FLAG FOOTBALL OFFICIAL’S CLINIC

TTU INTRAMURAL SPORTS OFFICE

EXPECTATIONS› Knowledge of sports rules and mechanics› Represent the Intramural Program positively as an official, player, and spectator› Serve as an impartial and fair official.› Be respectful to all players and participants.› Ensure a safe environment for all.› Abstain from using tobacco products on TTU Campus.› Clothing

– Athletic clothing– Staff shirt– No Jewelry, watches, wristbands etc– Whistle

EXPECTATIONS› Arrive fifteen minutes before start of shift› Ensure that you have been clocked in by a graduate assistant or professional

staff member.› Clock out with a graduate assistant or professional staff member when you are

playing or taking an extended break.› Ensure that all equipment is returned to the bag for your field› Make sure teams pick up their trash.› Ask a graduate assistant or professional staff member if all duties have been

completed before leaving.› Make sure you have been clocked out by a graduate assistant or professional

staff member.

FLAG FOOTBALL BASICS

Playing Field

Player Equipment› Jerseys/Shirts

– Similar in color but distinguishable from other team– Must be either long enough to remain tucked in or short enough so there is a minimum of four (4”) inches from the bottom of

the jersey to a player’s waist

› Athletic Shorts or Pants– Flags and Shorts must be different colors– No pockets

› Pockets cannot be taped or “dog-eared”.

› Flag Belt – Flags on each side and back– Clipped, NOT tied

› Sunglasses– Non-rigid material

› Hats– No billed hats or any headwear with knots– Headbands and knit or stocking caps are legal.

Player Equipment› Athletic Shoes

– Shoes must be worn at all times!– No vibrams– Molded rubber cleats, screw-in cleats, and molded

rubber cleats with metal tips are allowed.– No spiked cleats or screw-in metal cleats.

LEGAL!

ILLEGAL!

The Game› Players– Seven players on the field– Six required to avoid a forfeit

› The Ball– Men may only use the regular size ball.– Women may use the regular, intermediate, youth, or junior size ball.

The Game: Timing› Two Twenty Minute halves

– The clock will run for the first eighteen minutes of each half.– Clock will stop for the last two minutes of each half.

› Teams have three timeouts per game – The clock will ALWAYS stop for team and official timeouts.

› Injured Player– If the clock is stopped by any official due to an injury, that player

must be removed from the game for at least one play.

› Inside the two minute warning, the clock will stop for the following:– Incomplete Pass (Snap)– Out of Bounds (Snap)– Scores/Touchback (Snap)– Change of Possession (Snap)– First Down (Ready for Play Whistle)– Penalties (Dependent on Previous Play)

The Game: Possessions & First Downs› Possessions will START on the 14 Yard

Line– At the beginning of each half– After all scoring plays (try and safety)– Touchbacks

› Teams will have Four Downs to advance the ball to the Next Zone Line-To-Gain or Goal Line.

› On 4th down, Teams may elect to Punt or Attempt to go for the Next Zone Line-To-Gain.– Once a decision had been made, it can only

be changed by calling a timeout.

The Game: Scoring› Touchdown (TD)

– Value: Six Points– Nose of the ball crosses the plane of the Goal Line

with possession by an offensive player– Receiver catches the ball in the end zone with at least

1 foot in bounds (1st foot must land in bounds).

› Safety– Value: Two Points– Runner carries the ball from the field of play to or

across his/her own goal line and becomes dead in their own end zone in his/her team possession.

– Player punts, passes, fumbles, snaps, muffs, or bats a loose ball from the field of play into the end zone (includes on the goal line).

– Any accepted offensive penalties committed in the end zone.

The Game: Scoring› The Try (Extra Point Attempts)

– After a Successful TD (unless moved by penalty)› 1 point from 3 yard line› 2 points from 10 yard line› 3 points from 20 yard line

– Once the scoring team selects how many points they will be attempting, they can not change their decision without using a timeout.

– If the defense intercepts the pass, the play is dead.

X

X

X

PRE-GAME RESPONSIBILITES

Pre-Game Responsibilities: Timeline› 15:00 to 10:00 before Game Time:– Ensure all officials are fully equipped

› Penalty Flags (2)› Official's Jersey› Game Watch (Back Judge & Referee)

– Check players’ equipment.– Check the field for safety issues.– Check the game ball and flag belts.– Answer any questions.

