GVAA

FLAG RULES

8 V 8

AGES:

      Pre-K though 1st Grade

     

ATTIRE

Metal cleats are not allowed.  Inspections will be made prior to the game. Players must wear a protective mouthpiece.  Shirts must be tucked in.  Must wear uniforms provided.  Flags cannot be the same color as players pants.

 

AWARDS:  All participants will receive trophies or medallions. 

 

BALL SIZE:       Official K2.  One game ball will be provided for each team.

 

PLAYERS 

·    Players should be rotated into game every change of possession. Coaches should try to play players an equal amount of time.

·    Players may sign up individually to be placed onto a team or as part of a team.  If there are an unequal amount of players on the teams,  the commissioner may move children to equalize the teams.

 

COACH / SPECTATOR CONDUCT / RESPONSIBILITIES:

·   Coaches, family members, parents, and spectators are required to observe the contest from a designated area.  The side line is reserved for the Players and Coaches.

·   Participants, coaches, parents, and family members must conduct themselves appropriately during league play. 

·   Misconduct may lead to removal from the premises. The referee may remove any player, coach, family member during the game.  If a player or family member is ejected, then at the referee’s discretion the team’s coach may also be ejected.  Coaches are responsible for players and family members’ conduct during the game.

 

 

COACHES ON FIELD:

·   Two coaches can be on the field in the offensive huddle to help set the players. 

·   The coaches on offense must stand behind the offense once the play begins.

·   Two coaches are allowed on the field to help set the defense but must move towards the sideline or to the middle of the field prior to each snap of ball.

·   Defensive coaches cannot move or coach the defense after the quarterback starts the cadence.

 

PRACTICES

·         All teams are limited to two and one-half hours of practice each week. This time must be split between two separate days during the week.  Warm up time is not counted towards this time, but shall not exceed fifteen minutes.

·         All teams will start practice on the same week.

 

TEAMS

·   Teams consist of a minimum of 8 players and a maximum of 12 players (maximum of 8 and minimum of 7 players on the field at a time).

·   Teams can only use players from their roster.

·   Players may only participate on one (1) team.

 

 

 

FIELD  DIMENSIONS / MARKINGS 

         Length: 70 yards

         Width: Regulation

         Markings: The field shall be marked as follows:

POSSESSION

·         A coin toss determines first possession. 

·         The winner of the toss has the choice of offense or defense. 

·         The loser chooses which goal to defend. 

·         Team that started 1st half on offense will begin 2nd half on defense. 

 

KICKOFFS        There are no kickoffs

·   The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 15-yard line

·   All possession changes, except interceptions and punts, the opposing team start on the offense's 15-yard line.

·   Teams change sides at half time.

OFFENSE:

·   Five (5) players are required on the offensive line of scrimmage at all times.

·   Two players must line up next to the center.

·   Three players must line up off the line of scrimmage.

        

PASSING / RECEIVING

·   All players are eligible to receive a pass from any position.

·   A player must have one (1) foot inbounds when making a reception. (A receiver cannot return on to the playing field from an out of bounds position).

·   The defense can return interceptions.

·   On interceptions that occur and remain in the end zone, the ball will become dead and will result in the ball belonging to the intercepting team at its 15 yard line. Should an interception occur in the end zone and the ball carrier leave the end zone, the ball will belong to the intercepting team at the spot the ball becomes dead. However, should the ball carrier return to the end zone and be de-flagged, or the ball be ruled dead the result would be a safety for the other team.

        

RUNNING

·   All players are eligible to run the ball from any position.

·   To start the play, the ball must be snapped between the legs of the snapper.

·   The center is the player who gives the ball to the quarterback via a snap.

·   The quarterback is the player who receives the ball directly from the snap.

·   Once a player has possession of the ball beyond the line of scrimmage, any loss of possession will be blown dead by the official.

·   The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.

·   Spinning and jumping is allowed, no diving, stiff arming, or flag guarding is allowed.

·   The ball is spotted where the ball carrier's hips are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.  Ball and flags must break plane for a 1st down and touchdown.

 

DEFENSE - FORMATION

·   Four Players must line up on the line of scrimmage.

·   No defense player can line up directly over the center or in the A Gaps.

 
PUNTING

·   If the team so elects, the team may punt the ball on fourth down.  The coach must advise the referee that the team is electing to punt the ball within the time permitted for snapping the ball.  The referee shall automatically advance the ball 25 yards from the spot of the ball and turn the ball over to the other team.  In no event shall a punt place the opposing team behind their own five yard line.

 

SCORING

·   Touchdown:       6 points

·   Extra point:       1 point (played from 5-yard line)
                     2 points (played from 10-yard line)

·   Safety:              2 points

Note:    An interception return to opponent's end zone on any extra-point play by the defense will

            result in the defense scoring 2 points plus gaining possession for the next series at its own 15 yard

            line.

 

TIMING  

·   Game length shall be two (2) twenty (20) minute running halves.

·   The Game clock shall run continuously unless there is a time out, an injured player, or during the last two minutes of each half when a player travels out-of-bounds with the ball or on an incomplete pass.

·   Teams shall have three (3) ninety (90) second timeouts each half.

