USFTL 8 MAN FLAG FOOTBALL CAPSULIZED PLAYING

RULES
(CURRENT DATE ISSUED: 2006)

1.

MINIMUM LINE PLAYERS: Minimum of 4 players at snap. (If the Offense

uses a man in motion and he comes from the line of scrimmage, there
still must be a minimum of 4 players on the line at the snap.)

2.

2 ON 1 BLOCKING is allowed.

3.

BALL CARRIERS KNEE TOUCHES

ONE EXCEPTION: The holders
field goal and the play is
Diving to advance the ball

5.

PASSER'S arm in motion and ball is in his hand: the passer is down if
deflagged or legally touched.

6.

SNAPS: All snaps that hit the ground are dead.

7.

DIRECT SNAPS ARE LEGAL: EXCEPTION: On a declared punt, the punter must
be at least 5 yards back and must kick the ball immediately.

8.

TOUCH: 2 hands simultaneously between shoulders and knees.

FLAG: If flags fall off inadvertently, revert to 2 hand touch.

9.

ONSIDE KICKS: There are no onside Kicks allowed.

THE GROUND: the ball is dead at the spot.

knee can be up or down on an extra point or
still live. Diving to block is illegal.
is also illegal.

10.

PUNTS: If you want no rush, ask Referee for protection. NO one can
move till the ball is kicked. Punts that hit the ground may be picked
up and advanced.

11.

FUMBLES: Dead at the spot. Muffs of Kickoff and Punts are dead at spot.

12.

CENTER: You cannot touch the center until he takes one step toward his
pattern, or assumes a blocking position.

13.

CHUCKING A RECEIVER: One (1) chuck off line is permitted from the line
of scrimmage to 5 yards.

14.

FORWARD PASS: Only one forward pass per down.

15.

ROUGHING THE PASSER: An automatic 1st down, plus a 10 yard penalty.

Penalty yardage will be tacked on to any gain. If the defender
contact's the passer's arm, whether or not he/she touches the pass,
it is roughing the passer.

16.

EXTRA POINT & FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS: There is no rushing between the
guard and center. NO 3 or 4 point stances. The center cannot block,
but is eligible. The holders knee can be up or down.

17.

NO baiting or taunting of opponents either on the field or from the

sidelines. PENALTY: 10 yards.

18.

MUFF by the kicker on a declared punt is a dead ball. The kicker cannot
pick it up and kick it.

19.

NO spiking or throwing of the ball whether in anger or glee.

PENALTY: 10 yards. NO WARNING!

20.

OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE: Loss of down and 10 yard penalty assessed

from the line of scrimmage.

21.

THE BALL is NOT an extension of the arm.

22.

HUDDLE clock is 25 seconds.

23.

OBSTRUCTION OF THE RUNNER: The defensive player cannot hold, grasp or

stop the forward progress of a runner in their attempt to make a tag or
pull a flag.

24.

SAFETY: A kick after a safety can be a punt or a place kick. The kick
will take place at the 20 yard line. The receiving team lines up on
the 30 yard line. Treat the punt or place kick as a protected punt.
Fumbles and muffs are dead at the spot.

25.

WHEN A RECEIVER goes in the air for a catch near the sidelines, he must
have at least one foot in bounds when he hits the ground.

26.

A PLAYER on the line of scrimmage CANNOT receive the snap.

27.

FLAG GUARDING is a 10 yard penalty and a loss of down.

A) When the Flag guarding is behind the line of scrimmage, the
enforcement spot is the line of scrimmage.
B) When the flag guarding is beyond the line scrimmage,the
enforcement spot is the spot of the foul.

28.

BLOCKING down field when the ball is in the air, is an offensive pass
interference penalty.
A) It does not matter if the ball is behind the line of scrimmage or
beyond.

29.

POSITION of the ball when deflagged is the mark for the succeeding
down.

30.

IF A QB is not avoiding a sack, he can take the snap and immediately

ground the ball by throwing it straight down to stop the clock under 2
minutes in the 4th quarter.

31.

PROFANITY during the game will NOT be tolerated.

A) At the coin flip teams will be warned about profanity anywhere on
the field and bench area.
B) First time offenders: Unsportsmanlike penalty.
C) Second time offenders: Ejection

32.

ONLY one man can be in motion at the snap of the ball.

A) If 2 men are in motion before the snap of the ball, only one has
to stop and get set for one second.
B) Shifting is legal at any time. All players who shift still must
reset for 1 second.

33.

INADVERTENT WHISTLE: At the time of the inadvertent whistle, the team

with possession of the ball has the option of replaying the down, or
the result of the play.

34.

EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT:

A) Any roughing of the kicker, holder or center is:
1. Automatic 10 yards on kickoff
2. Choice of 1 or 2 from the 1 yard line
3. Run, pass or kick from the 1 yard line for 1 or 2 points
B) Captain may change his mind on 1 point try from 3 yard line or 2
point try from the 10 yard line if he has a time out.

35.

PADDING RULE ADDITION:

A) Any exposed metal, like knee brace or ankle brace must be covered.
B) Casts are not allowed.
C) Pads that are used for medical reasons cannot be used as a weapon.

36.

FIELD GOALS:
A) Field goals missed inside the 20- placement spot is 20 yard line.
B) Field goals missed outside the 20- placement spot is the scrimmage
line.

37.

OVERTIME:

38.

TURNOVER RULE: (Applies to Losing Team only!)

A) During the last 2 minutes of the 2nd half only, all free kicks
that follow a score must be returned by R to R's 20 yard line or
further (after all penalties that occur have been assessed), or K
shall receive the ball at 50 yard line, 1st down and next zone
line-to-gain (1st & 10). APPLIES TO LOSING TEAM ONLY!
B) If a touchback occurs during the last 2 minutes of the second
half, it shall be R's ball 1st & 20 at R's 20 yard line.
C) If the free kick goes out of bounds between the 35 yard line and
the goal line during the last 2 minutes, it shall be R's ball, 1st
& 5 at R's 35 yard line.

39.

SCORING: TD= 6 pts/ FG= 3 pts/ SAFETY= 2 pts

EXTRA POINTS= 1 pt (Run, pass or kick from 3 yard line)
= 2 pt (Run, pass or kick from 10 yard line)

40.

INTERCEPTION ON AN EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT:

A) May be returned by the defense for 2 points.
B) A blocked extra point attempt that does not hit the ground may be
returned by the defense for 2 points.
C) If there is a penalty, after the interception or during the return
of a blocked extra point attempt against K, and R does not score,
R will be given one untimed down from the 10 yard line to attempt
a 2 point conversion by either run, pass or kick!

41.

BALL REQUIREMENTS: USFTL Licensed Footballs must be used in all USFTL

play. Men shall use the regulation size ball and women and youth shall
use any size ball (regulation, intermediate, junior or youth size).
The particular tournament or league director shall specify Licensed
Football of the USFTL that will be used in their particular tournament

4 plays from the 20 yard line for each team.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES- SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME.

or league.

42.

FLAG REQUIREMENTS: Flag-A-Tags 3-flag belt is the USFTL Licensed Flags and
must be used in all USFTL play.

43. BLOCKING REQUIREMENTS: You may not leave your feet to block. 2 on 1
blocking is permitted. No contact allowed above shoulders or below waist. An
open hand, straight arm block, within the framework of the blockers body,
is the ideal block to avoid unnecessary rough play. No grabbing of jersey
allowed. You may not flip an elbow to block.