7-ON-7 FLAG RULE BOOK

7-ON-7 FLAG

RULE BOOK

American Development Model

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3

TERMINOLOGY 4

POSITIONS 6

GENERAL RULES 7

EQUIPMENT 8

PLAYING FIELD 9

TIMING AND OVERTIME 10

SCORING 11

COACHES 11

LIVE BALL DEAD BALL 12

RUNNING 13

PASSING 14

RECEIVING 14

RUSHING THE PASSER 15

FLAG PULLING 16

PENALITIES 16

INTRODUCTION

Flag football is a sport that anyone can play at any stage of his or her

life – from youth to high school into the adult years. The 7-on-7 version

of this sport is enjoyed by millions of high school and adult players

across the United States each year, whether as recreation or offseason

preparation and competition.

This rule book sets the procedures for playing 7-on-7 ag football within

USA Football’s American Development Model. It is intended to serve as

guidelines that local leagues can use in full or adopt to their needs.

Any rule not directly addressed in this book should refer back to the

NFHS or NCAA rule books, depending on which of the two your state

uses at the high school level.

1 / TERMINOLOGY

BOUNDARY LINES The outer perimeter lines around the eld. They include the

sidelines and back of the end zone lines.

CHARGING An illegal movement of the ball-carrier directly at a defensive

player who has established position on the eld. This includes

lowering the head or initiating contact with a shoulder, forearm or

the chest.

DEAD BALL Refers to the period of time immediately before or after a play.

DEFENSE The team opposing the offense to prevent it from advancing

the ball.

DOWNS The offensive team has four attempts or “downs” to advance the

ball. It must cross the line to gain to get another set of downs or

to score.

FLAG GUARDING An illegal act by the ball-carrier to prevent a defender from pulling

the ball-carrier’s ags by stiff arm, lowering elbow or head or by

blocking access to the runner’s ags with a hand or arm.

INADVERTENT WHISTLE Ofcial’s whistle that is performed in error.

LATERAL A backward or sideway toss of the ball by the ball-carrier. There

are no legal laterals or pitches allowed in USA Football 7-on-7 Flag.

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE (LOS) An imaginary line running through the point of the football and

across the width of the eld.

LINE-TO-GAIN The line the offense must pass to get a rst down or score. In USA

Football 7-on-7 ag, this is the mideld point.

LIVE BALL Refers to the period of time that the play is in action. Generally

used in regard to penalties. Live ball penalties are considered

part of the play and must be enforced before the down is

considered complete.

OFFENSE The team with possession of the ball.

PASS CLOCK Offensive teams have seven seconds to throw a pass or make a

handoff once the snap is made. If the quarterback still has the ball

after an ofcial counts off seven seconds, the play is dead and the

ball returns to the line of scrimmage as if an incomplete

pass occurred.

PASSER The offensive player who throws the ball and may or may not be

the quarterback.

RUSH LINE An imaginary line running across the width of the eld seven yards

(into the defensive side) from the line of scrimmage.

RUSHER The defensive player(s) assigned to rush the quarterback to

prevent him/her from passing the ball by pulling his/her ags or

by blocking the pass.

SHOVEL PASS A legal forward pitch attempted from behind the line of scrimmage

traveling beyond the line of scrimmage.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE A rude, confrontational or offensive behavior or language.

CONDUCT

WHISTLE Sound made by an ofcial using a whistle that signies the end of

the play or a stop in the action for a timeout, halftime or the end

of the game.

