Flag Football

Rules

The rules governing this Intramural Sports activity consist of rules used by the NIRSA and rules unique to the UCLA
Intramural Sports Program. This rules sheet is not meant to be all-inclusive; rather, it is a summary of the more common
rules, policies and procedures used by the Intramural Sports Program. Important policy information can be found in the
Intramural Sports Participant Manual, which is available on our Web Site. Additionally, all information contained on this
sheet is subject to change without notice. All players are responsible for reading this document and understanding the
rules, policies and procedures prior to participating in this activity.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact us in person at the Competitive Sports Clubhouse located
in John Wooden Center 2388, by phone at (310) 267-5416 or via e-mail at clubhouse@recreation.ucla.edu.

I. Conduct/Sportsmanship

The philosophy of the Intramural Sports Program is that good sportsmanship is expected of every participant in
every contest. A good sport is fair, courteous, has a positive attitude and accepts results gracefully. All
individuals and teams participating should comply with the spirit of the game as well as the written rules that
govern the activity. Behavior before, during, and after a contest will be included in this rating. This rating will
influence playoff seeding, intramural and extramural eligibility. Individuals or teams who demonstrate poor
sportsmanship may be dropped from a league or event at any time without refund. For additional information
concerning the sportsmanship rating system, please refer to the Participant Manual.
B. Team Managers: Team managers are responsible for all team members and spectators before, during and after
the contest. Obscene or abusive language by participants or spectators will not be tolerated and will be penalized
accordingly. Team managers are expected to inform all participants of rules and policies prior to participation. The
manager is the representative of his/her team and may address officials on matters of interpretation or to obtain
essential information in a courteous manner only, provided it does not disrupt the flow of the game.
C. Ejection/Suspension: Any player who is ejected for any reason will be subject to additional disciplinary actions.
Any player ejected is automatically suspended from participating in any Intramural Sports activity (or activity in
which Intramural Sports officials are used) until a meeting with a professional staff member has occurred. To
schedule a meeting with an Intramural Sports Coordinator, please call (310) 267-5416. If a meeting does not occur
within three business days of the ejection, additional disciplinary actions will be taken. These actions may include
any of the following or any combination of the following: suspension from the Intramural Sports program,
permanent suspension from the Intramural Sports program, referral to the Dean of Students Office for review,
and/or referral to UCPD for review.
A.

Fighting Policy: Fighting (physically striking, kicking, or attempting to strike or kick another player,
spectators or staff) will not be tolerated. Players involved in a fight will be immediately ejected and will be
subject to additional disciplinary actions, which will include suspension from the Intramural Sports program
and may include referral to the Dean of Students and/or the University of California Police Department
(UCPD).

II. Injuries

A. We (the Department of Cultural and Recreational Affairs) are not responsible for any injuries that occur while
participating in the Intramural Sports program.
B. All participants are encouraged to obtain a physical exam prior to participating in any physical activity. Additionally,
participants are encouraged to maintain adequate health insurance while participating.
C. In the event an injury occurs during an Intramural Sports activity, please immediately notify the official, manager or
supervisor who is working the contest so arrangements can be made to treat the injury and to complete an injury
report. If needed, staff members can call for an ambulance to assess the injury and/or transport the injured
participant to the hospital. Students needing immediate medical attention can visit the Arthur Ashe Student Health
& Wellness Center located next to the John Wooden Center Monday through Thursday, 8am-5pm, and Friday, 9am5pm.

III. Eligibility

A. All Intramural Sports activities are limited to UCLA students and UCLA Recreation Card members. All others are
prohibited from participating in any intramural sports activities.
B. Photo Identification: All participants are required to present a valid UCLA student identification card or a current
UCLA Recreation Card prior to participating. Individuals unable to do so will not be allowed to participate. Please be
aware that any team unable to begin a game with the minimum number of players required will forfeit the game.

