NJ Play Sports Eric LeGrand Tournament Mens Flag Football Rules

 

SUMMARY

  • Maximum 7 players on the field
  • Two 15 Minute Halves. Running Clock both Halves. 
  • One Team timeout per game. 
  • Ball will be spotted where the players hips/flags are at the conclusion of the play
  • No picks allowed
  • Open hand blocking is allowed at the line and downfield. 5 Yard Bump is also allowed. 
  • Eric LeGrand Tournament t-shirts are provided. However, players must bring their own dark and light shirt to the tournament
  • Cleats are strongly suggested. Metal cleats are prohibited
  • Each team will have a series of four (4) downs to advance the ball from one zone to another. Mid-field is the only first down. Failure to do so in four downs results in loss of the ball to the opponent. If you start the possession on your opponent's side of mid-field the count will be 1st and Goal.
  • All games are RAIN or SHINE (unless hazardous conditions)
  • Any unsportsmanlike conduct will result in that player/team being suspended/removed from participating in future NJ Play activities, at the discretion of NJ Play officials.
  • No Actual Punts - Once a “punt” is declared, the defense will start with the ball on their own 5 yard line (Same rule applies for safeties)
  • 3 games Guaranteed 
  • Qualified teams will advance to the playoffs.
  • Player refs may be assigned throughout the day to assist main officials with out of bounds and down field calls 
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QUESTIONS FOR OFFICIAL

Only the team captains are permitted to ask the head official for rule clarification. If it is a judgment call, the referees can confer with each other and the team captains for discussion, but players and/or captains are not allowed to question judgment calls.

 

 

START OF GAME

  • Referee will have two captains shoot rock/paper/scissors, odds/evens, or coin flip.
  • Winning captain selects Offense/Defense or direction in the first half (In the second half, teams change directions and possession).
  • Game starts with the receiving team in possession on its own 5-yard line.

 

 

CLOCK TIME

  • Two 15 Minute Halves. Both Halves Running Clock.
  • Official's time-outs (injuries)
  • Any penalty deemed intentional by the referee in an effort to affect the clock in the last one minute of the game is prohibited

 

 

TIMEOUTS - 

Each team receives one time-out per game. Time out will only stop the clock for 25 seconds then the clock starts again.

 

 

UNIFORMS/FOOTWEAR

  • Teams are required to bring two shirts (light and dark)
  • Proper footwear must be worn to participate (i.e. sneakers or cleats)
  • Metal Cleats are prohibited

 

 

SCORING

  • Touchdowns 6 points
  • 2 yard conversion: 1 point
  • 10 yard conversion: 2 points
  • Safeties: 2 points

*Extra point attempts may be intercepted and returned for 2 points with the defense retaining possession at their 10 yard line.

 

 

SAFETIES

A safety will be scored when a player:

  • Is de-flagged with the hips across the goal-line in their own end zone (not on a punt or intercepted pass)
  • If player advances the ball out of end zone and runs back in on a punt or intercepted pass, a safety will be awarded
  • Runs out of bounds in their own end zone
  • Snaps the ball out of the back of their own end zone
  • Fumbles in their own end zone

*The defensive team receives 2 points and will receive the ball on their own 5 yard line

 

 

FIRST DOWNS

Each team will have a series of four (4) downs to advance the ball from one zone to another. Mid-field is the only first down. Failure to do so in four downs results in loss of the ball to the opponent. If you start the possession on your opponent's side of mid-field the count will be 1st and Goal.

 

 

SNAPPING BALL INTO PLAY

  • Only 7 men are allowed in the huddle
  • Ball must always be snapped near the ground by the center to the quarterback
  • The center is eligible to receive a pass after snapping the ball into play
  • The player receiving the snap is the quarterback for that play
  • No player shall put the ball in play until it is declared ready-for-play by the head referee
  • The offensive team has 25 seconds to put the ball in play after it is spotted by the referee
  • Centers may adjust the ball, including picking it up to reposition it as long as this motion is not used to intentionally draw the defense offside
  • Only 1 man may be allowed in motion when the ball is snapped.  The man in motion has to be moving parallel to the line of scrimmage or backwards.
  • Only 3 players are allowed in the backfield at the snap
  • If the ball hits the ground during the snap it is treated like a fumble and is dead immediately at the spot where it hit the ground
  • This will not stop the clock during the last two minutes of the 2nd half

 

Blocking

  • Offensive linemen are allowed to block the defense (No Shoulder Blocks)
  • The offense can keep players in the backfield to block for the quarterback for the rush.  Everyone is an eligible receiver.
  • Five Yard Chuck is allowed. Making contact with a receiver within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage
  • Downfield blocking is allowed (No Shoulder Blocking/Checking)

 

 

Rushing Quarterback

  • Pursuing the QB is allowed after 3 Mississippi (counted by the Referee) or during the defensive teams 1 blitz per four downs
  • The quarterback may only run when the defense uses a blitz (crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the 3 Mississippi Count)
  • The defense must yell BLITZ when blitzing.  If BLITZ is not yelled by the defense, a five yard penalty will be assessed for defensive offside.  
  • The defense may rush immediately if a handoff/lateral takes place behind the line of scrimmage. This is not counted against your blitz if you haven't used it already.
  • If there is Defensive offside and the offense accepts the call the defense will get there blitz back. If the offense declines the penalty the defense loses their blitz. 

