Co-ed Beach Flag Football League
- Offical Rules -
The “spirit” of the league is to have fun, meet new people, and to enjoy competitive football in a social setting. The fun & social “spirit” of the league shall take precedence at all times. The League commissioner reserves the right to amend the rules as necessary to ensure that the fun & social spirit of the league is met.
This league has always been “call your own fouls with integrity”. This 2024 season we’re adding a couple refs. Please keep in mind, these are not officially certified NFL refs… (yet). You should still show high integrity and be honest about any legit fouls. Refs will do their best to help as a neutral 3rd party.
Teams
Teams may roster up to 8 players.
4 players on the field at one time, including a minimum of 1 girl.
Games
The game will consist of two 20-minute halves with a running clock in each half. Both teams are encouraged to keep an eye on the clock.
Each team will have ONE two-minute time out per half.
Initial possession will be decided by ro-sham-bo (rock, paper scissors)
You may choose Ball or Direction… or defer your decision to the 2nd half.
If you choose ball, other team chooses direction (or vice versa)
At half, the team who did not choose first in 1st half, will choose ball or direction.
A ball marker (for the line of scrimmage) must be used at all times.
Each player must wear a flag belt with two flags. The flags must be located on the players hips and of a color that contrasts with the player’s shorts and/or shirt.
Teams are encouraged to wear the matching shirts provided by the league to help everyone identify who’s on which team.
In the event the score is tied at the end of regulation, the winner will be decided by tiebreaker.
Tie Break/Overtime
Each team will be afforded one “Opportunity” (1 play from 2-yard line) to score on an alternating basis until one outscores the other.
Example one: Team A does not score, Team B does score = Team B wins.
Example two: Team A scores, Team B scores, Team A scores, Team B fails to score = Team A wins.
Officiating
We’ve added a couple refs for this season, but teams are still to use high integrity and allow refs to make final decision. Players excessively arguing with the refs will be disqualified.
Discrepancies will also be managed by league officials for rule clarification and dispute.
Playoffs: Will take place the last 2 weeks of the season. Rankings will be determined by regular season record.
Playoff Ranking Tie-Breakers: For each week your team has at least 2 players join us for the after party at Sharkeez, your team will get an extra 0.1 wins. This will be added to your total season wins to determine ranking for playoffs!
Offense
Possessions
Each possession starts with the ball placed 2 yards from the goal line.
Quarterback Position
: Each possession, Guy/Girl must rotate each snap at quarterback.
Scoring
Guys score is worth 1.
Girls score is worth 2
Note: The girl must either catch the pass in the end zone or physically carry the ball over the goal line. A girl throwing a touchdown to a guy counts as 1 point).
First downs
There is one first down once the offensive team has crossed midfield.
Fumbles
There are no fumbles or recoveries. In the event of a fumble, the ball will be marked where the person was, or where the ball landed, which ever was further back.
If offense “laterals” the ball, the defense MAY intercept the lateral & advance the ball.
Blocking
There is no blocking permitted at the line of scrimmage or downfield
Snapping/Hiking
The quarterback may self-snap/hike and has the option of calling “shotgun” prior to the snap/hike and taking several steps back from the line of scrimmage prior to snapping/hiking the ball.
The quarterback can not snap/hike the ball until the ball marker has been placed and the offensive team is set on the field.
Running Plays
There is only one run permitted per four downs. A “run” is either a pitch, hand off, lateral, screen pass (where the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage) or quarterback scramble/sneak/run.
The quarterback may only run after a defensive player has crossed the line of scrimmage following the pass rush count. This can only happen once per four downs.
On a run play, the defense does not have to count prior to rushing.
Passing plays
There is no setting of screens or picking of the defensive player allowed.
Offensive Pass Interference = Loss of down + offense penalized 3 yards.
The offensive player may not push off from their defender.
Illegal Screen = Loss of down + offense penalized 3 yards.
The receiver only needs one foot in bounds for the reception to be ruled a completion.
Punts/Kick offs
There are no punts or kick offs.
The receiving team gets possession of the ball three steps from their own goal.
Huddles
The offensive team may not spend more than 30 seconds in the huddle. After one warning, failure to comply will result in a loss of down.
The offensive team may not have anymore than four players in the huddle.
10. Flag Guarding
The ball carrier may not use their hand, forearm or elbow to “guard” their flags from a reaching defender - this is considered “Flag Guarding”.
Runner is down at spot of foul + offense penalized 3 yards & loss of down.
Only one total spin is allowed. More than 1 spin is counted as a pulled flag and runner is down at the spot of the 2nd spin.
Defense
Pass Defense
There is no intentional contact permitted with the offensive player.
Defensive Pass Interference = Re-play down + offense advances 3 penalty yards.
Defenses may use zone or man defense. Guys can cover girls and vice versa on any play.
Pass Rush
Guys and girls rushing the quarterback are required to wait 5 full seconds before crossing line of scrimmage: The preferred count OUT LOUD is: “Beach Time Sports 1, Beach Time Sports 2… Beach Time Sports 5”
If defense is counting too fast, the offense may request a normal count. If the accelerated counting continues, it will result in a replay of the down.
“Tackling"
There is no physical tackling of the offensive player. The offensive player is considered "down" when one or both of their flags are pulled.
Tackling/Holding = Re-play down from spot of foul + offense advances 3 penalty yards
In the event that one of the offensive players flags comes off prior to being pulled by a defensive player. The offensive player is down when touched by the defensive player.
In the event that the offensive player falls to the ground (for safety purposes, one knee on the ground will qualify as on the ground), the offensive player is down when touched by the defensive player.
Stripping
There is no “stripping” the ball from the ball carrier.
In the event that the offensive and defensive players catch a ball at the same time, possession will be awarded to the offensive player.
Penalties
Flag Guarding = Runner is down at spot of foul + offense penalized 3 yards & loss of down.
Tackling/Holding = Re-play down from spot of foul + offense advances 3 penalty yards
. Defensive Pass Interference = Re-play down + offense advances 3 penalty yards.
Please note: this is for minor tackling/holding. For aggressive contact/tackling player may receive a warning or disqualification from the game.
.Offensive Pass Interference = Loss of down + offense penalized 3 yards.
Illegal Screen = Loss of down + offense penalized 3 yards.
(Keep in mind, no contact crossing plays are not same as contact screens)
Sportsmanship
Overt acts of poor sportsmanship, aggression, or other misconduct may result in disciplinary action to include suspension or possible expulsion.
Profanity is not permitted and will incur penalties to the offending team in the form of yardage, or points.
Warnings will always be given on an individual basis first. Repeat offenses will require the league director to consult the entire team. After the team as a whole has been warned, individual suspensions will be assigned. If again, an offense is repeated after a suspension, the individual will be removed from the league. If after such an instance, an offense is made once again by any member of the team, the whole team will be removed.