IV. Team Rosters

Flag Football
Rules

A. The official game roster will consist of the members listed on the team roster as recorded by the UCLA scheduling
website. This roster is printed at 12pm the day of the scheduled game, except for weekend games which will be
printed the previous Friday.
B. Teams must have a minimum of seven (7) players (eight (8) for CoRec) on their roster and a maximum of twenty
(20) players are permitted.
C. Roster additions are allowed through the completion of a teams last regular season game. Players may be added
online through invitation by the team manager on the UCLA scheduling site or in person fifteen (15) minutes prior
to the game. Once a participant has played in a game with that team, the roster spot is frozen.
D. Playoffs: In order to be eligible for playoffs, a participant must be on the official roster on the UCLA scheduling site
and must have played in at least one (1) game.
E. Only the names of those players present at game time are allowed to appear on the scorecard. Players arriving late
are allowed to be added to the scorecard without penalty provided they do so prior to entering the game.
Supervisors on site can approve late additions to rosters.
F. Restrictions:
1. Teams are limited to three (3) current club sport participants on their roster for the corresponding sport.
Club sport participants are only allowed to play in highest skill level offered for each sport (typically A). Club
sport participants include all those listed, at any time during the academic year, on the official roster
submitted by club officers.
2. Current varsity athletes are not allowed on rosters for corresponding sports. This includes anyone who has
practiced or played with an intercollegiate sports team at any time during the academic year. Former
varsity athletes are only allowed to play in the highest skill division offered for each sport (typically A).
3. Any participant who is or has been a professional player or athlete is ineligible to compete in the sport or its
related sport in which he/she was a professional. A professional player or athlete is defined as one who has
received monetary remuneration for his/her athletic services.

V. Players & Substitutions

A. Teams are comprised of seven (7) players. A team may not begin or continue a game with less than five (5) players

CoRec: Teams are comprised of eight (8) players, including four (4) men and four (4) women. Teams with seven
(7) players shall be 4 men and 3 women or 4 women and 3 men. Six (6) players (3 men and 3 women, 4 men and
2 women or 4 women and 2 men) are required to start the game and avoid forfeit. The game may continue with
less than 6 players as long as the team has a chance to win.

B. Substitutions are only permitted on dead balls.

VI. Equipment

A. Illegal Equipment/Jewelry: Referees will not permit any player to wear equipment which in his/her judgment is
dangerous or confusing to other players or is not appropriate.
Illegal items include, but are not limited to:
1. A guard, cast or brace made of made of hard and unyielding leather, plaster, pliable (soft) plastic, metal, or
any other hard material. Even if covered by soft padding, these items are not allowed when worn on the
elbow, hand, finger, wrist, or forearm. Leg braces and knee braces must be covered with at least one half
of an inch of slow recovery rubber or other similar padding so that no metal or hard edges are exposed.
2. Head decorations, headwear and jewelry, including earrings, wedding rings or bands, other rings,
necklaces, bracelets, rubber bands, soft bracelets, metal barrettes, bandanas, baseball caps, and headgear
with a bill or hard, unyielding outer surface.
3. Costumes (e.g. chicken suit)
4. Exception: Medical alert bracelets or necklaces may be worn if taped down. Also, a headband no wider
than two (2) inches and made of non-abrasive, unadorned single-colored cloth, elastic, fiber, soft leather or
rubber may be worn. Rubber/cloth elastic bands used to control hair may be worn.
5. Referees will not permit any player to participate if, in his/her judgment, items such as a players fingernails
or hairstyle may constitute a safety concern.
B. Jerseys/Shirts: Teams are required to wear the same color shirts or jerseys.
C. Shorts/Pants: Players must wear athletic type shorts/pants. Shorts/pants must not have pockets, pouches,
loops, belts, zippers, buckles, buttons, or snaps. Shorts may not be worn inside out.
D. Shoes: All players must wear shoes. Standard sneakers, molded one-piece rubber soled shoes and multi-turf shoes
are permitted. Shoes which have metal cleats or any other exposed metal are illegal.

Flag Football
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E. Flags: Each player must wear the one (1) piece, triple-flag belt provided by the department. Flags should be worn
with two (2) at the sides and one (1) at the rear.
1. Wrapping, tying or in any way securing the flag to the uniform or belt other than by prescribed rules is
illegal.
2. Flags must not be hidden under the shirt, jersey or scrimmage vest (i.e., all shirts, jerseys, or scrimmage
vests must be tucked in.
3. Knotting or tying a flag in a manner deemed inappropriate by the official is prohibited and may be grounds
for ejection of the violating player.
F. Ball: A ball will be provided for each game, each team may provide its own football. Mens teams must use a large
(regulation) size football. Each team is responsible for ensuring that the selected ball is on the field prior to their
offensive set of downs. Offense is responsible for the ball during every play. The official will no longer
place the ball.

CoRec: Teams may use a junior size football while on offense.

