7 v 7 Big Foot Flag Football Rules and Regulations
THE PLAYING FIELD
DIMENSIONS - The game shall be played ideally upon a rectangular field, which measures 80 - 100 yards in
length with two 10-yard end zones. The width of the field shall be 40 yards.

MARKINGS - First down markers are positioned in set locations every 20 yards. First downs are only achieved
by crossing these markers.

EQUIPMENT
THE BALL - Each team must provide an N.F.H.S., NCAA, or Pro Type Football fully inflated. The Referee
shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications.

FLAG BELTS - Each team will be provided flag belts, which must be returned after the game. In the event
they are lost or stolen, a belt-restocking fee may be charged to the team. A player caught with a "tied" or
illegal flag belt will be ejected from the game and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty assessed to their team.

CLEATS - Only molded cleats will be allowed for outdoor play. Screw-ins, metal or metal tipped cleats will
not be permitted. Each indoor facility will have there own policy regarding the use of cleats.

ATTIRE – No billed hats will be allowed on the field of play. No jewelry will be allowed including but not
limited to necklaces, watches, bracelets, or hooped earrings). No pants or shorts with pockets will be allowed.

UNIFORMS - Teams will be required to wear like color shirts or jerseys. Opposing teams may not wear
similar colored shirts. The home team wears dark jerseys and visitors wear light jerseys. In same jersey color
situations, the home team gets their choice. Numbers are mandatory.

PLAYERS
AMOUNT - The game is to be played by two teams of seven players each. More than seven players on the field
is illegal, while less than seven (7) players is legal with a minimum of five (6) players needed to play. Penalty
for too many players: 5 yards for illegal substitution or 10 yards for illegal participation

CAPTAINS - At the beginning of the game, each team must designate a captain. The captain will act as sole
representatives of their team in all communications with the officials.

ROSTERS - Teams may carry up to 14 players on their roster. Team rosters are frozen after the third game.
Players must sign the "waiver" form prior to participating in their first game. Players must have participated in
at least four (3) games to be eligible for the playoffs.

WAIVER FORMS
SIGNED "WAIVER" FORM - Each captain is to present to the referee a completed, signed waiver form by
all of the players, which will enter the field. The game will not start unless all players have signed the waiver.

GAME TIMING
LENGTH OF THE GAME - The length of the game is 40 minutes, divided into two halves of 20 minutes.
Running time with no clock stoppage is used in the first half. During the final 2 minutes of the second half,
traditional clock stoppage is used only when the ball carrier steps out of bounds, there is an incomplete pass, a
change in ball possession, and when a score is achieved. The clock will start as soon as the penalty has been
accessed.
Note: Tournament games may be shortened due to weather, darkness, or unusual circumstances.

HALFTIME - Between the first and second halves, there shall be an intermission of two (2) minutes. During
the intermission, play is suspended, and the teams may leave the field.

STARTING EACH GAME – A coin toss will determine first possession. Each game will start with a prayer.
One of three choices may be called. The Home team will provide someone to lead the prayer. Home team is
listed first on the schedule.

TIME OUTS - Each team is allowed two time outs per half. Timeouts will not carry over into the second half.
Charged time outs can be used at anytime. The time clock will begin at the snap of the next play.

EXCEPTION: The Referee may allow necessary time to attend to an injured player; or repair legal equipment
in which the clock will NOT STOP.

TIME BETWEEN PLAYS - The offensive team has 25 seconds in which to snap the ball once the referee has
spotted the ball after the previous play has been ruled dead. It shall be the responsibility of the offensive team to
retrieve the ball and hand it to the referee after each play. The referee will indicate by signaling to the offensive
team when 10 seconds remains on the 25-second clock.

MERCY RULE - Should a team be trailing by 21 or more points at the final "Two-Minute Warning” the
referees shall end the game immediately. There will be no exception to this MERCY RULE. Tournament play
only: 35 pt. differential ends the game.

OFFENSE
LINE OF SCRIMMAGE - Offensive team must have at lease four (4) players on the line of scrimmage at the
time of the snap.

MOTION - Only ONE PLAYER can be in motion at the snap of the ball and must be running parallel to or
away from the line of scrimmage. Please note that more than one player can initially shift, however all players
must be set before the player goes in motion.

CHARGING – All offensive players once receiving the ball must make an attempt to avoid contact with the
defense. If an offensive player lowers their shoulder, or attempts to bull through a defensive player, a 10 yard
person foul penalty will be accessed from the spot of the foul.

NO BLOCKING IS ALLOWED - Neither the offensive or defensive player may initiate contact at any
time.

ELIGIBLE RECEIVERS – All 7 players, including the linemen, are eligible to run down field and catch
passes. Receivers can all line up on one side -- there does not have to be a balanced wide receiver set.

FORWARD PASSES – The offensive team is only allowed one forward pass, which is to occur behind the line
of scrimmage.

DIRECT SNAPS – No direct snaps will be allowed. Their must be a center.

FLAG GUARDING - A ball carrier cannot guard their flags from the opponent while attempting to elude
tacklers. Play will be dead at the spot of the foul and will result in a 5-yard penalty and loss of down, unless the
ball carrier exceeds the 1st down mark by more then 5 yards.

STIFF ARMING - Stiff-arming is illegal and will draw an unnecessary roughness penalty. This will result in a
penalty 10 yards from the spot of the foul

DEFENSE
NEUTRAL ZONE – A two-yard neutral zone has been established between the offensive and defensive lines.

RUSHING – Only two (2) players are allowed to rush on any down. The defense may not make contact or line
up over the center.