2 / POSITIONS

Offense

1. The seven players on offense consist of a center, a quarterback and ve eligible receivers.

Two of those receivers must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap – each positioned on

opposite sides of the center.

a. Center. This player’s sole responsibility is to snap the ball to begin the play, a critical skill

at all levels of football. The center is the only ineligible player on the eld. Once the center

has delivered the football to the quarterback – either directly or from a pistol or shotgun

formation – the center must remain in position except in the case of a turnover, when he

or she is then eligible to pull the ball-carrier’s ag.

b. Quarterback. This player receives the snap from the center and initiates the play either

through a handoff or pass. The quarterback cannot directly run with the ball across the

line of scrimmage without rst handing the ball off to a teammate and then receiving a

second handoff back or receiving a pass.

c. Receiver/back. Any player who does not initiate the snap nor receive the snap is

considered an eligible receiver/back and can either receive a handoff or catch a pass. Two

receivers must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap – on opposite sides of the center

– while the other three are at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage in either a slot

or running back position. No player other than the quarterback may line up within three

yards of the center.

i. NOTE: Leagues may consider waiving the restriction on lining within three yards of the

center for younger age groups.

Defense

All players on defense are eligible to rush the quarterback or drop back into coverage.

1. Rusher. Any player who rushes the quarterback must be a minimum of seven yards behind the

line of scrimmage at the snap. For elds that do not include yard lines, ofcials will mark this

seven-yard zone before every play.

a. Following a legal handoff, any member of the defense can cross the line of scrimmage.

2 / POSITIONS

3 / GENERAL RULES

1. At the start of each game, captains from both teams meet at mideld for the coin toss to

determine who starts with the ball. The visiting team calls the toss.

2. The winner of the coin toss has the choice of offense or defense. The loser of the coin toss has

the choice of direction. Possession changes to start the second half to the team that started

the game on defense.

3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four plays to cross

mideld. Once a team crosses mideld, it has four plays to score a touchdown. Crossing

mideld is the only opportunity for an offense to gain a rst down within a single possession.

4. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team starts its

drive on its own 5-yard line.

5. If the offensive team fails to cross mideld, possession of the ball changes and the opposition

starts its drive from its own 5-yard line.

6. If the defense intercepts the ball, a defensive player can attempt to return it until down, out of

bounds or possession of the ball is lost.

7. All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.

8. Teams change sides after the rst half. Possession changes to the team that started the game

on defense.

4 / EQUIPMENT

1. Each player must wear uniformed shirts and ag belts with ags attached by either Velcro/

adhesive or the ball-and-cup model. Teams will use footballs suitable for the age division.

a. Flag belts may not be the same color as the shorts or pants.

2. Cleats with exposed metal are not allowed and must be removed.

3. Players may tape their forearms, hands and ngers. Players may wear gloves, elbow pads

and knee pads. Braces with exposed metals are not allowed. Players are encouraged to wear

mouth pieces during practices and games.

4. Players must remove all jewelry, hats and do-rags. Winter beanies are allowed.

5. Players’ jerseys must be tucked into shorts or pants if they hang below the belt line.

6. We recommend players wear shorts or pants that do not have pockets. Shorts or pants with

belt loops or pockets must be taped. Games will not be delayed for a player to tape up

pockets.

5 / PLAYING FIELD

ADMINISTRATIVE

ZONE

ADMINISTRATIVE

ZONE

END ZONE

(10 yards)

NO RUN ZONE (5 yards)

END ZONE

(10 yards)

NO RUN ZONE (5 yards)

6 / TIMING AND OVERTIME

1. Games are played on a 40-minute continuous clock with two 20-minute halves. The clock

stops for timeouts or injuries only, though ofcials can stop the clock at their discretion for

injury, to stop a team from delaying or other unsportsmanlike conduct.

2. Halftime is ve minutes.

3. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one

warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.

a. NOTE: USA Football recommends that ofcials should use discretion with younger ages

who may need more time to line up and get a play off.

4. Each team has one 30-second timeout per half.

5. In the event of an injury, the clock will stop then restart when the injured player is removed

from the eld of play and both teams are lined up ready to restart the play.