G. Mouth guards are recommended for all participants.

VII. Length & Game Time

A. The clock will begin running at game time. Teams not present with the required minimum number of
players ready to play five (5) minutes after start time will forfeit the game and it will not be played.
B. Games will consist of two (2), eighteen (18) minute halves with the clock running continuously for the first 16
minutes of each half. There will be a two minute warning in each half. From that time on, the clock will stop in the
following situations:
1. Scoring (touchdown*, extra points* and safety*)
2. Time-Outs (team* and official^)
3. Incomplete pass*
4. Out-of-bounds*
5. First down^
6. Penalty and administration^
7. Touchback*
8. The awarding of a new series*
9. An inadvertent whistle^
10. Following first touch^
11. A team attempting to conserve time illegally-starts on the ready^
12. A team attempting to consume time illegally-starts on the snap*

Note: During situations with an *, the clock will start of the next snap of the ball.
During situations with an ^, clock will start when the referee signals the ball ready for play.

C. Halftime will be three (3) minutes long.

D. No extra periods will be played during league play in the regular season. All games will end as a draw
if the score is tied at the end of regulation.
Playoffs: If a game is tied, each team will begin at the twenty (20) yard line and will have four downs to score a
touchdown. The teams will alternate until someone scores and the opposing team has an even chance of scoring.
The game will continue until a winner is declared.
E. Time-Outs: Each team is allowed two (2), thirty-second time-outs to be used at any time throughout the game.
During playoffs, unused time-outs do not carry over to overtime; however, each team will be allowed one (1),
thirty-second time-out per overtime period.
F. Mercy Rule:
1. Mens/Womens - If a team is ahead by 19 or more points at any time within the last two minutes
remaining in the game, the game will end.
2. Co-Rec - If a team is ahead by 25 or more points at any time within the last two minutes remaining in the
game, the game will end.

VIII. Scoring

A. Touchdown = 6 points

Co-Rec: Touchdowns scored by women (as a rusher, receiver or passer) are worth nine (9) points.

B.Safety = 2 points
C. Extra Points:
1. From 20 yard line = 3 points
2. From 10 yard line = 2 points
3. From 3 yard line = 1 point

D. No field goals are allowed.

E. Defense CANNOT return extra point attempts.

Flag Football
Rules

IX. Game Rules

A. Play will be generally governed by standard NIRSA (National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association) flag
football rules except where Intramural Sports rules allow for variation.

B. All P enalties can be accepted or denied. No advantage can be gained from a deliberate penalty.

C. Offensive Rules to Note:

1. Start of the Game: There are no kickoffs; the ball will be put in play from the offensive teams 14 yard
line.
2. Downs: Teams have four downs to reach a new zone (marked at both 20 yard lines and the midfield 40 yard
line) or score a touchdown. Otherwise, they turn the ball over on downs.
3. Line: The offensive team must have a minimum of one (1) player on the line of scrimmage and all players
must be within fifteen (15) yards of the ball during the huddle.
4. Snap: Teams have twenty-five (25) seconds to snap the ball after the referee signals the ball ready for play.
No direct snaps under the center are allowed. The person receiving the snap must be at least two (2) yards
behind the line of scrimmage. Except for a player who is in legal motion at the time of the snap, all offensive
players must be set for a full second before the snap.
5. Blocking: Offensive screen blocking shall take place without contact. The screen blocker shall have his/her
hands and arms at his/her sides or behind his/her back. Any use of the arms, elbows, or legs to initiate
contact during an offensive players screen block is illegal. A player may use his/her hand or arm to break a
fall or to retain his/her balance. A player must be on his/her feet before, during, and after screen blocking.
6. Carrying the Ball: Carriers shall not strike, slap, or stiff arm an opponent to prevent them from reaching
the carriers flag. Carriers may also not run through a defensive player and must attempt to evade the
defense.
7. Fumbles: A fumbled ball or muff which strikes the ground becomes dead at that spot and belongs to the last
team in possession unless they turn the ball over on downs.
8. Passing: All players are eligible pass receivers except during closed plays in CoR ec play.
D. Defensive Rules to Note:
1. Line: Prior to the snap, the defense shall not line up within one (1) yards of the line of scrimmage. The
neutral zone must always be maintained (indicated by an orange and a yellow cone).
2. Downing: Ball carriers are considered downed when the flag is clearly taken from them (the buckle clearly
breaks) or if a knee touches the ground. The defense may not hold or run through a ball carrier and they
must play the flag. If the flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one-hand tag between the shoulders
and knees constitutes downing. All plays are marked from the spot of the ball when the flag is
pulled.
3. Tackling: Tackling is strictly prohibited. If a defensive player tackles a ball carrier who, in the judgment of
the official, had an open field for a touchdown, a touchdown will be awarded. The defensive player will be
disqualified and a penalty will be enforced. Defensive players are also not allowed to push ball carriers out-ofbounds.
4. Rushing: Defensive players must go around the offensive players screen block. The arms and hands may
not be used as a wedge to contact the opponent. The application of this rule depends entirely on the
judgment of the official. A blocker may use his/her arms or hands to break a fall or retain his/her balance.
The following actions are prohibited:
a. Three or four point stances,
b. Any contact,
c. Spearing,
d. Arms leaving the body (except for making a football move like receiving the ball).
E. Special Teams/Kickoff Rules to Note:
1. No kickoffs will take place. The ball will be put in play from the offensive teams 14 yard line.
2. In the event of a safety, the team that scored will also be awarded the ball at its 14 yard line.
F. Special Teams/Punting Rules to Note:
1. Quick kicks are not allowed. A punt must be declared by the offensive team to the official and may be made
during any down. When declared, the ball must be kicked while the offense has a minimum of four (4)
players on the line of scrimmage. The defensive team may not rush the punter, and the offensive team must
stay on their side of the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked. No blocking may occur during the
punt or return.

