Flag Football

Event Details

 

Date: July 12-13, 2025
Registration Deadline: July 9th, 2025

Location: Caroline Street Beach, Ocean City, MD 21042

​​

​

Formats

The following 5v5 non-contact flag football rules for men and women are USA Flag approved. Read through the General Rules first, as they apply to every style we offer, then also make sure and check out the style-specific rules below that are unique to this format.

​

​

RULE 1. OVERVIEW

SECTION 1. THE FIELD
Article 1. Standard dimensions of the field are 60 yards long by 25 yards wide with 7 yard endzones. Approved field sizes may fluctuate from 53-64 yards long when necessary, or 23-30 yards wide. Endzones should not be shorter than 5 yards.

SECTION 2. THE GAME
Article 1. Game Time is FORFEIT TIME – upon approval by a USA Flag director. Guaranteed schedule blocks in scenarios where fields may be behind are the only exception, where teams will be given reasonable time to get to their next games at the discretion of the USA Flag directors.

Article 2. Minimum 3 players to start a game. May only have up to 5 players on the field at any one time.

Article 3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has three plays to cross mid-field. Once a team crosses mid-field they have three plays to score. If the offensive team fails to cross mid-field, the ball changes possession. If the offense does not score, the ball changes possession. All drives start from the 5-yard line with the exception of an interception.

Article 4. No blocking is allowed. No intentional contact is allowed.

SECTION 3. GAME CLOCK FORMAT
Article 1. Tournament clock is 25 minutes long. Two 12 minute halves and 1-minute halftime.

​

Article 2. Each team has two 30 second timeouts PER GAME. If a time out is called after a TD the clock will not run until the change of possession and the offense snaps their ball.

​

Article 3. The play clock is 25 seconds from the end of the previous play.

SECTION 4. FIRST HALF CLOCK

Article 1. The clock will run continuously during the 12 minutes of the first half unless a team timeout is used or play is stopped by an official (e.g. deal with an injury, challenge, refereeconference, game management purposes, etc.)

​

Article 2. The head official will give a verbal two-minute warning (for rule specific changes inside 2 minutes)

​

Article 3. The clock will run during point-after-touchdown attempts (PATs) in the first half unless either team opts to use a team timeout.

​

SECTION 5. SECOND HALF CLOCK
Article 1. In the second half the clock will run continuously for the first 11 minutes unless a team timeout or an official’s time out is used.

Article 2. The one-minute warning will stop the clock in the second half if the score difference is 8 points or less.

​​

Article 3. The head official will give a verbal two-minute (for rule specific changes) and one- minute warning as close as possible to the actual marks but will not interrupt a live play.

​​

Article 4. At the one minute warning officials will use a ‘stop’ clock mechanic for the remainder of the contest.

​

​

RULE 2. OFFENSE

SECTION 1. RUNNING
Article 1. The quarterback may not run unless the ball has been thrown back, handed or pitched to him or her in the backfield.

Article 2. Teams may handoff (unlimited), pitch, or throw back in the backfield. UNLIMITED laterals or throwbacks behind the LOS are allowed for the player to remain eligible to pass.

 

Article 3. Pitching (backwards/laterally) is allowed downfield (unlimited). Handoffs are allowed forward or backwards when behind the line of scrimmage, and only backwards beyond the line of scrimmage. A handoff DOES NOT count as a lateral/throwback.

​

Article 4. A forward pass DOES NOT have to cross the LOS to be a legal play.

​

Article 5. If the ball is placed on the “Back” of ANY player, the player MUST run the ball (no give and go to the QB on the back)

​

Article 6. No run zones are located 5 yards before mid-field and 5-yards before the end zone. You may not run the ball in the no run zone (5-yards before the first down and end zone), only forward passes are allowed to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage. Laterals and handoffs are still allowed.

​

Article 7. Ball is spotted where the ball is at the time of the flag pull. The ball must break the plane of the midfield or goal line to be considered a first down or touchdown.

​

Article 8. Players may NOT block down field in any form.

​

SECTION 2. PASSING

Article 1. The quarterback has 5 seconds to pass the ball if there is no rush. If the ball is not thrown, then the play is dead. After the ball is ruled dead it is returned to the line of scrimmage.

​

Article 2. Once the ball is handed off or pitched backwards the 5 second count stops. If the defensive team rushes, then there is no 5 second count.