6. In playoff games only, if the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes, an overtime period will be

used to determine a winner. The overtime format is as follows:

a. A coin ip will determine the team that chooses to be on offense or defense rst.

i. If a second round of overtime must be played, the team that lost the coin toss will

get to choose offense or defense for the start of the second round of overtime. This

process continues with teams alternating who gets to choose to be on offense or

defense to start out during every round of overtime.

ii. The referee will determine which end of the eld the overtime will take place on.

b. Each team will take turns getting one play from the defense’s 5-yard line for one point or

the defense’s 10-yard line for two points. Whether to go for one or two points is up to the

offensive team. Whether or not the team that begins on offense converts, the team that

started on defense gets a chance on offense to win or tie by converting a one- or two-

point play of its own.

i. Example: Team A starts on offense and chooses to go for one point from the 5-yard

line and is successful. Team B is then on offense and can choose to either go for one

point from the ve-yard line to tie and force a second round of overtime or to go for

two points from the 10-yard line for the win.

ii. If the second team on offense in an overtime round fails to beat or match the team

that went rst, the team that went rst wins.

c. All regulation period rules and penalties are in effect

d. There are no timeouts in overtime.

7 / SCORING

7 / COACHES

1. Touchdown: Six points

2. PAT (point after touchdown) one point from the 5-yard line or two points from the 10-yard line.

a. Because of the no-run zone, a one point PAT is pass only; two point PAT can be run or

pass. NOTE: At younger levels, leagues should consider waiving the no-run zone for rst

downs, touchdowns and point-after tries.

b. A team that scores a touchdown must declare prior to the snap whether it wishes to

attempt a one- or two-point conversion. Any change, once a decision is made to try for

the extra point, requires a charged timeout. A decision cannot be changed after a penalty.

Interceptions on conversions cannot be returned.

3. Safety: Two points

a. A safety occurs when the ball-carrier is declared down in his or her own end zone.

Runners can be called down when their ags are pulled by a defensive player, a ag falls

out, they step out of bounds, a knee or arm touches the ground, a fumble occurs in the

end zone or if a snapped ball lands in or beyond the end zone.

b. USA Football Recommendation: Safeties can be eliminated at the younger levels. For ag

pulls in the end zone or runners running out of the back or sides of the end zone, the ball

returns to the original spot or the 5-yard line and the down is lost.

4. At youth levels, after one team is leading by 28 points or more, score is no longer kept.

Once a 28 or more point advantage is gained, no PATs are attempted. The game continues in

scrimmage mode for remainder of the game.

a. All such situations are scored 28-0 for the winning team.

1. One coach is allowed on the eld to call plays and direct players according to need. Once the

quarterback begins his or her cadence, however, coaches can no longer speak and must be

behind the deepest offensive and defensive players and out of the action.

2. Coaches can assist in the alignment of their players to facilitate a fast-paced game, but

coaches on the eld may not provide extra instruction or make audibles to play calls once

the huddle is broken. Coaches on the sidelines can provide this information to players on the

eld.

9 / LIVE BALL DEAD BALL

1. The ball is live at the snap and remains live until an ofcial’s whistle blows the ball dead.

2. The ofcial will indicate the neutral zone and line of scrimmage by spotting the ball before

each play and signaling ready for play with a short whistle.

a. It is an automatic dead ball foul if any player on defense or offense enters the neutral

zone. In regard to the neutral zone, an ofcial may give both teams a “courtesy” neutral

zone notication prior to the snap to allow their players to move back behind the line of

scrimmage.

3. The defense may not mimic the offensive team’s signals by trying to confuse the offensive

players while the quarterback is calling signals to start the play. This will result in an

unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

4. A player who gains possession of the ball is considered inbounds as long as one foot comes

down in the eld of play.

5. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.

6. Any ofcial can whistle the play dead.

7. Play is ruled “dead” when:

a. The ball hits the ground

b. If the ball hits the ground as a result of a bad snap, the ball is then placed where the ball

hit the ground

c. The ball-carrier’s ag is pulled

d. The ball-carrier steps out of bounds

e. A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored

f. Any part of the body other than feet or hands touches the ground

g. The ball-carrier’s ag falls out

h. The receiver catches the ball while in possession of one or no ag(s)

i. An inadvertent whistle

8. In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:

a. Take the ball where it was when the whistle blew, and the down is consumed.

b. Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.

