  • All defensive flag football penalties result in an automatic first down and some are associated with yardage.

For a complete list of flag football rules, download the NFL FLAG Football Rule Book.

League Play Timing & Scoring 

Timing

  • Games are played for 40 Minutes

  • Two 20 minute halves with a 2 minute stop time.

  • Clock runs continuously until 2 minutes 

  • 3 Plays each possession 

  • 30 second play clock 

  • 2 Timeouts per half

Scoring 

  • All touchdowns are 6 points 

  • Safety is 2 points 

  • 1 Point Conversion (5 Yards) 

  • 2 Point Conversion (10 yards) 

  • Interceptions on turnovers may be advanced (1 or 2 points) 

Mercy rules are in effect after a 28 point margin. 

  • Substitutions 

  • No rushing QB 

Field Dimensions: 70 x 30 yards 

No run zones are enforced

Overtime Regular Season 

a. A coin flip will determine the team that chooses to be on offense or defense first. 

  • The referee will determine which end of the field the overtime will take place on. 

b. Each team will take turns getting one (1) play from the defense’s 5-yard line for one point or the defense’s 10-yard line for two points. Whether to go for one or two points is up to the offensive team. Whether or not the team that begins on offense converts the team that started on defense gets a chance on offense to win or tie by converting a one- or two-point play of their own. 

During the regular season each team only gets one opportunity. The game ends in a tie. There are no timeouts.

Overtime: Playoffs 

a. A coin flip will determine the team that chooses to be on offense or defense first. 

  • If a second round of overtime must be played, the team that lost the coin toss will get to choose offense or defense for the start of the second round of overtime. This process continues with teams alternating who gets to choose to be on offense or defense to start out during every round of overtime. ii. The referee will determine which end of the field the overtime will take place on. 

b. Each team will take turns getting one (1) play from the defense’s 5-yard line for one point or the defense’s 10-yard line for two points. Whether to go for one or two points is up to the offensive team. Whether or not the team that begins on offense converts the team that started on defense gets a chance on offense to win or tie by converting a one- or two-point play of their own. 

  • Example: Team A starts on offense and chooses to go for one point from the 5-yard line and is successful. Team B is then on offense and can choose to either go for one point from the 5-yard line to tie and force a second round of overtime or to go for two points from the 10-yard line for the win. 

  • If the second team on offense in an overtime round fails to beat or match the team that went first, the team that went first wins. 

c. Both teams must “go for two” from the 10-yard line starting with the third round of overtime. 

d. The final points earned by the winning team in the final overtime will be added onto the winning team’s total score. The losing team will not receive any additional points. 

i. Example: End of regulation time, score is 14-14. Team A scores one point and Team B scores two points. Team B wins with a final score of 16-14. Points are only added to the total score from the final round of overtime. 

e. All regulation period rules and penalties are in effect. 

f. There are no timeouts.