 

SECTION 3. RECEIVING
Article 1. All players are eligible to receive a pass, including the quarterback, if the ball has been pitched or handed off in the backfield.

 

 

RULE 3. DEFENSE

SECTION 1. RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
Article 1. Players that blitz/rush the quarterback must be a minimum of 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.

​

Article 2. The 7 yards will be measured off by a referee.

​

Article 3. Players that are not 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped may not enter into the backfield until there is a change of possession.

​

Article 4. The blitzer/rusher is allowed a direct lane to the line of scrimmage as long as he or she rushes from either side of the center or outside the bunch formation. The offense must avoid interfering with the rusher if he or she has established a lane. Officials will announce LANE or NO LANE for rushers/blitzers prior to the snap. This is a judgment call/decision based on the spacing between the players in the offensive formation. A space of 6ʺ or greater in length between two players constitutes a lane at the officials discretion.

​

Article 5. The rush of a blitzer has to be immediately after the snap, quick and straight towards the point where the quarterback receives the snap in order to retain the right of way. If a blitzer is rushing late, slowly, aiming at another spot, changing direction during the rush or just does not rush the quarterback, the player loses the right of way but still can participate as any other defensive player.

 

​

RULE 4. SCORING

SECTION 1. POINTS

• Touchdown: 6 points
• Point After Touchdown:
◦ (PAT) 1 point from the 5-yard line (no-run zone in effect)
◦ 2 points from the 12-yard line, run, pass (outside of no-run zone)
◦ Interceptions returned on PAT’s are worth 2 points
• Safety: 2 points

 

SECTION 2. MERCY RULE
Article 1. No Mercy Rule during pool play games. If a team is up by 28 points or more during bracket play at any time or 19 Points at the final minute, the game will be over.

 

SECTION 3. PENALTIES INSIDE 2 MINUTES
Article 1. All penalties inside of 2 minutes of BOTH halves remain the same except:
• Defensive delay of game (+ 15 yards Unsportsmanlike & 1st Down)
• Leading Team – Offensive delay of game (LOD + clock stops) (only second half)
• Offensive Pre-snap penalties – yardage + LOD
• Defensive Pre-Snap – yardage + Automatic first down

 

 

YOUTH 5V5 RULES

The following Youth 5v5 flag football rules for boys and girls are USA Flag approved. These rules are an extension of our traditional 5v5 Youth rules so read through those, along with the General Rules first, as they apply to every style we offer. Below are the changes to this style for Youth 5v5

​

​​

Rule 1 Changes:

SECTION 1. OFFENSE
Article 1. The offensive team has 4 plays to get a first down, and 4 plays to score once a first down is achieved.

​

Article 2. The offensive team has the option to use a male or female quarterback of any age and is not bound by division age restrictions, including adults. The quarterback may not run or cross the line of scrimmage at any point. All plays must be include a forward pass that advances the ball. A forward pass can be legally completed behind the line of scrimmage and advanced. You are still only allowed 5 total players on offense including 1 adult and 4 children and a total of 12
players on the roster.

Example: A coach who is also the quarterback of a youth team, would need to be listed as one of the 12 on the official roster as a player and also registered separately as a coach.

​

Article 3. No Laterals or handoffs of any kind on offense or defense. Any intentional or inadvertent lateral or handoff will be deemed an illegal pitch at the spot where the ball is handed or lands in an attempted lateral. This is a live ball penalty. Illegal pitch will incur a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul and a loss of down.

 

Article 4. Teams are awarded 3 timeouts per game.

​

Article 5. In the event of an interception, the quarterback is deemed ineligible to defend, pull flags or participate in any way other than stand motionless until the play is completed.

​

SECTION 2. DEFENSE
Article 1. There is no rushing allowed. The quarterback has 5 seconds to attempt a pass or the ball will be deemed dead at the previous spot.

​

​

ADULT RULES

The following 5v5 flag football rules for men and women are USA Flag approved.

 

These rules are an extension of our 5v5 Non-Contact rules so read through those, along with the General Rules first, as they apply to every style we offer. Below are the changes to this style for :

​​

​​

RULE 1: CHANGES

SECTION 1. OFFENSE
Article 1. The offensive team has 4 plays to get a first down, and 4 plays to score once a first down is achieved.