› 5:00 before Game Time– Conduct Captains’ Meeting

Pre-Game Responsibilities: Captain’s Meeting› Captain’s Meeting

– Set the tone for the entire game› “Officials officiate, players play, coaches coach, and fans cheer”

– Review sportspersonship rules› Affects postseason eligibility › Affects All- Points competition standings

– Review basic flag football rules › # of timeouts› obtaining a First Down› explain timing› how to avoid flag guarding› proper screen blocking

– Conduct coin toss› Winner may choose one of the following:

– Offense– Defense– Defend a particular goal– Defer his or her decision to the 2nd Half (The other captain may choose Offense or Defense. MAKE SURE THE OPPOSING

CAPTAIN CHOOSES OFFENSE.)

THREE-PERSON CREW MECHANICS

Three Person Crew Mechanics: Positioning› Referee (R)

– Opposite the Line Judge & same side as the Back Judge– Takes a position seven yards back and seven yards outside the deepest offensive

back at a forty-five degree angle.

› Line Judge (LJ) – Opposite the Referee and Back Judge– Stands on the Neutral Zone (if receivers are near the sideline, take 2 steps back and

out of bounds)

› Back Judge (BJ)– Opposite the Line Judge– Take a position 17 yards beyond the LOS and 5 yards from the sideline– Two steps behind the deepest defensive player– Avoid a position which will interfere the player’s movement

3 Person Crew Mechanics: Positioning

1

R

LJ

BJ

Three Person Crew Mechanics: Coverage Areas

1

R

LJ

BJ

PRE-SNAP RESPONSIBILITIES

Pre-Snap Responsibilities: The Referee› Sets ball spotters down (Orange for Offense; Yellow

for Defense) and check next down with other officials.

› While hustling to your position, announce the Down and Distance. Once you and other officials are in position, blow your whistle sharply (Marking the ball is Ready for Play).

› Start twenty-five second play clock silently (announce ten and five seconds remaining on the clock; audibly count down from five seconds)

› Basic Duties:– Watch for Delay of Game, False Start, and Illegal

Motion/Shift/Snap/Procedure– Count the Number of Offensive Flag Belts (should

be seven)

R

Pre-Snap Responsibilities: The Line Judge› Marks the new Line of Scrimmage (LOS) with the

downfield foot

› As the offensive players line up, marks the LOS with the downfield foot and raises the downfield hand, indicating the next Down

› Verbally communicate with players in the Neutral Zone– Asks players to back up behind their team’s ball spotter

› Basic Duties– Watch for False Start, Encroachment, and Illegal

Motion/Shift/Snap– Watch players in motion– Counting the Offensive and Defensive Flag Belts

(seven for each team)

LJ

Pre-Snap Responsibilities: The Back Judge› Signals the next down to the officials and

players

› Check the offensive formation and adjust your position accordingly (Anticipate)

› Basic Duties:– Checking the Clock (announcing the

remaining time periodically throughout the game – 10:00, 5:00, 2:00)

– Counting the Defensive Flag Belts (should be seven flag belts)

BJ

Live Ball vs. Dead Ball

Live Ball› The ball becomes Live with a legal snap, and the

Down is in progress.

› The ball is live until the play is declared dead by an official.

› Loose Ball Play– Play that involves a pass, fumble, or kick– Ball is in flight– Once the ball is caught, it becomes a Running Play.– Once the ball is thrown, any run that preceded the pass

is considered part of the Loose Ball Play.

› Running Play– Play that is not a Loose Ball Play– Player runs with possession of the ball– After a receiver catches a pass

Loose Ball Play

Loose-ball Play

Loose-Ball Play

Running Play

Loose-ball Play

Running Play

Multiple Types of Plays During the Same Down

Loose-ball Play

Running Play

Live Ball› The Snap: Starts live ball action

– The ball must be snapped off the ground next to the ORANGE ball spotter– The ball may be side-snapped (Does not need to go through legs)– Feet must be behind the ORANGE ball spotter– Once the snapper is set, he/she may neither move nor change the position of the ball in a manner

simulating the beginning of the snap.– The snapping motion must be fluid.

Live Ball: Passing› Only One legal forward pass is

allowed per Down.› Every player is an eligible

receiver.› Any player may handoff

(backward and forward) at any time.

› Any player may pass backwards or laterally at any time without limit.

Live Ball: Running› Runner: Player who has possession of the

ball.

› Running plays end when the ball is passed.