 

 

PLAY WILL CONTINUE UNTIL

  • Ball carrier is de-flagged
  • The receiver can be de-flagged once he makes initial contact with the ball.
  • Ball carrier touches the out of bounds line with any part of his/her body
  • Ball carrier scores. Ball carriers’ hips must break goal plane for touchdown or conversion
  • Ball touches the ground as a result of a fumble, punt or incomplete pass or even while in a player's hand
  • Ball carrier slips or falls, or any part of his/her body (excluding feet or hands) touches the ground, the ball becomes dead
  • If an offensive player becomes de-flagged without cause the play will continue until he is touched with two hands by a defender

 

 

STIFF ARM

There are no stiff arms allowed by any player. This will be considered an illegal contact foul and a 10-yard penalty will be assessed and loss of down.

 

COMPLETE / INCOMPLETE PASS

 

A pass is complete if:

  1. Caught by any player of the passing team (who has at least one foot in bounds) beyond the line of scrimmage
  2. Caught in bounds simultaneously by opponents & the ball is awarded to passing team at spot of catch
  3. Player that has ball control and is pushed out of the end zone/sideline will be considered inbounds/TD/extra point

 

 

START OF THE GAME / SCORE

The team taking possession of the ball will start on its own 5 yards line.  There are no kick-offs

 

 

PUNTS

The offensive team must declare a punt. (No actual Punts in tournament play)

The takes possession of the ball at their own 5 yard line

 

FUMBLES / INTERCEPTIONS / TURNOVERS

 

FUMBLES

  • There are no fumbles - any play ends when the ball makes contact with the ground
  • If a player has possession of the ball and then loses it and the ball makes contact with the ground, the ball will be spot where the player last had complete control of the ball
  • If a ball becomes loose, either team my attempt to catch the ball prior to it hitting the ground and advance it towards their opponents end zone
  • Stripping the ball is NOT allowed

 

INTERCEPTIONS

  • Interceptions may be advanced by the defense.
  • If the offensive and defensive players both have simultaneous possession, the ball will be awarded to the offensive player

 

LATERALS

  • Downfield laterals are allowed
  • A lateral is a toss of the ball to a team member next to or behind you. If the lateral is behind the line of scrimmage, the player receiving the pass has the option to run the ball, regardless of Mississippi count, or throw the ball down field to an eligible receiver
  • Illegal forward laterals will result in a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul

 

 

SUBSTITUTIONS IN THE HUDDLE

A team is permitted to substitute players before each play. Players must be set on the field for one second before the snap.

Teams may not have more than 7 players in the huddle.

The penalty for an illegal substitution is 5 yards from the line of scrimmage prior to the ball being snapped

 

 

PENALTIES

 

DELAY OF GAME

The offense has 25 seconds to run a play after the referee has signaled he is ready for play.  Referees will give a count from 5 down to zero before calling this penalty  5 yards; play is blown dead prior to snap

 

Too Many Men on the field - No more than 7 players on field. Penalty will be assessed after discovery  5 yards; replay down. Opposing team may decline penalty

 

DEFENSE 

  • Defensive Offsides - If any defender crosses the line of scrimmage before 3-Mississippi is fully uttered: 5 yards will be assessed from the line of scrimmage  and the down will be replayed (Penalty may be decline by the offense) 
  •         Defensive Pass interference will be an automatic first down at the spot of the penalty
  • Defensive pass interference in the end zone will result in a first down on the 1 yard line

 

 

OFFENSE

  • QB illegal forward pass/illegal run - The QB throws a forward pass after he crosses the line of scrimmage or runs before defense crosses the line of scrimmage- 5 yards will be assessed from the line of scrimmage  and there will be a loss of down (Penalty may be declined by the defense)
  • Offensive Offsides- When any part of the offensive player's body is beyond the scrimmage line before the ball is snapped or an offensive play leaves before the ball is snapped: play is blown dead at snap, 5 yards will be assessed from the line of scrimmage  and the down will be replayed
  • Illegal Motion - Players must be set on the field for one second before the snap. - 5 yards; 
  • Intentional grounding - 5 yards; loss of down (Intentional grounding will not be called if the QB spikes the ball immediately after the snap during the last two minutes of the game to stop the clock)
  • Illegal forward lateral - Illegal forward laterals will result in a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
  • Illegal Blocking - Clipping/Chop/Shoulder blockers  (Penalty: 10 yards from line of scrimmage; replay down.)
  • Illegal contact/holding Making intention contact with another player will result in a 10 yard penalty and replay the down
  • Offensive picking - Offensives picks are not allowed (Intentionally impeding the path of a defensive player in order to free up a potential receiver).  The penalty is 10 yards and replay the down.
  • Pass interference (when ball is in the air) - Pass interference will be called if a player significantly hinders the ability for an opposing player to get open or catch the ball. It will be considered incidental contact if both players are clearly going for the ball.
  • Offensive Pass interference will result in a 10 yard penalty and replay the down. 
  • Flag Guarding- Intentionally or unintentionally obstructing an opposing player from reaching for a flag belt - The play will be blown dead and it will be a 10 yard penalty from the spot of the foul. This will also result in a loss of down.
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