NOVA Youth Flag RULES & REGULATIONS

The Game:  Basics

• A coin toss determines first possession. The is no deferring to the second half.
• The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has three (3) plays to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has three (3) plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.
• If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5-yard line.
• All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense's 5-yard line.
• Teams change sides after the first 24 minutes and the team that losses the opening coin toss now has the option to receive the ball in the second half.

Players/Game Schedules

• Teams must field a minimum of four (4) players at all times.
• Team Rosters will consist of 10-12 players (5 on 5 players on the field)

Timing/Overtime

• Games are played to 48 minutes running time (Two 24 minute halves).
• Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay of game penalty is enforced.
• Each team has one 60-second time out and one 30-second time out per half.
• Officials can stop the clock at their discretion
• The ONLY time the clock will stop is on a timeout (each team gets two per half) and when a team scores a touchdown with less then two minutes remaining in the GAME  (clock will restart when the ball is snapped on the next series by the opposing team). The clock WILL NOT stop on incompletions or if a player steps out of bounds.
• There will be no overtime during the regular season as the game will end in a tie. During the playoffs if the game is tied at the end of regulation, sudden death overtime will occur with the first team scoring winning the game.

Scoring

• Touchdown: 6 points
• Extra point: 1 point (played from 5-yard line), 2 points (played from 12-yard line)
• Safety: 2 points

Running

• The quarterback cannot run with the ball.
• Only direct handoffs behind the line scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple handoffs.
• Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind.
• "No-running zones," located 5 yards from each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield, are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations.
• The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
• Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.
• Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving).
• The CENTER SNEAK hand off play is no longer allowed.

Receiving

• All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
• As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
• A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.

Passing

• All passes must be forward and received beyond the line scrimmage.
• Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
• The quarterback has a seven-second "pass clock." If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down. Once the ball is handed off, the seven-second rule no longer is in effect.
• Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the point of interception. Interceptions are the only changes of possession that do not start on the 5-yard line.

Dead Balls

• The 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:

1. Ball carrier steps out of bounds.

2. Touchdown or safety is scored.

3. At the point of an interception (interception returns are not allowed).

4. Ball carrier's knee hits the ground.

5. Ball carrier's flag falls out.

• Note:  There are no fumbles.  The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.

Rushing the Quarterback

• All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage.
• Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage. A special marker, or the referee, will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage. REMEMBER, NO BLOCKING OR TACKLING IS ALLOWED.

Sportsmanship/Roughing

• If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
• Trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams or spectators.) If trash talking occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

Penalties

• All penalties will be called by the referee.
• Defense: Offsides -- 5 yards and automatic first down; Interference -- 10 yards and automatic first down; Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc.) -- 10 yards and automatic first down; Illegal flag pull (before receiver has the ball) -- 10 yards and automatic first down; Illegal rushing (starting rush from inside the 7-yard marker -- 10 yards and automatic first down.
• Offense: Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start, etc.) --5 yards and loss of down; Illegal forward pass (pass received behind line of scrimmage) -- 5 yards and loss of down; Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) -- 10 yards and loss of down; Flag guarding -- 10 yards (from line of scrimmage) and loss of down; delay of game -- clock stops, 10 yards and loss of down.

Attire

• Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes. All players must wear a protective mouth piece; there are no exceptions. Official Nike NFL Flag jerseys must be worn during play.
• Note: There are no kickoffs, and no blocking is allowed.

Field  (certain fields may be up to five yards shorter in lenght and width )

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