2026 SPARKS FLAG FOOTBALL RULES​​​​​​​

Two games will be played at 8:30 AM; two games at 9:30 Am; and one game at 10:30 AM. Games on the South End (near concessions) will use the main scoreboard. Games on the North End (closer to Route 22) will use a portable electronic scoreboard on the east sideline (sideline closest to the ELA Township building).

The home team is the team on the west side of the field (near the Knox Park parking lot), and the visitor team is on the east side of the field. The home team is responsible for the chain crew and down marker.

FIELD DIMENSIONS AND GENERAL PLAYING RULES:

The playing field for each game is approximately 50 yards long by 33 yards wide. Games will use the 45-yard line to the endzone with the ball being placed at the 40-yard line to begin a possession.

Games are played with 8 players on offense and 8 players on defense. All jerseys must be tucked in with flags on hips. Games consist of two 25-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime. The clock runs continuously with no timeouts or stoppage.

Each team is allowed one coach on the field to call plays. A second coach may assist on the field at the head coach’s discretion to assist players with flag belt adjustments and correctly line them up in their positions. No more than two coaches are allowed on the field regardless of perceived player behavior/instructional challenges.

A coin toss before the game is done to determine which team will be on offense or defense to begin the first half. Roles are switched to begin the second half.

There are no kickoffs and no punting. Possession begins at the 40-yard line after scores and turnovers.

Scoring: 6 points for a touchdown. Extra points can be 1 point (3-yards) or 2 points (10-yards).

Excessive Scoring Rule: if a team is up by 18 points or more the leading team’s defense must line up 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.

PLAYING POSITIONS:

Offense: Quarterback, two running backs/wide receivers, center, two guards, and two tackles.

• The offensive line must have a three-point stance.
• Tackles can be eligible ball carriers/receivers.
• Centers and guards are the only players ineligible to receive or carry the ball.  
• Centers must snap the ball (between their legs) to the quarterback.
• There must be five linemen on the line of scrimmage and three backs (quarterbacks/running backs).
• Offensive players must block with their arms locked together and may only block between the defensive player’s chest to waist – absolutely no drive blocking is allowed.
• Running backs can carry the ball up the middle; quarterbacks may not carry the ball up the middle.
• Running backs can line up as receivers but they must remain off the line of scrimmage.
• Quarterbacks must use a three-word cadence such as “down, set, hike” or “ready, set, hit”. There are no silent counts.

Defense: Defensive line (up to four), linebackers, and secondary.

• Teams are allowed a maximum of four defensive linemen; none of which can play over the center (in a noseguard position).
• Defensive lineman must be in a two-point stance with hands on knees to avoid head-to-head contact.
• Defensive linemen must be two yards off from the line of scrimmage.
• Defensive linemen are defined as anyone inside the tackles and 2 yards off the ball.
• There are no defensive rush counts nor defensive blitzes/rushes inside of the tackles.
• If a ball carrier runs outside of the tackles, then defenders can pull a flag behind the line of scrimmage. The moment a ball carrier goes outside of the tackle box the defense can pursue them (even if the ball carrier ends up back inside the tackle box after leaving it).
• Defensive linemen can pull flags as soon as the ball crosses the line of scrimmage (even if it is straight up the middle).
• There will be a 7 second count from the snap for the ball to cross the line of scrimmage. If the ball does not advance beyond the line of scrimmage during that time the referee will blow the play dead resulting in a loss of down (but no loss of yardage).

SPORTSMANSHIP:

On Offense:

• Once the quarterback is over the ball, coaches (both offense and defense) must back away 10-yards from the ball and not give any verbal instructions to their players. Let the players run the play. Coaching during the play is not allowed. EXAMPLE: Coaches yelling “PASS!” to alert defensive players. After the play, coaching may continue.
• A player is allowed to score only one TD (6 points) and one extra point attempt (1 or 2 points) per game. A lateral pitch or forward pass would be credited to the receiver only.
• Once a player has 6 points he must play center or guard (ineligible positions) while on offense for the remainder of the game, with the exception of extra point attempts (1 or 2 points). 
• Once a player has 7 or 8 points, (Touchdown (6) + extra point attempt (1 or 2 points)) they must play center or guard on offense for the remainder of the game including any extra point attempts. 
• If a player’s first score comes from a successful extra point attempt (1 or 2 points), he is still able to play any position on offense and is allowed to advance the ball into the end zone on an offensive play or interception. 
• At least 2 of every 4 offensive plays MUST be HAND-OFFS (not just QB runs this way, QB runs that way).
• The Quarterback CANNOT carry the ball up the middle. Quarterback keepers must be outside the tackles.
• As an instructional league each player MUST be given the option to play at least one half at QB and MUST be given the option to play at least 2 halves at running back during the season.
• No Quarterback sneaks inside the 5-yard line (including extra points). The play must be a pass or a hand off to another player.

On Defense:

A player should get equal playing time at the line positions (tackles and ends) and at the secondary positions (linebackers, corners, and safeties) for each game to the best of the coach’s ability. A player cannot play a line position or secondary position the entire game or the entire season.

PENALTIES: 

5 yards from the line of scrimmage, replay the down

• Delay of game occurs after 30 seconds; Referees will provide a 15 second warning to run the play.
• False start - a player moves before the ball is snapped by the Center.

5 yards from spot of the foul and loss of down, these are NOT allowed:

• Flag guarding.
• Stiff arming.
• Holding or excessively hugging of a defensive player.
• Blocking in the back or clipping.
• Hurdling or jumping over players.

10 yard penalties from original line of scrimmage and loss of down, these are NOT allowed:

• Unsportsmanlike Conduct including: swearing, taunting or arguing with any player, coach or referee.
• Trick plays are not allowed (ex. wrong ball, fumblerooski).

+5 yards awarded to offense from spot of the foul:

• Defensive player cannot tackle an offensive player carrying the ball.
• Defensive player cannot push the offensive player out of bounds, they must go for the flag.
• Defensive play must play the ball or pull flags in passing situations.

Fumbles and Interceptions:

• Fumbled snaps/exchanges/hand-offs WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE PICKED UP by the offense and the play can continue without penalty. The defense will wait for the play to reach the line of scrimmage. 
• Fumbled balls CAUSED BY THE DEFENSE that hit the ground are blown dead at that spot, and cannot be picked up/advanced. There is no change of possession unless the play occurred on 4th down
• If the defense recovers the ball by interception, it cannot be advanced.
• On an interception, the defense takes possession of the ball at the 40-yard line (this is the case for ALL CHANGES of possession). 

General Conduct:

The Referee may remove (and the league could then suspend) any player/parent/coach for unsportsmanlike conduct. Profanity and excessive force are not tolerated.

Chain crew volunteers are there to support the referees, not to argue or criticize their calls. They must also refrain from coaching their players from the sidelines. Let the coaches on the field do the coaching.

Chain crew volunteers (3) must be provided by the designated HOME TEAM.