Article 2. The quarterback may not run or cross the line of scrimmage at any point. All plays must include a forward pass that advances the ball. A forward pass can be legally completed behind the line of scrimmage and advanced.

​​

Article 3. No Laterals or handoffs of any kind on offense or defense. Any intentional or inadvertent lateral or handoff will be deemed an illegal pitch at the spot where the ball is handed or lands in an attempted lateral. This is a live ball penalty. Illegal advancement will incur a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul and a loss of down.

Article 4. Teams are awarded 3 timeouts per game.

​

 

ADULT COED RULES

The following 5v5 non-contact coed flag football rules for men and women are USA Flag approved.

These rules are an extension of our 5v5 Non-Contact rules so read through those, along with the General Rules first, as they apply to every style we offer. Below are the changes to this style for coed:

​

​

RULE 1: COED CHANGES

SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY
Article 1. 5v5 Non-Contact Coed flag football teams must consist of 2 females on the field at the same time or be subject to forfeit. A typical team would consist of 3 males and 2 females, but you may use more females than required, but no less than 2. As long as you have 3 females and a minimum of 3 total players on the field you are eligible for play.

​

SECTION 2. EQUIPMENT
For women’s and coed formats a full size or Intermediate size football is allowed.

​

SECTION 3. GAMEPLAY
Article 1. To ensure coed participation, a penalty will ensue if the offensive team fails to use a female as an operative player within 3 consecutive downs. This applies to the full game. The penalty for running 3 consecutive plays without a female as an Operative Player will be a 5 yard penalty and a loss of down (i.e. if it was 1st down during the penalty, it is now 2nd down) and the female must now be the operative player on the next play.

​

Article 2. An Operative Player is defined as a player who:
• Is the intended receiver in the eyes of the official
• Runs the ball as the primary runner (must cross line of scrimmage)
• Receives the snap as the QB and attempts a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage.

 

Article 3. An Operative Player is NOT defined as a player who:
• Hands off the football
• Snaps the ball into play
• Receives a hand-off only to give it back to a male before crossing the line of scrimmage
• Receives a pitch downfield

 

Article 4. Examples of an operative player:
• A pass deflected by a male and caught by a female is a female play
• A pass intended for a female (in the eyes of the referee) that is deflected by a female, and caught by a male counts as a female play
• A pass thrown by a male, received by a male and immediately pitched to a female (the “hook and ladder”) will not constitute a female play – no matter how far the female advances with the ball after the pitch
• A pass intentionally grounded by a female in the last minute of the 2nd half in order to stop the clock DOES count as a female play
• If a female pitches the ball to a male behind the line of scrimmage this will not result in a female play.
• A female intercepting the ball on defense in a pick 6 scenario would count as the operative player.

 

Article 5. The ball must be advanced past the line of scrimmage to or from a female operative player to count as a female play.

 

Article 6. Defensive Penalties: All defensive penalties will reset the operative player requirement for the offense.

​

Article 7. Laterals: If at any point in a scoring play a male player on the scoring team receives a lateral or handoff downfield or initiates a pitch/handoff downfield, or in the backfield and runs past the line of scrimmage, the play will be ruled a 6 point play whether a female was involved as an operative player at any point or not. Female to Female pitch/handoffs downfield will carry a 9 point value if scored

​

SECTION 4. SCORING
Article 1. Touchdowns
• 6 points awarded for all male participation
• 9 points awarded for female participation as the operative player.

​

Article 2. Extra Points
• 1 point awarded for all male participation play from 5 yard line
• 2 points awarded for all male participation from 12 yard line
• 2 points awarded for female participation as the operative player from 5 yard line.
• 3 points awarded for a play featuring female participation as the operative player from 12 yard line.
• 2 points awarded for male safety
• 3 points awarded for female safety

​

Article 3. No Mercy Rule during pool play games. During playoffs, if a team is up by 48 points or more during tournament play at any time or 28 points at the final minute, the game will be over.

​

SECTION 5. SECOND HALF CLOCK
Article 1. The one-minute warning will stop the clock in the second half if the score difference is12 points or less.​

​

​​​​​​

Important Notes

​

• All teams must register by July 9th, 2025

• Part of the Summer Sports Safari™ (S3Festival™)

• Located on Caroline Street Beach, adjacent to the Ocean City boardwalk