Flag Football Rules - 7v7

You may suffer physical and/or mental injury from participating in Intramural Sports. There are certain risks of injury that are inherent to participation in sports and recreational activities. These types of injuries may be minor or serious and may result from the actions or inactions of themselves or others. By choosing to participate in Intramural Sports, you do so at your own risk. It is understood that most activities require a certain level of fitness and health, and that each person has a different capacity for participating in these activities. Participants of Intramural Sports are highly encouraged to have a physical examination and procure health insurance prior to play. UC Campus Recreation does not provide health insurance.

Intramural Supervisors undergo concussion recognition training. In the instance a participant is exhibiting any signs or symptoms of a concussion as a result of a head injury sustained during intramural play, he or she will be removed from the activity. This individual must provide a physician’s note clearing the individual to play by a specific date. This note may be e-mailed to intramural@uc.edu or faxed to 513-556-0601.

Following each game, each team will receive a sportsmanship rating between 0.0 and 4.0.

In order to qualify for playoffs, teams must obtain a 3.0 or higher sportsmanship average during the regular season based on the table below:

* A team that receives a "0" rating will be suspended from competition until its captain meets with the Assistant Director or Coordinator of Intramural Sports. The team may be removed from competition.

In addition to team ratings, any unsportsmanlike actions may be forwarded to Judicial Affairs and may include but is not limited to revocation of Intramural Sports and/or Campus Recreation privileges.

To be eligible for intramural sports, each player must be a current University of Cincinnati student [enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour], faculty, or staff member. Additionally, participants must have a valid and active Campus Recreation membership.

Uptown, full-time UC students receive a Campus Recreation membership through full payment of the Campus Life Fee. All other populations will need to purchase a membership in order to be eligible to play.

Participants may participate on one (1) mixed gender and one (1) non-mixed gender (i.e. men's, women's, open, fraternity, sorority) team per sport, per season. Substituting for another team in the same league is prohibited.

Every game, each participant must check in with the intramural official with a valid Bearcat card.

Intramural particpants must additionally meet all requirements of Section 3.4:

Teams are limited to two (2) competitive club sport participants (in the same or similar sport) on its roster.

Current varsity athletes and professional athletes are not allowed to play on an intramural team of the same or similar sport as their varsity sport.

Former varsity athletes must sit out 365 days from last appearing on a varsity roster to be eligible to play in the same or similar sport as their varsity sport. Teams are allowed one (1) former varsity athlete (in the same or similar sport) per roster.

Jewelry is not allowed during intramural play. This includes earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and fitness trackers, among other things.

Medical jewelry is allowed but must be taped down with athletic tape.

Headwear is not permitted during intramural play. This includes hats, bandannas, padded headgear among other things.

Athletic clothing and footwear is required. Prohibited items include but is not limited to: jeans, cargo pants/shorts, skirts, loafers, open-toed shoes, and boots.

Rubber molded cleats are the only cleats permitted. Removable or metal cleats are prohibited.

Towels & any obstructing objects may not be worn at the waist level. Jerseys/shirts must be tucked in to fully expose flags

Any casts, braces, or other protective equipment must be padded and secure.

Mouth guards are recommended, but not provided.

Jerseys are available for use at the playing location. Teams are not required to bring their own.

Flags are available for use at the playing location. Teams are not required to bring their own.

Prior to registration close, a team must have at least seven players confirmed on its IMLeagues roster. Teams that fail to do so may not be included in the league.

Once playoffs begin, players may not be added to the roster without direct approval of the Coordinator and/or Assistant Director of Intramurals.

Teams may have up to sixteen (16) players on its roster.

No team shall participate with less than six (6) players at any time

If injuries or ejections cause a team to drop below minimum players required, the team may continue, as long as they started with the minimum number of players.

At the approval of the supervisor and opponent, teams may participate below the minimum number of players needed to start a game if deemed competitive by the staff and the opponent agrees to waive protest rights under Section 5.4

Mixed gender teams may not have more than four players of one gender on the field

Mixed gender teams must adhere to section 5.5 regardless of injury or ejection - even if it results in a short handed scenario

Players may substitute freely between downs.

Players must exit the field on their own sideline, failure to do this is an illegal substitution

The length of the game is two 20-minute halves. Halftime will be three minutes, time permitting.

A running clock will be used until the last two-minutes of the second half, with excpetion for official’s and team timeouts.