TACKLING - A legal tackle is defined as pulling OFF the ball carrier's flag belt, without impeding his forward
movement. Incidental contact does not constitute a penalty against the offense or defense. Tackling a ball
carrier is illegal, as is aggressively shoving or pushing the ball carrier to the ground or out of bounds, which will
result in a 10-yard penalty plus automatic first down.

STRIPPING THE BALL – Players attempting to strip the ball and not attempting to pull a flag are subject to a
personal foul penalty: 10 yards from the end of the run.

FIELD & BALL POSITIONING
SPOTTING THE BALL - The ball will be placed according to the position of the ball at the time the flag was
pulled.

BALL CARRIER IS NOT WEARING OR INADVERTENTLY LOSSES HIS FLAG BELT - In the event
a ball carrier is not wearing or inadvertently loses their flag belt, single hand touching of the ball carrier will
constitute a legal tackle.

BALL CARRIER INADVERTENTLY FALLS TO THE GROUND - A ball carrier who falls to the ground
is considered down and will not be allowed to get back up to play.

FUMBLES - There are no fumbles. When the ball carriers loses control of the ball and it touches the ground
the play is ruled dead and the ball is spotted at the point it touched the ground as long as the spot is at or behind
the ball carriers forward progress.

BAD SNAPS FROM CENTER - Any center snap that falls and touches the ground will be ruled dead at the
spot of the ball hits the ground.

BALL PLACEMENT- The team that is receiving the ball at the start of the game or after any touchdown will
start the ball at the 5-yard line. There will be NO KICKOFFS to start play. The offensive team takes
possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four (4) plays to make a first down. If the offense fails to score,
the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line. All possession changes,
except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.

PUNTING- The offensive team is allowed to punt the ball on 4th down to better their field position. On 4th
down the referee will ask the offense what they wish to do. The offense must declare what they will do i.e. go
for 1st, or punt. The offense may not change their mind on 4th down unless they use a timeout. The receiving
team has one bounce to field the punt if it does not touch the ceiling. If a punt touches a player i.e. muff, the
ball will be spotted where it touches the ground.

OVERTIME – If both teams are tied after regulation the game will go into overtime. The format will follow
the High-School/College system of each team getting 4 downs to score from the 20-yard line. Both teams get
equal chances to score, if no winner is determined after 2 overtime periods the game will be considered a

TIE (league play only). In tournament play or playoffs this will be repeated until we have a winner. Teams
must go for 2 pts. after the 2nd overtime.

SCORING
TOUCHDOWNS = 6 points

EXTRA POINT = 1 point (from the 5-yard line) or = 2 points (from the 10-yard line)
You may run, or pass for an extra point attempt. If you attempt to pass for the extra point and your pass is
intercepted, the ball may be returned for the value of the extra point you are attempting.

SAFETY = 2 points

OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE PENALTIES
ENCROACHMENT/OFFSIDE - A lineman will be considered offside when he/she breaks the neutral zone
prior to the snap, even if there is no contact made with the opponent. You are not allowed to jump back. 5 yard
penalty and replay the down.

ROUGHING THE PASSER – When the defender makes contact with the quarterback in a manner that is
aggressive or that is not deemed an attempt to go after the flag belt. This includes when a defender tries to
deflect the pass and makes contact with the quarterback’s arm or hand. 10-yard penalty from the line of
scrimmage and an automatic first down. If the pass is completed, then the penalty will be assessed from the end
of the play.

NOT ENOUGH PLAYERS ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE – The offense and defense are both required
to have at least four (4) players on the line of scrimmage. If the either fails to have four players on the line at
the start of the play, a penalty will be called. 5 yards and replay the down.

DEFENSIVE HOLDING – This occurs when a defender grabs the ball carrier and impedes his forward
progress. This includes when the defender is attempting to pull a flag and misses and grabs the ball carriers
shorts or shirt. 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul or end of the run.

PASS INTERFERENCE - Defensive pass interference will result in an automatic 1st down and 10 yd. penalty
from line of scrimmage. Offensive pass interference will result in a loss of down and 10 yd. Penalty from line
of scrimmage.

FLAG GUARDING – Flag guarding is defined as any attempt by the ball carrier to shield his/her flags from
being pulled. This includes but is not limited to, swinging free hand, pushing an opponent’s hand away, holding
flags with free hand, lowering or dipping their shoulder, and using the ball to shield the flag. 5-yard penalty and
loss of down (unless a first down is achieved after the penalty has been marked off).

DIVING – At no time may a ball carrier leave his feet to advance the ball. Diving will be at the sole discression
of the Referee. A 5-yard penalty (unless a first down is achieved after the penalty has been marked off) will be
applied.

FIGHTING AND UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT – ZERO TOLERANCE
Fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Players ejected by the referee for striking an
opponent or official may face criminal charges. A player ejected for striking (i.e. throwing a punch) another
player will be suspended for 1 calendar year PERIOD. There will be no exceptions to this rule. If you throw a
punch, you are gone. If you leave the field or bench to get involved you will be suspended as well. Even if your
intentions are good, it is not your job to get involved. The BFRD staff and team captains will handle this
situation. Verbal abuse also will not be tolerated. Such abuse when deemed appropriate will be grounds for
game ejection and possible league suspension. Taunting and over excessive celebration will also be grounds for
a penalty or ejection. Penalty: 10 yards unsportsmanlike conduct

Drinking/Controlled Substances – Drinking of alcoholic beverages is NOT allowed before or during
games. Player(s) found drinking prior to or during their game would not be allowed to play. A player believed
to be under the influence of a controlled substance will not be allowed to play.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE – The Big Foot Recreation District does not provide accident insurance coverage for injuries
received by participants. Each participant should make that they have appropriate coverage either through
family or individual policies.