The rules that govern league play are a 30-page document that is being used in gay flag football leagues in many cities and the Gay Super Bowl. This is an overview of the most important rules. All captains will be given the complete rules.
Note: a list of flag football terms can be found here.
The game is played seven on seven. Each team must begin with seven players but may continue with fewer players if no substitutes are available.
Games will be timed as two halves of 30 minutes each, with three additional plays at the end of each half.
Each team will be allowed two 60-second timeouts per half.
A first down is 10 yards; a team has four downs to advance the ball that distance.
A team is allowed one running play per possession; a running play can always occur on a PAT attempt.
At least one foot must be in-bounds on a catch.
The player in possession of the ball is down when 1) his knee hits the ground 2) his elbow hits the ground or 3) his flag is removed by an opponent.
Half time will be 10 minutes.
During the first 28 minutes of each half, the clock will only stop for an official timeout (includes injury). In the last two minutes of each half, the clock will stop during a timeout as well. The clock will never stop for a dead ball.
A fumble is dead when and where the ball hits the ground.
A player cannot bat or strip the ball if it is in possession of another player; a defender must attempt to grab the flags of the ball runner.
Unsportsmanlike conduct, as determined by the game’s officials, will be penalized and not tolerated.
No player can lower his or her head or shoulders while approaching an opposing player (this will be cause for ejection).
Fighting will cause all participants in the fight to be ejected, regardless of who started the fight; all participants may also be suspended from the league indefinitely.
A player can only make contact with an opponent between the waist and shoulders in an attempt to block.
All blocking and intended contact must be done with an open hand; contact with fists, forearms, elbows or shoulders is not allowed.
Any contact with a runner must be an attempt to de-flag.
No tripping, pushing, holding, grabbing, tackling, clipping (blocking in the back) or shoulder blocks are allowed.
The defensive player who has de-flagged the player with the ball must stop and hold the flag over his or her head at the spot of the de-flagging and stay where he or she is.
If a runner has fewer than three flags and is touched by an opponent between the shoulders and waist, the runner is considered to be de-flagged. The ball becomes dead at the spot where the ball was when the runner was touched.
Stiff-arming and flag-guarding are not allowed. A player may only spin, duck, jump or move in another direction to avoid being de-flagged.
Touchdown – 6 points
5-yard point after touchdown (PAT) – 1 point
10-yard PAT – 2 points
Safety – 2 points