·   There will be a fifteen (15) minute half time each game.

·   Each time the ball is spotted the offense has forty-five (45) seconds to snap the ball.

 

OVERTIME

·   During regular season, if at the end of the game results in a tie, then each team shall have one attempt to score on four downs from the 10 yard line and elect to go for either a one point of two point conversion.  If after the initial overtime period the game remains tied, then the game will end in a tie game.

·   During playoffs, each team shall continue with overtime play until there is a winner.  If after the second overtime series there is a tie in the playoffs, then after a touchdown is scored each team must go for a two points on the conversion.

 

DEAD  BALLS

         *  Ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play.

         *  Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.

Play is ruled "dead" when:

·   Official blows the whistle.

·   Ball carrier's flag is pulled or becomes illegal.

·   Ball carrier steps out of bounds.

·   Touchdown or safety is scored.

·   When any part of the ball carrier's body, other than a hand or foot, touches the ground.

·   Ball carrier fumbles the ball

·   Ball carrier’s knee touches the ground

·   Incomplete Pass

·   Inadvertent Whistle – game will stop on an inadvertent whistle.  There shall be a replay of down.

 

 

 

 

            *  Once a flag is pulled, the defensive player should hold the flag above his head so that the referee can spot the location of the flag pull. The pulled flag should be handed to the player who lost the flag or to a teammate.  Intentionally throwing the flag onto the ground is considered poor flag etiquette (5-yard penalty).

         *  If the ball carriers flag falls off, the play will be whistled dead once a defender touches him.

                       

Note:    There are no fumbles. The ball will be spotted where the ball carrier's feet were when the fumble was made.  A bad snap will be blown dead and the ball will be spotted where it hits the ground. There is no stripping of the ball (spot foul and automatic 1st down).

 

 

OFFENSIVE  PENALTIES  (see also Penalties)

·   Diving:  5 yards from the point of foul

·   Lowering head:  5 yards from the point of foul

·   Delay of game:  5 yards

·   Too many Players on Field:  5 yards and loss of down

·   False Start:  5 yards 

·   Offensive holding: 5 yards

·   Illegal touching (if player goes out of bounds, player cannot return to the field and catch ball):  5 yards

·   Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender):  10 yards from spot of foul, only assessed if caught by Offensive player 

·   Stiff arm / flag guarding:  5 yards from the point of foul

·   Blocking in the Back/Clipping: 5 yard penalty from the point of the foul

·   Holding: 5 yards from the spot of the foul

                       

DEFENSIVE  PENALTIES  (see also Penalties)

·   Offside:  5 yards

·   Pass Interference:  Spot foul and automatic first down

·   Illegal contact:  5 yards 

·   Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball):  10 yards from spot of foul and automatic First Down

·   Substitution fouls (player enters field after ball is blown ready for play):  5 yards

·   Holding:  5 yards from end of play

·   Roughing the Quarterback:  10 yards and automatic 1st down

·   Tackling:  15 yards from end of play and automatic 1st down.

·   Stripping ball: 15 yards and automatic first down.


PENALTIES 

·   All penalties can be declined.

·   Penalties will not exceed half the distance to the opposing team's goal line from the line of scrimmage.

·   Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.

·   All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage except for: Diving, lowering head, flag guarding, stiff arming, jumping, tackling, stripping, defensive blocking, illegal flag pull, holding and pass interference.

·   Only one coach or team captain may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Player cannot question judgment calls; if they do, the team will receive a 5-yard penalty.  During any clarification or interpretation period, the opposing teams coach may consult with the referee and the clock will stop during such time.   Player will be required to huddle with the other coach on the field.

·   Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines the penalty.

 

GAMES / PLAYOFFS:

·   All teams are guaranteed six (6) games. The games after the 5th game will be playoffs.

·   Games will be officiated by two officials.

·   Playoffs shall be a bracketed seeding, some teams may have a first round bye depending upon the number of teams and the seeding, byes will be given to first to the highest seeded team.

FORFEITS

·   All games will begin on time.  If a team is more than 15 minutes late, the game will be forfeited.  The

opposing team will receive 14 pts provided they have the required number of players to start the game.

 

 

SPORTSMANSHIP / ROUGHING: 

·   If the referee witnesses any acts of flagrant contact, tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player may be ejected from the game. 

·   Trash talking is illegal. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams, or spectators.) Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If trash talking occurs, the referee will give one team warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

        

STANDINGS / TIES  (see also Timing / Overtime)

         If teams are tied at the end of the regular session, the following will be used to determine placement:

1.       Head to Head

2.       Points Against, then Points Scored

3.       Commissioner and President makes final determination

 

COACHES

 

·   All coaches shall have a background check through the Parks and Recreations Dept.

·   All coaches must review the coaches manual.

·   All coaches must attend coaches meetings.

·   All coaches must be a member of the GVAA.

·   All coaches are responsible for team coaches, Players, and Family Members.

·   All coaches must act in a sportsmanship like manner.

 

REFEREES

·   Are in charge of the Game.

·   Make the final decisions.

·   Are to be helpful with teaching the players.

·   Are to be treated in a respectful manner.