Full Rulebook

NFL FLAG at Gateway – Rulebook (Gameplay)

1) Game format

• Coin toss: captains meet at midfield; visiting team calls the toss.
• Winner chooses offense/defense; loser chooses direction.
• Possession to start the 2nd half goes to the team that started the game on defense.
• Offense starts at its 5-yard line.
• 4 downs to cross midfield; after crossing midfield: 3 downs to score.
• If the offense fails to cross midfield and elects to punt on 4th down, the opponent starts at its 5-yard line.
• If the offense goes for it on 4th down and fails to reach midfield, the opponent takes over from the spot.
• After crossing midfield, if the offense fails to score, the new offense starts at its 5-yard line.

4th down declaration (Play or Punt)

• Offense must declare “Play” or “Punt” when asked by the referee before “Ready for Play” or risk a delay of game penalty.
• A timeout may be used only to change the declaration to “Play” before the play clock expires.
• If “Punt” is declared, ball is placed at the opponent’s 5-yard line (no option to change the declaration).

Optional onside play

• Only in the last 4 minutes, after scoring, and the scoring team is still behind.
• Ball spotted at the 5-yard line; one play to reach midfield to retain possession.
• If onside attempt fails, defense takes over at midfield.
• Defensive penalty enforced; if still short of midfield, offense gets one additional play to reach midfield.
• Any offensive penalty ends the onside attempt; defense takes over at midfield.
• If defense intercepts, ball is spotted where the defender is down.

2) Equipment

• All players must wear official NFL FLAG belts and flags provided by Gateway Flag.
• All players must wear mouthguards while on the field.
• Game balls are age specific:
  • 4U & 5U – Red Mini ball
  • 6U–9U – Blue/Black Pee Wee ball
  • 10U–14U – Brown/White Junior ball
  • 15U–16U – Official high school size ball
• Shoes required; no exposed metal cleats.
• Tape permitted on forearms/hands/fingers; gloves/elbow pads/knee pads allowed.
• No braces with exposed metal.
• Remove jewelry and hard-billed hats; winter beanies allowed.
• Soft-shell helmets and sunglasses allowed if secured.
• Jerseys must be tucked if they hang below the belt line.
• Recommended: no pockets; pockets/belt loops must be taped (games will not be delayed for taping).
• Belts/flags cannot be the same color as shorts/pants; belts must be tight and unobstructed.

3) Field / No-run zones

• Field is approximately 25 yards wide by 70 yards long with two 10-yard end zones.
• No-run zones (10U and above) are 5 yards before midfield (line-to-gain) and 5 yards before the goal line.
• Inside a no-run zone, teams cannot run the ball (all plays must be passes, including handoffs).

4) Timing & overtime

• Regular season: 40-minute continuous clock (two 20-minute halves).
• Game ends at 35-point margin unless both teams agree to continue as a scrimmage (score no longer changes).
• Clock stops for halftime, injuries, and officials’ discretion.
• Last 1 minute of the 2nd half uses stop-clock (stops for penalties, incomplete passes, out of bounds, touchdowns, and change of possession).
• Clock does not run on an extra-point play in the last minute.
• Halftime is 2 minutes.
• Play clock: 30 seconds to snap after the ball is spotted.
• Timeouts: 3 per game (carry over from 1st half to 2nd half).

Overtime (if tied at end of regulation)

• Home team calls the toss; winner chooses offense/defense first.
• Each team gets one play: 1 point from the 5-yard line or 2 points from the 10-yard line.
• Starting in 2nd overtime, both teams must go for two from the 10-yard line.
• 3rd overtime: each team runs one play from the 5-yard line going out; most yards wins (1 point added).
• No timeouts in overtime.
• Interceptions are returnable in OT and worth 2 points; if returned for a score in 1st or 2nd OT, game is over.

5) Scoring

• Touchdown: 6 points
• PAT: 1 point (5-yard line) or 2 points (10-yard line)
  • 10U and above: 1-point PAT is pass only; 2-point PAT can be run or pass.
• Interception returns: 6 points in regulation; 2 points in conversions/OT.
• Safety: 2 points (including on an extra point attempt).
• Forfeit score: 35–0.

6) Coaches

• Coaches must follow NFL FLAG philosophies, coaching guidelines, and code of conduct.
• Defense: coaches coach from the sideline.
• Offense: coaches may be on the field but must start 5 yards behind the nearest offensive player.
• Coaches are responsible for keeping fans/team members in designated areas.