› When running, pay attention to the following:– The runner covering or guarding his or her

flags in any way– Stiff arms– The runner charging into or bowling over an

opponent – The runner hurdling or jumping over standing

players

› Spinning is legal.

Live Ball: Screen Blocking› Flag Football is a NON-

CONTACT sport. Contact should be avoided within reason.

› Incidental contact will occur every play. Incidental contact does not give an advantage to anyone on the field.

› Time and Space are both factors that are considered in determining who is responsible for the contact.

› No player may use their hands or arms to gain an advantage on another player.

Dead Ball Situations› The ball is considered dead after the Down has

ended, during the interval between Downs, and before the Ready for Play whistle.

› The ball is also dead during before the start of the game, during timeouts and throughout halftime.

› The play becomes dead when:– The runner is de-flagged or tagged.– The runner or ball goes out of bounds.– The ball hits the ground as a result of an Incomplete

Pass, Muffed Ball, Bad Snap, Failed Lateral, or “Fumble.”› FUMBLES = Dead Ball.

– Any part of the runner, other than their hands or feet, touch the ground.› The ball is considered an extension of the hand.

Dead Ball: Flag Belt Removal› The player is considered deflagged if the

belt clasp breaks or an individual flag is ripped off the belt.

› A player must have possession of the ball in order to be legally deflagged (i.e. a runner).

› If a runner accidently loses the flag belt during the play, the defender can touch the runner with one hand between the shoulders and knees. The runner is then considered deflagged.

› The end of the run is marked by the position of the ball, not the runner or the flag belt.

Punting: A Special Situation› Punting is only LEGAL when the Offensive team has

declared to punt– Punts usually happen on 4th down but can happen on any

down.– Once the Referee announces the team’s decision to punt, the

team can only change their decision after a timeout or penalty.

› Neither team may enter the Neutral Zone until the ball is kicked.

› If the receiving team “muffs” the punt and the ball hits the ground, the ball is dead.

› If an UNTOUCHED kick hits the ground, the ball is live.

› If an untouched punt breaks the plane of the receiving team’s Goal Line, it is dead.

› There are no fair catches in Flag Football.

Penalties

Penalties: Three Types› Dead Ball Penalties

– “THROW AND BLOW” (STOP THE SNAP)– Throw flag straight up in the air and Blow the Whistle.

› Simultaneous with the Snap– “THROW AND GO”– Throw flag straight up in the air and let the play continue (NO WHISTLE).– Continue officiating.

› Live Ball Penalties– “THROW AND GO”– Throw flag at the spot of the foul and let play continue (NO WHISTLE).– Continue officiating.

Penalties: Dead Ball (5 Yards)› False Start

– Offensive player jumps into the Neutral Zone.

› Illegal Snap– Snapper illegally snaps the ball (e.g. non-fluid motion).

› Encroachment– Defensive player jumps into the Neutral Zone.– Defensive player lines up in the Neutral Zone when the ball is snapped.

› Leaving the Field on the Wrong Side– Substituting players away from their bench (Illegal Substitution)

› Delay of Game– Not snapping the ball within the 25 second play clock

F.I.E.L.D.

Penalties: Simultaneous with the Snap› Illegal Motion (5 yards)– Offensive player moving toward the LOS at the snap.

› Illegal Shift (5 yards)– Multiple offensive players moving at the snap

› Illegal Participation (10 yards)– More than seven players on the field.

› Illegal Formation (5 yards)– A player is not within 15 yards of the ball.– A player receives the snap less than two yards away from the LOS.

Penalties: Live Ball (5 Yards)› Illegal Procedure (Catch-All)

– Illegal snap– Illegal Formation

› Helping the Runner– Physically aiding the runner to gain extra yardage or avoid being deflagged

› Failure to Wear Proper Equipment– Player intentionally does not wear his or her flag belt– **Officials should make sure all players have flag belts before each snap**

› Illegal Forward Pass (Loss of Down)– Pass is released after player has crossed the offensive LOS (Orange Ball spotter)– A second forward pass is thrown during the same Down

› Intentional Grounding (Loss of Down)– Player throws a pass out of bounds or into the ground to avoid a deflag.

› Illegal Pass (Loss of Down)– Player intentionally throws or fumbles the ball out of bounds to stop the clock

Penalties: Live Ball (10 Yards)› Illegal Contact

– Physical contact by a player that creates an advantage for his or her team

› Flag Guarding– Preventing a defender an uninhibited chance to grab the flag belt– Stiff Arming is Illegal Contact.