Flag Football
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2. While a punt is in the air, the kicking team may not touch the ball, touch a receiver, or obstruct a receivers
path to the ball.
3. Any punt which crosses the goal line is dead and ruled a touchback. The ball will remain live after a kick (It
will not be called dead where it hits the ground) If the return team muffs a punt and the ball falls to
the ground, the ball is dead and the receiving team takes possession where the ball hits the ground.
G. CoRec Rules to Note:
1. Offense/Running the Ball: Advancement from behind the line of scrimmage to beyond the line of
scrimmage is restricted to only females. A male runner cannot advance the ball through the line of
scrimmage unless a legal forward pass beyond the line has occurred. Laterals may be made by
either sex to either sex once beyond the line of scrimmage.
2. Open/ closed P lays: During the offensive teams possession, there may not be two (2) consecutive legal

forward pass completions from a male passer to a male receiver. If a male passer completes a legal forward
pass to a male receiver, the next play is closed, meaning the next legal forward gain must involve a female
passer or female receiver and result in positive yards. Plays remain closed until this occurs. Once positive
yards are gained with a female passer or receiver, the following play is then open, meaning a male-to-male
completion is allowed. This rule applies to an entire drive, including the try for extra point(s) after a
touchdown.

*Note: A female runner who crosses the line of scrimmage DOES NOT open the play (must
have a legal forward pass from behind the scrimmage line). If two (2) consecutive positive yard
plays involve only males, an Illegal Forward Pass penalty will be assessed. All penalties, other than illegal
forward pass, whether accepted or declined, will have no effect on open/closed play status.
Exception: A defensively tapped ball can be caught and advanced by anyone at any time.
3. Offense: Teams must have at least 1 player on the line of scrimmage at the snap.
H. General Penalties (For a more detailed list of penalties and enforcements please see the NIRSA Rulebook)
Five (5) Yard Penalties
Illegal Procedure
Encroachment
Illegal Snap
Delay of Game
Illegal Motion or Shift
False Start
Clothing Covering Flag
Illegal Shorts
Intentional Grounding
Illegal Forward Pass*

Ten (10) Yard Penalties

Delaying Start of Either Half
Offensive Pass Interference
Defensive Pass Interference
Blocking (using hands, arms, etc.)
Striking, Kicking, Kneeing
Tripping or Striking Head or Neck
Illegal Participation

Note: * indicates loss of down

^ indicates automatic first down

Roughing the Passer^

Quick Kick
Illegal Hurdling or Diving
Guarding the Flag
Knotting/Wrapping/Tying Flag Illegally ^*

X. Protests

A. Protests based on the judgment calls of officials will not be accepted.

B. The officials and supervisors assigned to the game will make decisions regarding any rule interpretations not
covered in these rules or those outlined by the High School Federation.
C. Supervisors can be used for rule clarification only and cannot overturn judgment calls made by officials.
D. Rule Interpretation Protest: Team managers wishing to protest a rule interpretation must do so immediately. The
protesting manager must inform the official of the protest at the time of the disputed play. The official will explain
the ruling and interpretation. If the manager still wishes to protest, the supervisor will be notified. The supervisor
will file the protest and play will resume. Once the official signals for the next play to begin, a protest will not be
made.
E. Eligibility Protest: Team managers wishing to protest the eligibility of an opponent must file a written Protest Form
in the Competitive Sports Clubhouse (2388 JWC) by Noon the following business day. A member of the Competitive
Sports professional staff will investigate the protest and render a decision within twenty-four (24) hours. If the
protest is upheld and the participant was ineligible, that game, as well as any others that the ineligible participant
played in, will be forfeited.