9. A team is allowed to use a timeout to question an ofcial’s rule interpretation. If the ofcial’s

ruling is correct, the team is charged a timeout. If the rule is interpreted incorrectly, the

timeout is not charged and the proper ruling will be enforced. Ofcials should all agree upon

any controversial call in order to give each team the full benet of each call.

10. A team with no time out remaining cannot challenge a rule interpretation, though ofcials can

come together independently and reverse a call by unanimous decision.

10 / RUNNING

1. The ball is spotted where the runner’s front foot is when the ag is pulled, not the position of

the ball.

2. The quarterback cannot directly run with the ball.

3. Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Handoffs may be in

front, behind or to the side of the offensive player but must take place behind the line of

scrimmage. The offense may use multiple handoffs.

a. The “center sneak” play is not allowed as centers are ineligible to receive handoffs or

catch passes.

4. No laterals of any kind are allowed, including pitches and throwbacks.

5. No-Run Zones are located ve yards before the end zone and ve yards before mideld in

the direction the offense is headed. They are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running

situations. Teams are not allowed to run in these zones.

a. Leagues may consider waiving No-Run Zones for younger players who are still learning

throwing and catching mechanics.

6. Any player who receives a handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.

7. Once the ball has been handed off in front, behind or to the side of the quarterback, all

defensive players are eligible to rush.

8. Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball. Diving, leaping or jumping to avoid a ag

pull is considered ag guarding.

9. Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a ag pull. Players spinning

out of control will be called for ag guarding.

10. Runners may leave their feet if there is a clear indication that he/she has done so to avoid

collision with another player without a ag guarding penalty enforced.

11. No blocking or “screening” is allowed at any time.

12. Offensive players without the ball must stop their motion once the ball has crossed the line of

scrimmage. There is no running with the ball-carrier.

13. Flag obstruction – All jerseys must be tucked in before play begins. The ags must be on the

player’s hips and free from obstruction. Deliberately obstructed ags will be considered ag

guarding.

14. Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball-carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the ags by

stiff arming, dropping the head, hand, arm or shoulder or intentionally covering the ags with

the football jersey.

11 / PASSING

12 / RECEIVING

1. All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage, thrown forward and received beyond

the line of scrimmage.

a. All passes that do not cross the line of scrimmage, whether received or not, are illegal

forward passes. NOTE: Leagues may consider waiving this rule if younger ages make a

good-faith effort to throw the ball forward.

b. The quarterback may throw the ball away to avoid a sack. The pass must go beyond the

line of scrimmage and be in the vicinity of a receiver per NFHS rules.

c. Quarterbacks cannot spike the ball dead unless the ball travels beyond the line of

scrimmage and is in the vicinity of a teammate.

2. A seven-second pass clock begins upon the snap and continues until there is a handoff

or pass. If the seven-second clock expires while the quarterback still has the ball, the play

is blown dead, a down is lost and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage as if an

incomplete pass occurred.

a. Leagues may consider extending the seven-second play clock for younger ages.

3. Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.

4. Any payer who has received a legal handoff can throw the ball forward.

1. All players – excluding the center – are eligible to receive passes.

2. A player must have at least one foot inbounds to make a legal reception.

3. In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession

is awarded to the offense.

4. Interceptions change possession at the point of the catch. Interceptions are returnable and

are the only changes of possession that do not result with starting on the 5-yard line.

5. The play is blown dead immediately if an interception is made on an extra-point try. There are

no returns on that play.

13 / RUSHING THE PASSER

1. All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards behind the line of

scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players

not rushing the quarterback can defend on the line of scrimmage.

2. Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule no longer is in effect, and all defenders may

go behind the line of scrimmage.

3. A marker, or the referee, will designate a rush line seven yards from the line of scrimmage.

Defensive players should verify they are in the correct position with the ofcial on every play.

4. A rusher who leaves the rush line early (breaks the seven yard area) may return to the rush

line, reset and then legally rush the quarterback.

5. Teams are not required to rush the quarterback.

6. Teams are not required to identify their rusher before the play.

7. Players rushing the quarterback may attempt to block a pass. However, no contact can be

made with the quarterback in any way. Blocking the pass or attempting to block the pass and

then making contact with the passer still results in a roughing the passer penalty.

8. The offense cannot impede the rusher in any way. The rusher has the right to a clear path

to the quarterback, regardless of where he or she lines up prior to the snap. If the “path or

line” is occupied by a moving offensive player, then it is the offense’s responsibility to avoid

the rusher. Any disruption to the rusher’s path and/or contact will result in an impeding the

rusher penalty. If the offensive player does not move after the snap, then it is the rusher’s

responsibility to go around the offensive player and to avoid contact.

9. A sack occurs if the quarterback’s ag is pulled behind the line of scrimmage. The ball is

placed where the quarterback’s front foot was when ag was pulled.

a. A safety is awarded if the sack takes place in the offensive team’s end zone – unless an

exception is made for younger age groups, instead returning the ball to the offense on the

line of scrimmage or 5-yard line with a loss of down.

14 / FLAG PULLING

15 / PENALTIES

1. A legal ag pull takes place when the ball-carrier is in full possession of the ball.

2. Defenders can dive to pull ags but cannot tackle, hold or run through the ball-carrier when

pulling ags.

3. It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball-carrier’s possession at any time.

4. If a player’s ag inadvertently falls off during the play, the player is down immediately upon

possession of the ball and the play ends. The ball is placed where the ag lands.

5. A defensive player may not intentionally pull the ags off of a player who is not in possession

of the ball.

a. If a defender makes a good-faith ag pull while a receiver bobbles or juggles what will be

a completed catch, the ball is down where posession is made.

General

1. The ofcials will call all penalties.

2. Game ofcials determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.

3. All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage, except as noted. (Spot fouls)

4. Only the team captain or head coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarication

and interpretations. Other players, coaches and fans may not question calls.

5. Games and halves may not end on a penalty unless the opposing team declines it.

6. Penalties are assessed live ball then dead ball. Live ball penalties must be assessed before

play is considered complete.

7. Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal line when the penalty yardage is more

than half the distance to the goal.

Defensive penalties

Offensive penalties

Defensive unnecessary roughness +10 yards and automatic rst down

Defensive Unsportsmanlike conduct +10 yards and automatic rst down

Offside + Five yards from line of scrimmage and automatic

rst down

Illegal rush (Starting rush from inside 7-yard marker) +Five yards from line of scrimmage and automatic

rst down

Illegal ag pull (Before the receiver has the ball) +Five yards from line of scrimmage and automatic

rst down

Roughing the passer +Five yards from line of scrimmage and automatic

rst down

Taunting +Five yards from line of scrimmage and automatic

rst down

Offensive unnecessary roughness -10 yards and loss of down

Offensive unsportsmanlike conduct -10 yards and loss of down

Offside / false start -Five yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down

Illegal forward pass (Any pass received or lands behind

the line of scrimmage or throwing a pass after crossing the line

of scrimmage)

-Five yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down

Offensive pass interference -Five yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down

Illegal motion (More than one person moving) -Five yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down

Delay of game -Five yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down

Impeding the rusher -Five yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down

Defensive spot fouls

Defensive pass interference Automatic rst down

Holding Automatic rst down

Stripping +10 yards and automatic rst down

Offensive spot fouls

Screening, blocking or running with the ball -10 yards and loss of down

Charging -10 yards and loss of down

Flag guarding -10 yards and loss of down