› Holding– Using the hands or arms to impede a player’s movement

› Roughing the Passer (Automatic 1st Down)– A defender makes physical contact with a player who is passing the ball.– The defender cannot hit the passer’s arm or ball before the pass is released.

Penalties: Live Ball (10 Yards)› Pass Interference

– Occurs when the pass is in the air– Offensive (Loss of Down)

› Player intentionally contacts a defender to catch a pass– Defensive (Automatic 1st Down)

› Player illegally contacts a player to prevent a pass› Player uses his or her hands to intentionally obstruct the view of the receiver.

› Illegal Participation– A receiver catches, after leaving the field and returning to play, is the first to touch a pass or handoff.

› Personal Fouls– Flagrant physical contact with an opponent

› Attempting to strip or steal the ball from a runner› Tackling the runner (Automatic Disqualification)› Tripping, clipping, or deliberately running into another player (If flagrant, disqualification)› Throwing a player to the ground (If flagrant, disqualification)

› Unfair Acts– Either team is attempting to conserve or consume time illegally.

› Example: The offense attempts to snap the ball before the Ready for Play Whistle.

Penalties: Live Ball (10 Yards)› Illegal Flag Belt Removal– An offensive player intentional removes his or her belt– A defensive player deflags a player without the ball

› Kick Catch Interference– The Kicking team prevents a Receiving player from having a uninhibited

attempt at catching the punt.

› Illegal Kicking– Kicking or punting the ball without informing the Referee that you would like

to punt

› Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Possible Disqualification)– Always enforce as Dead Ball penalty

Penalties: Unsportspersonlike Conduct› Dissent› Taunting› Spiking or Kicking the Ball› Illegal Equipment› Swearing (Excessive or Towards a Player or

Official)› Disrespecting an Official› Fighting** (Immediate Disqualification)› Contacting/Hitting an Official** (Immediate

Disqualification)› Excessive Celebration› Illegally Secured Flag Belt** (Immediate

Disqualification)

› Player Disqualification– Two Unsportsmanlike

Penalties› Team Disqualification

– Three Unsportsmanlike Penalties

› **Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Penalties will result in automatic disqualification.

Penalty Enforcement

Penalty Enforcement: Back & Line Judge› Once the play is over, blow your whistle to get the Referee’s attention.

› Make sure the End of the Run is being marked.

› Make sure the penalty flag(s) is not moved by any of the players.– Ask players politely to put the flag down.

› Quickly tell the Referee the 4 “Ws”– What was the foul?

› Type of foul (Dead or Live ball)

– Who committed the foul?› Offense or Defense

– When did the foul occur?› Status of the ball (Loose ball, In Possession (Running Play), After a Change of Possession)

– Where is the enforcement spot?› The Spot of the Foul or End of the Run

Penalty Enforcement: Referee› The Referee should scan the field for penalties after every play before moving

the ball spotters.

› After receiving information from the BJ or LJ (if applicable):– Give a Preliminary Signal of the Foul and Indicate which Team committed the

foul.– Inform the non-committing captain of the foul and their options

› The captain accept or decline the penalty.› Highlight the most advantageous option.

– If ACCEPTED, move the ball spotters and mark off the penalty yardage from the appropriate enforcement spot.

– Announce the penalty (both verbally and showing the mechanics).– Announce the Down and The Zone Line to Gain.

Penalty Enforcement: Enforcement Spot

OFFENSIVE FOUL DEFENSIVE FOUL

RUNNING PLAY Spot of the Foul End of the Run

LOOSE BALL PLAY Previous Spot*(except any foul behind LOS)

Previous Spot(except for Roughing the Passer, after a completed pass)

RUNNING PLAY: plays during a run or plays after a catch

LOOSE BALL PLAY: plays during the flight of the ball before the catch (includes everything before the pass)

*All But One Principle

48

Penalty Enforcement: Multiple Penalties› Multiple Live Ball Penalties on One Team

– Opposing Team can only ACCEPT one penalty.

› Live Ball Penalties against Both Teams– Penalties will OFFSET and Repeat the Previous Down.

› Live Ball and Dead Ball Penalties– Both penalties will be enforced.

› Defensive Penalties on Scoring Plays– Offense has the option to assess the penalty on the Try for Points or the “New Offense”

(Defense) next possession

› Multiple Dead Ball Penalties– All penalties will be enforced in order of occurrence.