7) Live / Dead ball

• Ball is live at the snap and remains live until whistled dead.
• Automatic dead ball foul if any player enters the neutral zone.
• Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
• Play is dead when:
  • Ball hits the ground (including a bad snap—spot where it hits).
  • Ball-carrier’s flag is pulled, falls out, or ball-carrier steps out of bounds.
  • Touchdown, PAT, or safety is scored.
  • Ball-carrier’s knee/arm touches the ground.
  • Receiver catches while having one or no flags.
  • 7-second pass clock expires.
• Fumbles: play is not dead until the ball hits the ground.
  • If fumbled forward and hits ground: spot where ball-carrier lost possession.
  • If fumbled backward and hits ground: spot where ball hits ground.
  • If defense catches a fumble out of the air: can advance; defense retains possession after the play.
• Inadvertent whistle: offense chooses (down is consumed):
  • Take ball where whistle blew; or
  • Replay down from original LOS.
  If on the last play of half/game, offense gets one untimed down with the same options.

8) Running

• Ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled.
• QB cannot directly run with the ball (QB is the player receiving the snap).
• Direct handoffs, laterals, and backward passes behind LOS are allowed; only one forward pass per play.
• Center sneak is not allowed (QB cannot handoff to center on the first handoff of the play).
• Any player receiving a handoff can throw from behind LOS.
• Once the ball is handed off, the 7-second pass clock ends and all defenders may rush.
• No diving or hurdling while advancing the ball.
• No jumping/leaping while advancing the ball (spins/jump cuts allowed if clearly avoiding collision).
• No blocking or “screening” at any time.
• Offensive players near ball-carrier must stop once ball crosses LOS (no running with the ball-carrier).
• Flags must be on hips, tight, and unobstructed; obstructed flags may be ruled flag guarding.

9) Passing

• All forward passes must be thrown from behind LOS and received beyond LOS (ball must be released before QB crosses LOS).
• No intentional grounding.
• QB may throw the ball away to avoid a sack.
• Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond LOS.
• QB has a 7-second pass clock; if not thrown in 7 seconds, play is dead, down consumed, ball returns to LOS.
• If QB is standing in end zone at expiration of the 7-second clock, ball returns to LOS.
• If QB throws and then catches their own pass, play is dead and treated as incomplete.

10) Receiving

• All players are eligible to receive passes (including QB if the ball has been handed off behind LOS).
• Only one player may be in motion at a time; motion must be lateral (no motion toward LOS).
• Catch is in-bounds if first foot/body part other than hand lands in bounds with possession.
• Simultaneous possession: offense gets the ball.
• Interceptions are returnable (see Scoring for point values).

11) Rushing the passer

• Rushers must start at least 7 yards from LOS and identify themselves by raising a hand pre-snap.
• Maximum of 2 rushers.
• Players with hands raised are not required to rush.
• 9U and younger: defenders may not rush unless there is a legal handoff executed in the backfield.
• After a handoff, all defenders may go behind LOS.
• Rush must be immediate (no delayed rushing).
• Offense cannot impede the rusher; rusher has a clear pre-snap path to QB. Contact/disruption can be penalized.
• Rusher may attempt to block a pass; contact to QB may be roughing the passer unless incidental.
• Sack occurs if QB flags are pulled behind LOS; spot is where ball is when flags are pulled.
• Safety awarded if sack occurs in offensive end zone.

12) Formations / Snap

• Offense must have at least 1 player on LOS (the center) and up to 4 on LOS; QB must be off LOS.
• Shifts allowed prior to snap if set for at least 1 second before snap.
• One player may be in motion at least 1 yard behind LOS.
• False start includes movement by a set player or motion toward LOS.
• Center must snap with rapid continuous motion between legs; ball must completely leave hands.
• Ball starts in middle; offense may request spot toward boundary before “ready for play” (not within 10 yards of boundary).

13) Unsportsmanlike conduct

• Intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or other unsportsmanlike acts can result in ejection (referee/field monitor discretion; no appeals).
• No offensive or confrontational language (officials determine warning vs ejection).
• No physical or verbal abuse of any opponent, coach, or official.
• Defense may not mimic offensive signals to confuse players (unsportsmanlike conduct).

14) Fans / sideline behavior

• Cheer for players; do not harass officials or other teams.
• Keep comments clean and profanity free.
• Help keep fields safe: keep younger kids, coolers, chairs, and tents at least 2 yards off the field.
• Stay in designated fan areas and dispose of trash properly.

NFL FLAG at Gateway – Rulebook (Definitions & Penalties)

1) Terminology (definitions)