Rules of the game
YOUTH LEAGUE RULES
Competition Rules
All Midlothian Flag Football (“The League”) games will be conducted under Official NFL Flag rules, unless otherwise noted.
Uniforms
- All players must be in full uniform, provided by the league.
- All players must wear the jerseys issued by MFF to be eligible to play.
- All jerseys must be tucked in.
Home Team Designation
Home team wears light colored jersey. Away team wears darker colored jersey.
Field Coordinators / Score Keepers
- Game balls will be provided by MFF. Teams must provide their own warm up balls.
- Teams are not required to provide the scorekeeper. MFF provides a field coordinator for each field responsible for ensuring players have game flags, score is kept at the table, and final score is recorded and confirmed by officials and coaches at the end of each game.
Ball Specs
- Pee Wee sized NFL Flag footballs are used in Kindergarten through 6th Grade Divisions.
- Junior sized NFL Flag footballs are used in 7th & 8th Grade Divisions.
- NCAA Official size footballs are used in Adult league play.
Game Duration
- All youth divisions will play 2 halves at 20 minutes of running clock per half.
- Adult divisions play the standard 2 halves at 24 minutes of running clock per half.
- Half-Time will be 5 minutes.
Overtime
- If the game is tied at the end of regulation, the official will host a coin-flip. Each team will have an opportunity for a one or two point conversion attempt. Each team will have a possession.
- If the game remains tied at the end of the first overtime possessions, each team will have a two point conversion play back to back until one team wins.
Pre-Game Warm-Ups
- Warm-Up time will vary by team and coach's preference. Teams may warm up inside of stadium on the outside of the fields or in any open area in the park leading up to their game time.
First Downs
- Offensive possession starts at the 5 yard line. The offense has 4 downs to get to the first down marker (25 yd line). On 4th down, the offense must choose to go for the 1st down or "punt" which moves the ball to the opposite 5 yard line and changes the possession.
- Once the offense has made it past the first down marker (25 yd line), the offense has 3 plays/downs to score. If the offense does not score, the ball is placed on the 5 yard line and a turnover occurs.
Time Outs
- Each team will be allowed 2 one-minute timeouts per half.
- One additional timeout will be allowed for each overtime period.
Tiebreaker for Season Standings
- Head to Head
- Point Differential (Capped at 35 Point Max/Game)
- Points Allowed
Behavior Standards and Expectations
- Inappropriate behavior along with verbal or physical assault will not be tolerated.
- Each coach is responsible for the conduct of the team’s players, coaches and fans on and off the court and must promote the best sportsmanship, win or lose.
- The Site Director or any game official may remove a player, coach, or attendee from a game, tournament, or venue for inappropriate behavior or verbal abuse.
- The Site Director may take any such other corrective action it deems appropriate to assure proper sportsmanship, the safety and well-being of all participants, and the integrity and standards of the event.
- All teams, coaches, players, and spectators are subject to such rulings and corrective actions.
- Any coach, player, or spectator who is ejected from a game by a game official or the Site Director may be subject to further suspensions or removal from the MFF.
Player Eligibility
- Grade/Age Based Eligibility - Events will be organized by grade divisions only. Each division will also have minimum and maximum age standards that apply.
- Playing "Up" - A player may play up in one higher grade division than his/her grade.
- All Divisions are currently Co-Ed from Kindergarten through Adult programs.
Mandatory Minimum Playing Time Requirements
- Teams with ten (10) or less players: Each player must play a minimum of 16 minutes or 50% of the game.
- If there is a violation on minimum playing time, the coach of the team that is in violation will be assessed a technical foul and potential forfeiture of the game.
- The referee will signal the clock to stop on the closest dead ball to the 4 minute mark in each quarter. Each team will have the opportunity to substitute. The 4 minute stoppage in each quarter or the breaks between each quarter are the only time substitutions are allowed. There will be no free subs.
- The only exception to this rule is in the 7th-9th grade divisions. Free substitution is allowed in these divisions.
Links to Rule Highlights & Full Rulebook PDF
adult league rules
Adult Divisions - NFL Flag Rule Variations
- 5 Seconds for Passer to Release Ball
- Ball Size is NCAA Official Size
- No Requirement to Snap Ball Between Legs