2026 Flag Football Rules

Note: Please reference the rule book for any additional information needed

1. Player Requirements

• Seven (7) student-athletes on the field.
• Must have at least five (5) student-athletes to start and finish a game.
• Unlimited substitutions between plays.
• All players must wear legal equipment and flags properly.

2. Player Equipment

• Required
  • Legal flag belt (no knots, no tape, contrasting color). (Officials check belts before game starts) Defensive players must hold flag up once pulled. (State Adoption)
  • Jersey must be tucked in.
  • Mouthguard must be worn.
  • Rubber or plastic cleats only.
  • Shorts with no pockets may be worn.
  • No sunglasses on top of head.
  • Players with ponytails are required to tuck their hair into their jersey.
• Illegal
  • Metal cleats may not be worn.
  • Jewelry may not be worn. (Officials need to check before the game start)
  • Hard casts may not be worn.
  • Sticky substances on hands or flags not allowed.

3. Game Clock & Play Clock

• Game consists of two halves (2026 State Adoption 20 min half).
• Running clock majority of the game except in the last two (2) mins of each half.
  • Team Timeouts – Three (3) per half, each 30 seconds in length
  • Injuries will stop the clock
  • Administrative stoppages will stop clock
• In the last 2:00 minutes of each half the clock stops for:
  • Incomplete pass (restarts on the snap)
  • Runner or ball out of bounds (restarts on the snap)
  • Penalty enforcement
  • Scores
  • Try for point attempts
  • Change of possession
  • Timeouts
  • Safety
• Play clock: 25 second (starts on referee’s ready for play signal)
  Note: All offensive players must be within five (5) yards from the sideline at the ready for play.

4. Game Administrator Meeting and Coin Toss

• A game administrator meeting will take place on the field before the coin toss.
• Winner chooses:
  • Offense or defense
  • Direction
  • Or to defer to second half
• Other team will choose the remaining option.

5. Field Requirements

• Standard field: 80 yards long, 40 yards wide, with 10‑yard end zones. (State Adoption that the goal line starts on 10-yard line and end line with be the goal line on a 100-yard field) This will allow the upright not be in the end zone.
• The field will be divided into four 20‑yard zones. (20-40-20)
• Zone lines are used instead of traditional first downs.

6. Goal Line

• There is a NO RUN ZONE with in the 10-yard line of the offensive team going into the endzone. (State Adoption 2026)
• NO RUN ZONE will apply to extra points for the 3- & 10-yard line.
• Try for point from 3 yards is 1 point from 10 yards is 2 points.

7. Ball Placement

• Start of Game: Ball placed at the 14-yard line to start the game.
• After Touchback: Ball placed at the 14‑yard line
• After Safety: Ball placed at the 30-yard line
• After Penalties: Enforced from previous spot, end of run, or spot of foul.
• The ball will be spotted in the middle of the field every play (State Adoption)

8. Halftime, Safety & Mercy Rule

• Halftime: 5–10 minutes. (State Adoption).
• Heat/humidity rules apply.
• Concussion symptoms → player removed until cleared.
• Lightning: 30‑minute delay after last strike.
• Mercy Rule: When a team is up by 19 points and the game is in the last 2:00 minutes.

9. Snapper Requirements

• Feet must be behind the neutral zone and the body behind the ball only the hands may be beyond the foremost point of the ball.
• Snapper must line up on the line of scrimmage.
• Snap must be one continuous motion.
• Snapper cannot simulate a snap to draw defense offside.
• Snapper has limited protection once the play begins.

10. Snap Requirements

• Ball must be snapped to start every play.
• Shotgun snaps allowed.
• To receive the snap a team a player much be 2 yards from line of scrimmage.
• False start = dead ball, 5‑yard penalty.

11. Formations

• Minimum 4 players on the line of scrimmage.
• All players are eligible receivers.
• Only one player may be in motion, and motion must be parallel or backward.

12. Neutral Zone

• There is one (1) yard between offense and defense at the snap. (officials will use pucks)
• Defense cannot enter before the snap (encroachment). Dead ball foul 5 yards.
• Defense can enter the neutral zone and get out before the snap with no foul.
• Offense cannot simulate the start of the play. (False start)
• There are no limits on the number of defensive rushers at the snap.

13. Illegal Shift & Motion

• Illegal Shift:
  • Two or more players move → must be set for one full second before snap.
  • Penalty for illegal shift will be five (5) yards.
• Illegal Motion:
  • Motion player moving toward the line at snap.
  • Penalty for illegal motion will be five (5) yards.

14. Illegal Blocking

• Players may not block, other than screen blocking. (10-yard penalty)
• Legal screen blocking requirements:
  • Take a position to obstruct the path of an opponent without contracting the opponent.
  • Blocker may move in the same direction or path as the opponent.
  • Blocker may not extend arms, hands, elbows, or legs to initiate contact.

15. Scrimmage Kicks Requirements

• Offense must declare a kick before ready for play. (Referee will announce)
• Defense must be given time to substitute.
• Punt must be from 2 yards behind line of scrimmage (LOS).
• If kick is declared, ball must be kicked.
• Defense can’t rush.

16. Forward & Backward Passes

• Only one forward pass allowed per play beyond or behind of the LOS.
• A forward shuffle pass behind the LOS is not considered a running play but a forward pass.
• Passer must be behind the line of scrimmage.
• Backward passes and laterals are legal.
• Ball hitting the ground on a backward pass = dead ball at spot.
• Any forward fumble that hits the ground comes back to the initial fumble spot.

17. Fumbles & Muffs

• No live fumbles.
• Ball is dead where it hits the ground.
• Muffed snaps or pitches that hit the ground are dead at the spot.

18. Loss‑of‑Down Penalties

• Common examples:
  • Illegal forward pass
  • Illegal touching
  • Offensive pass interference
  • Flag guarding (this is a judgement call)
• Penalty: 5 or 10 yards + loss of down depending on foul.

19. Personal Fouls (10 yards)

• Defensive pass interference
• Kick catching interference
• Illegal contact
• Tackling or excessive force
• Blocking
• Roughing the passer
• Charging into a defender

Often includes automatic first down for defensive fouls.

20.Unsportsmanlike Conduct (10 yards)

• Taunting or baiting
• Profanity
• Sideline interference
• Two unsportsmanlike fouls = disqualification.