Flag Football Rules

Upstate 7 vs. 7 Flag Attack - Flag Rules  

1.FIELD LENGTH: 50 Total Yards – 40 Yards with a 10 Yard End Zone 

2. STARTING EACH GAME:  

Rock-Paper-Scissors will be used to determine the home team - begin possession on the +40-yard line  

1. A horn will begin each game – each game will last 2 – (20) mins 1/2– running time-clock - one (1) minute timeout per 1/2 
2. Official will declare when the clock goes under two minutes – a horn will end each game  C. 7 Players Only in the Huddle and on the field  
3. MOVING THE BALL:  
4. Offense starts on +40 - it will be 1st & 20 - ball will always be placed in middle of field  
5. Offense has 4 downs to gain a first down. First down marker will be at the +20  yard line  
6. Once inside the + 20, the offense has 4 downs to score a TD  
7. For the conversion- offense can choose 1, 2 or 3pts. 1 pt is automatically awarded or you  can opt to go for 2 from the 10 yd line or 3 from the 20 yd line - off. has choice of hash  (if less than 2 minutes left in game the conversion will be untimed - the officials will keep the time  for the remainder of the game)  
8. COACHING YOUR TEAM  
9. 1 off coach allowed on the field-must be positioned behind the offensive huddle - No  Defensive Coaches are allowed on the field. If the official calls the offensive coach for  interference during the play, It will be a dead ball at the spot of interference and loss of  Down. The offensive coach must stay out of the way after ball is snapped!  
10. Coaches are not allowed to challenge any official ruling  

PS- REMAINING COACHES CAN WORK FROM SIDELINE  

5. SPECIAL RULES (Mouth Pieces Required - Coaches must monitor)  

We will follow rules from 2025 NYS Girl’s Flag Football with the following exceptions:  A. ½ field w/play starting at the 40 yd line - new possession will be 1st & 20  B. If a penalty is assessed and can’t be fully marked off it will result in a loss of down and play  will begin again at the 40 yd line. 

1. If the play results in negative yardage behind the 40 yd line the ball will be placed back at the 40  to start the next play.  
2. No Punting. 
3. An interception is awarded 3 points for the defense, and they will start with the ball at the  40-yard line on offense. 
4. The defense can rush the QB but must start 1 yd off the LOS at the snap of the ball  
5. If a defensive penalty occurs at the end of regulation the offense will be allowed one more  untimed down to complete the game if it has an impact on the result of the game. 
6. Each team will have 25 seconds to put the ball into play. Delay of game is loss of down.  
7. Offensive team is responsible for retrieving & returning the ball to the official. Any delay  from offense will result in delay of game – loss of down with exception of 1 timeout per team 
8. Pool Play - Records from pool play will determine seeding for the playoffs.  All teams will make the playoffs. Games will end as soon the time runs out - there will be  No more plays after the horn blows. If the ball is snapped and the horn blows during the  play teams must finish that play. Teams will be seeded starting with Win Percentage - see  the criteria on the last page for tied records.  
9. TIEBREAKER in PLAYOFFS 
10. Any game that ends in a tie in the playoffs will use the following format. There will be a  coin toss at the beginning of the tie breaker with the home team calling the toss. The  winner will choose to be on offense or defense.  
11. Each team will have one possession from the +20-yard line. No first downs  will be awarded. Each team will be allowed up to 4 plays. If first team scores a TD  the 2nd team will then get 4 plays from the 20 and must score. If first team doesn’t score  and the 2nd team does game is over. 
12. Interception would end the game (not on a 2pt conversion). 
13. If a team scores TD they will have a choice of taking 1 pt or going for 2 from the 10 yd line  
14. This process will continue until a winner is declared. To start the 2nd OT teams will  switch Offense & Defense to start 

*AFTER EACH GAME THE COACHES OF BOTH TEAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO  CONFIRM THE SCORE OF THE GAME WITH THE OFFICIALS - OFFICIALS WILL THEN  REPORT SCORES TO THE FIELD MANAGER THAT IS CONTROLLING THAT  BRACKET SITE*  

POINT VALUES  

1. Offensive touchdown = 6 points.  
2. Extra point = 1 point. Is automatically rewarded unless you opt to go for 2 or 3.  C. Extra point from the +10 = 2 points and +20 = 3 points  
3. Defensive Interception - 3 points (not on 2- or 3-point play)  

CRITERIA FOR SEEDING  

1. Win Percentage - a forfeit counts as a win  
2. Head-to-Head Victory (if only two teams remain)  
3. Points Allowed per game - avg. games actually played (a forfeit counts as a win but  not actual game played)  
4. Defensive Interceptions  
5. 3 Point Conversions  
6. 2 Point Conversions  
7. F. 1 Point Conversion  

• As soon as a team advances the remaining teams will start with Criteria #1

Revised: 7/3/2025