Penalty Enforcement: During A Try› On the Defense– Successful Try: Penalty accessed on the Succeeding Spot of the Defense

(New Offense) possession– Unsuccessful Try: Repeat the Try, Enforce The Penalty

› On the Offense– Successful Try: Repeat the Try, Enforcing The Penalty– Unsuccessful Try: Defense should DECLINE the penalty

Penalty Enforcement: Halving the Distance› A penalty enforcement cannot take the ball more than half the

distance from the enforcement spot to the Goal Line.› If the penalty is greater than the distance, the ball is placed half

way between the enforcement spot and goal line› Halving the Distance will occur within the twenty yard line for

10 yard penalties and within the ten yard line for 5 yard penalties.

Penalty Enforcement: Change of Possession› Fouls Before a Change of Possession (CLEAN or DIRTY HANDS)– On Offense: Decline the Penalty for the Defense to possess the Ball– On Defense: Same as any regular Live Ball Foul

› Fouls After a Change Possession– Same as Normal

Penalty Enforcement: Awarding a New Series› Awarding a New Series of Downs (1st Down)– Teams move the ball into the next Zone Line to Gain (free from

penalties).– A penalty against the defense which moves the ball into the next Zone

Line to Gain.– An accepted penalty that results in an automatic 1st Down.– After a touchdown and the try– After a change of possession (free from penalties)

› If the offense’s play resulted in a 1st Down, and the penalty brings them back behind the previous Zone Line to Gain, the previous Down is repeated with the previous Zone Line to Gain.

Two Minute Mechanics

Two Minute Mechanics

› Last two minutes of both halves.

› The clock will stop for the Two Minute Warning (which may be under two minutes when declared by the Referee)

› Communication, signals, and mechanics are IMPORTANT to keep the crew on the same page.

Two Minute Mechanics

RESTART ON THE SNAP

› Incomplete Pass

› Out of Bounds

› All Scores (Touchdown, Safety, Try)

› Touchback

› Change of Possession (Turnover, Punts)

› Inadvertent Whistle

› Team Attempting to Consume Time Illegally

CLOCK WILL STOP AND RESTART ON READY FOR PLAY WHISTLE› First Down With The Play Ending In The

Field of Play (NOT OUT OF BOUNDS)

› Team Attempting To Conserve Time Illegally

CLOCK WILL STOP & RESTART BASED ON THE PREVIOUS PLAY

› Penalties & Administration

Two Minute Mechanics: Untimed Down› During the last timed down, a period is extended if:– An accepted live ball penalty on either team (excludes Loss of Down

penalties)– Offsetting Penalties– Inadvertent Whistle– Touchdown› The period is extended for the Try unless the TD is scored as time

expires and the points would not affect the outcome of the game.

› The period is not extended when the Defense has a penalty on a Successful Try.

Questions?

Quiz Time!

Part One: True/False Questions› Flag Football is a contact sport, and participants are allowed to

use their hands to push, shove, and throw opponents.› The game clock will stop at end of every play throughout the

half.› Unless changed by penalty, a team has four Downs to reach the

Zone Line-to-Gain set by the Ready for Play whistle.› Men’s teams may play with a youth-size ball.› One of the purposes of the pregame Captains’ Meeting is to set

the tone for the entire game.

Part Two: Game Situations› Situation #1:– Player A1 is wearing a watch, metal spiked cleats, and cargo pants.

Before beginning the game, what does Player A1 need to be considered a eligible player?

› Situation #2:– Fourth Down and 20 Yard Line-to-Gain. Team A snaps the ball. Player

A1 runs backwards and hands the ball to A2 as A2 is running forward. Before crossing the Offensive LOS, Player A2 completes a forward pass to Player A1. Player A1 runs for a touchdown. The Referee throws a penalty flag for illegal forward pass. As a result of the play, Team B gains possession, and it is First Down and Goal Line-to-Gain.

Part Two: Game Situations› Situation #3:– During halftime, Team B decides that they would rather play with a Nerf

ball instead of the game ball provided by Intramural staff. The Referee declares the ball legal since it is a name brand ball.

› Situation #4– Second Down and 40 Yard Line-to-Gain. Player B3 receives the snap

and complete a 20 yard pass to Player B1. As Player B1 is running, Defender A4 pushes Player B1 to the ground. The Back Judge throws a flag and tells the Referee that the penalty occurred during a loose ball play. The Referee administers the penalty from the original LOS. The next play will repeat Second Down to the 40 Yard Line-to-Gain.