In the case of inclement weather or other circumstances, a game is considered “official” after the first half is completed.

Each team receives three 30-second timeouts. These timeouts can only be called during a dead ball situation.

All checked-in players and coaches have the authority to call timeouts on behalf of their team.

Teams that arrive late to games and/or are not ready with the minimum roster by start time will receive the following penalty:

1-4 minutes late = Other team starts up 7-0 and gets possession to begin both halves

5-9 minutes late = Other team starts up 14-0 and gets possession to begin both halves

10+ minutes late = Game is forfeited

Teams that forfeit must pay a $20 non-refundable reinstatement fee prior to the end of the regular season to be eligible for playoff consideration [Refer to Section XII of the Intramural Handbook for more information]

In order to prevent forfeits, teams may also default once per season. Teams must give a minimum 48 hour notice of default to qualify by emailing intramural@uc.edu. [Refer to Section XII of the Intramural Handbook for more information]

There is no overtime during the regular season.

During playoffs, overtime will be decided by the following format:

Rock, Paper, Scissors will be performed. Winner gets choice of starting overtime on offense/defense or which side of the field to play on. Loser will decide the remaining option.

The offense will perform a 2pt attempt (10yd line). Offense will have one chance to score in the NCAA Overtime Shootout manner. Both teams will have a chance to score using the one-play format.

Should the defense intercept a pass for a pick-six, they win the game. If the interception is not returned for a touchdown, the attempt will be over and the defensive team will begin their 2pt attempt from the 10yd line. 

If the score is tied at the end of the first overtime, a second overtime period will begin in an identical format

If the score is tied at the conclusion of Section 8.2.4, the third and ensuing overtimes will be performed in identical format, however, from the 3pt (20yd) line. 

Each team will receive one (1) 60-second timeout for the entirety of all overtime periods. Timeouts do not carry over from the first 40 minutes of play.

All overtime periods are played toward the same goal line.

Offensive penalties do not end the attempt, but are enforced and replayed [Exception: Section 8.5.1]

Penalties that result in a loss of down shall result in the attempt being no good

The official will hold a pre-match Rock, Paper, Scissors. Winner gets choice of starting on offense/defense or which end of the field to head towards. Loser will decide the remaining option. 

In playoffs, the higher seed will have choice of starting on offense/defense or which end of the field to head towards.

For Mixed Gender divisions, the football size shall be NCAA mens for male & non-binary quarterbacks and Women's size for all female quarterbacks. 

Teams may elect to use a Women's size football for all quarterbacks if agreed upon in the Captain's Meeting

The quarterback must be female for the first play of all drives, as well as for every other legally completed down

There are no kickoffs. Drives beginning halves and following touchdowns/touchbacks will begin on the team's own 19yd line 

Line to gain will be the team's own 20yd line on new drives beginning at the opponent's 19yd line

After each half teams shall change ends, and the team that did not begin on offense at the start of the first half will receive first possession beginning the second half. [Exception: Section 7.4]

Fumbles are marked down where the ball lands or where the runner fumbled if the ball progresses downfield on the fumble. Possession remains with the team in possession when the fumble occurred. 

A player who scores must immediately pull their flag belt for the nearest official to witness. Failure to do so results in an illegal secure belt penalty.

The offense is responsible for retrieving the football after each play.

The value of scores shall be:

Touchdown - 6pts

PAT 20yd line - 3pts

PAT 10yd line - 2pts

PAT 3yd line - 1pt

Safety - 2pts

Teams must declare what PAT value they are going for to the Head Ref immediately after a touchdown

Teams may only change the value of a declared PAT following a timeout by declaring to the Head Ref prior to the Ready for Play 

Mercy Rule – A game will be considered final if:

A team leads by 50+ at any point in the second half

A team leads by 36+ inside the final five (5) minutes of the second half

A team leads by 19+ inside the final two (2) minutes of the second half

The following penalties shall be Dead Ball penalties, and 5yds shall be enforced:

1. Delay of Game
2. False Start
3. Encroachment
4. Illegal Snap
5. Illegal Procedure
6. Illegal Motion
7. Illegal substitution [Offense]

The following penalties shall be Live Ball penalties, and 5yds shall be enforced at the conclusion of the play:

1. Forward Lateral [Additional loss of down]
2. Illegal substitution [Defense]
3. Aiding the Runner
   

The following penalties shall be Live Ball penalties, and 10yds shall be enforced at the conclusion of the play:

1. Illegal Contact
2. Flag Guarding
3. Pass Interference [Offense & Defense]
4. Personal Fouls
5. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
6. Kick catch interference
7. Illegal flag belt removal
8. Illegally secured flag belt [Additional loss of down & player disqualification]
9. Illegal Participation

The following penalties shall be disqualification eligible penalties, and 15yds shall be enforced at the conclusion of the play:

1. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Inside two (2) minutes of the second half, the following penalties shall have the following enforcement:

1. Delay of Game, 1st offense - Loss of down
2. Delay of Game, 2nd offense - Loss of possession 

Officials and/or Intramural Staff reserves the right to eject any players whose actions are deemed flagrant or excessive. 

The offense shall adhere to all snap guidelines of sections of 11.1:

Teams have a 15-second play clock that begins at the Ready for Play whistle performed by the Head Ref

All offensive players must remain on or behind the offensive line of scrimmage cone prior to the snap

Centers are not required to snap the ball between their legs, but are required to remain fully behind the ball

Quarterbacks must receieve snaps a minimum two (2) yards behind center - under center is illegal

Snapped balls that are deemed to touch the ground are considered fumbles, and will be marked down at the ball's point of contact with the ground

The offense shall adhere to all motion guidelines of sections of 11.2:

Only one offensive player may be in legal motion during the snap

Should multiple offensive players be in motion prior to the snap, all players must come set for one (1) full second before the ball is snapped

A minimum of four (4) offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap

The defense shall adhere to all pre-snap guidelines of sections of 11.3:

All defensive players must remain on or behind the defensive line of scrimmage cone prior to the snap

Pressing receivers on the line of scrimmage shall be deemed illegal contact

Simulating the snap count shall be an unsportsmanlike conduct [Refer to Section 10.1]

A legal & completed pass shall adhere to all applicable guidelines of sections of 12.1:

All offensive players are eligible to touch or catch a pass.

The throwing player must have a minimum of one body part on or behind the line of scrimmage when the ball is released

Only one forward pass may be thrown per down

A completed pass is deemed as a ball caught in the air with one body part touching inbounds and possession maintained

If a pass is caught simultaneously by opposing players it is considered a completed pass, and belongs to the offense.

Backward passes/laterals that are deemed to touch the ground are considered fumbles, and will be marked down at the ball's point of contact with the ground

The quarterback is eligible to scramble at any point in the game/play

Parallel and backwards laterals are deemed legal & unlimited in usage for all ball carriers

A player is deemed down when one of their flags are removed by a defensive player

If an offensive player's flag falls off by itself, runner is not considered down until contact with one hand by a defensive player

A player is considered down by making ground-contact with any body part other than a foot or hand or by making any contact with out of bounds ground.

The punt procedure shall adhere to all applicable guidelines of sections of 14.1:

Teams must declare to the Head Ref prior to the Ready for Whistle that they elect to punt

Once declared, teams may not change their decision or fake punt [Exception: Timeout called]

The ball does not have to be snapped on punts, however the kicker must adhere to the 2yd minimum distance from the line of scrimmage

Both teams may not cross their lines of scrimmage until the ball is kicked

A punt landing inbounds shall be marked where it makes contact with the ground. 

Should a punt land out of bounds it will be marked where it crossed the out of bounds in the air. 

Any motion given deemed a fair catch by the official shall be ruled a fair catch and marked down at the point of catch

Touchbacks shall be marked at the 19yd line

Unless up by 19+ points, teams are free to attempt an onside at any point of the game

The scoring team must notify the Head Ref immediately after the PAT that they want to attempt an Onside

Teams may not change their decision once choosing to Onside [Exception: After calling a timeout, defensive penalties that result in a replay of the PAT]

The Onside procedure shall adhere to all applicable guidelines of sections of 15.4:

The onside attempt shall be one play from the 3pt line (20yd line)

If successful, the attempting team shall retain possession at midfield

If unsuccessful, the defending team shall gain possession at midfield

A successful onside kick is worth 0 points, and only results in retained possession

Should an onside be intercepted and returned for a pick-six, the value of the play shall be six (6) points for the returning team

Penalties during onsides shall be enforced in accordance to Section 8.5

The clock shall start on the snap of the onside attempt

The clock shall remain running at the conclusion of the attempt unless inside two-minutes left in the game