John's Flag Football League

JFL League Rules

Before You Play

1. 1

   LEAGUE DUES: League dues are paid to the League Treasurer no later than the day of Week 1 of the regular season.

2. 2

   3 STRIKE RULE: If a player misses a game without giving proper advance notice, they receive a strike. Miss 2 weeks in a row and you will be banned for the season. Miss 3 weeks total in a season and you’re GONE! Exceptions may be made for medical emergencies or serious personal situations. The commissioner team will review these before deciding whether a strike applies.

3. 3

   THE LATE RULE: For every minute a team is late, the other team gets 1 point. For example, if your team makes the game start 6 minutes late, the other team starts the game with 6 points. If your team is 10 minutes late in total, you forfeit the game.

4. 4

   SHORT-HANDED TEAMS: A team with only 4 players may play the entire game with no substitutions. The opposing team may still play 4 players at a time and substitute in as many extra players as it has.

5. 5

   CLEATS: Players cannot play without cleats. We don’t want any unnecessary injuries.

6. 6

   UNIFORMS: All shirts MUST be tucked in, and jerseys must be worn at all times.

Scoring

1. 7

   SCORING – REGULAR SEASON: Games are first to 28. Touchdowns are worth 7 points.

2. 8

   HOW A GAME ENDS: There is no time limit. A game only ends when a team reaches the target score.

3. 9

   SAFETY: If an offensive player accidentally runs out of bounds in their own end zone, it is a SAFETY. A safety is worth 2 points, and the other team gets the ball.

The Snap & the Rush

1. 10

   FALSE START PENALTY: When the offense says “ready,” all players must be set and cannot move until the ball is snapped.

   • 1st call: warning (1 warning per game).
   • 2nd call: loss of down, and the ball stays at the original line of scrimmage.
   • 3rd call and every call after that: loss of 5 yards and loss of down, until there is a turnover on downs or a safety, whichever comes first.
2. 11

   THE COUNT: The rusher counts out loud from “1 one-thousand” to “7 one-thousand,” as fast as they can. Once the count is done, the rusher can rush the QB, and the QB CANNOT RUN. Before the snap, the rusher’s hand must not hover over or around the ball.

3. 12

   THE BLITZ: The rusher may blitz only on 3rd or 4th down, and only once per drive. The rusher must yell “Blitz!” before rushing.

4. 13

   QB RUNNING: The QB may run with the ball only if they are blitzed. If the rusher rushes after the count, the QB cannot run. Exception: if a wide receiver runs between the QB and the rusher, the rusher no longer has to wait for the count and may rush right away, but the QB may not run past the line of scrimmage.

Catches & Plays

1. 14

   2 STEP RULE: A catch counts once the receiver catches the ball and takes 2 steps. If the defense strips the ball after those 2 steps, it is a fumble. If the receiver drops the ball before taking 2 steps, it is an incomplete pass (dead ball).

2. 15

   IN BOUNDS: You only need 1 FOOT in bounds for a catch to count.

3. 16

   FLAGS: If a player’s flag comes off early in the play, that player is not down. They stay eligible until their flag is pulled after they have touched the football.

4. 17

   THE BUMP ZONE: If you get bumped out of bounds within the 5-yard bump zone, you become an ineligible receiver.

Penalties & Conduct

1. 18

   PASS INTERFERENCE: When pass interference (P.I.) is called, your team gets a fresh set of downs from the spot where the play started.

2. 19

   NO SWATTING OR STIFF-ARMS: Absolutely no swatting at a defender’s hands when they reach for your flag, and no stiff-arming.

3. 20

   SIDELINES: No players should hang around or distract the scorekeeper, or stand in the middle of the field.

Standings & Playoffs

1. 21

   TIEBREAKERS: If teams finish with the same record, the tie goes to their head-to-head record. If that’s also tied, it goes to the team with the most points scored.

2. 22

   PLAYOFFS: All teams make the playoffs.

3. 23

   SCORING – PLAYOFFS: Games are first to 28. Touchdowns are worth 6 points, and the scoring team can go for 1 or 2 extra points. A 1-point try is run from 1 cone out, and a 2-point try from 2 cones out.

4. 24

   THE CHICK RULE: If your female player doesn’t show up for the playoffs, the opposing team starts with 7 points and the ball.