Flag Football League

About the League

This year, twelve teams from nine different churches will compete in the fifth season of the Immanuel Men’s Flag Football League. Since the league started in 2003, everyone who’s participated has had a great time competing and building friendships, and we've got some real rivalries going after some tight, hotly contested playoff matchups last season! It is our hope and expectation to build on last season's successes and have an even more enjoyable and successful season this fall. .

The IBC Flag Football League is about more than just competition. It provides an opportunity for the men of IBC to enjoy fellowship with one another, build friendships with men from other area churches, and to share their faith in Jesus Christ with friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Each game will begin with prayer, as we thank the Lord for blessing us with the opportunity to fellowship with one another, engage in friendly competition, and share Him boldly with others.

Join us for what promises to be an exciting fifth season of competition and fellowship!

Fall 2007 Schedule (pdf)

***NOTICE: Due to construction on the IBC field this fall, games will be played at Washington Irving Middle School, Rec Field #2, 8100 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22152***

Fall 2007 Men's Flag Football League Rules (pdf)

We play by the 2007 IBC Flag Football League Rules.

• Play is 8-on-8. All offensive players are eligible, and contact blocking/jamming is permitted on the line of scrimmage. Consult the rules carefully for what is considered permissible and impermissible blocking.
• The referees will allow a ten minute grace period for only the first game of the day (the 8:00 a.m. game). If your team is later than ten minutes you forfeit the game. All other games will have no grace period.
• Games can be played with six men.
• Prayer precedes every game. Teams will gather at midfield immediately prior to gametime.
• Games are scheduled to last an hour. Outside of team and official time-outs, the game clock runs continually from the kick-off preceding each half until the two minute warning. Inside the two minute warning, the clock will stop for incompletions, out-of-bounds plays, between scoring and the ensuing kick-off and for defensive penalties.  Overtime will be played according to the NCAA rules.
• Each team will be given two 30-second time-outs per half. One additional time-out will be granted to each team in each overtime period.
• ***SPORTSMANSHIP***: If a player is ejected for any reason he will also miss the following week's game. Physical altercations may result in permanent expulsion. There will be no money refunds for players who miss games due to conduct. Please don't curse, fight, or argue with the referee.
• Roster changes will not be permitted after Week 4 of the regular season (September 30, 2006).
• Standings will be updated during the season either via e-mail or on this website.

Note to Coaches - Important Dates

• ASAP - Confirm your desire to enter a team in the IBC Men's Flag Football League by sending an e-mail to IBCFlagFootball@comcast.net UPDATE: Team registration for the 2007 season is now closed.
• August 4, 2007 Registration Deadline: All teams must be registered by Saturday, August 4, 2007. The maximum number of teams this year will be twelve. If you wish to enter a team, use the attached form to submit your roster, identifying your team's name, and the names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of your teammates, by the registration deadline. Be sure that each player has signed a waiver form, which can be found here, prior to Week 1. Signing of the waiver form is a condition of participation. Players who have not signed a waiver form will not be permitted to play until they have done so.
• August 11, 2007 Coaches' Meeting: There will be a Coaches' meeting at Immanuel on Saturday, August 11, 2007, at 8:00 a.m., Room TBD.
• League Fee: The team fee will be $650 this year.
• August 25, 2007 Team Fee Deadline: Have your team's league dues in my hands by the date of the Coaches' meeting. Make your checks payable to Immanuel Bible Church. Write IBC Flag Football/Coach's Name on the memo line.
• September 8, 2007 - Week 1: The season begins on Saturday, September 8, 2007, with the first game scheduled to kick off at 8:00 a.m. The regular season schedule will not be determined until after the Registration Deadline when we know how many teams are participating. Schedules will be finalized by Saturday, August 25, 2007.
• Equipment: Flag belts and cones/yard markers will be provided.

Questions? Contact the League Commissioner
Feel free to contact Joe Hartman or Jonathan Dancy, the League Co-Commissioners, with any questions about the league or Immanuel Bible Church at IBCFlagFootball@comcast.net.

UPDATED 8|10|07


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2007 I.B.C. MEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE RULES SUMMARY

The 2007 I.B.C. Men’s Flag Football League Rules are derived from the rulebook of the United States Flag Football Association, the official organization for men's amateur flag football, with a few minor modifications. The USFFA rulebook may be found at http://www.usffa.org/rulebook.htm

TEAMS and EQUIPMENT

The game is played between two teams of eight players per team. A team must field at least six players at the scheduled kick-off time. In the event that a team fields only six or seven players, the opponent may still field eight. Shoulder pads, helmets, and hip pads are not legal equipment. Foam rubber thigh pads may be worn. Players must wear two same length "sonic" style flags attached to a belt at the waist.

GAME CLOCK and FIELD DIMENSIONS

Games are scheduled to last an hour. Outside of team and official time-outs, the game clock runs continually from the kick-off preceding each half until the two minute warning. Inside the two minute warning, the clock will stop for incompletions, out-of-bounds plays, between scoring and the ensuing kick-off and for defensive penalties. Each team has 2 time-outs per half.  The field is an 80 yard field divided into four 20 yard zones. End zones are 10 yards deep at either end.

COIN TOSS:

Winner chooses to (1) kick or receive, (2) defend a particular goal, or (3) defer to the second half. If the winner chooses (1) or (2) the loser chooses the remaining option. If the winner chooses (3), then at the beginning of the game loser chooses (1) or (2) and winner chooses the remaining option. Winner then chooses (1) or (2) at the beginning of the second half and loser chooses the remaining option.

KICKOFF:

Made from the kicking team's 20 yard line. The receiving team must have 4 players on the line 20 yards from the kick-off point.  Kick-off occurs when an official whistles to indicate that the players are ready, and the kicking team may not cross the line where the ball is set before it is kicked.

There is no blocking downfield (contact or moving screens) on kick-offs. To avoid a penalty for downfield blocking or interference, non-ball carriers on the receiving team should run upfield only behind or lateral to the ball carrier.

A ball downed by the receiving team in the end zone will be placed at the 20 yard line. If the kicking team kicks the ball out-of-bounds  in or beyond the end zone, the ball will be placed on the receiving team’s 20.  If the kicking team kicks the ball out-of-bounds before the end zone, or the ball fails to travel more than 20 yards, the ball will be placed on the 40 yard line.  A kicked ball which is touched by the receiving team and then hits the ground is dead at the spot where it hits the ground.

If the kicking team (1) touches the ball before the receiving team after it hits the ground and has traveled 20 or more yards; (2) catches the ball after the ball travels 20 or more yards; or (3) recovers a muff by the receiving team before it has hit the ground at any point, possession reverts to the kicking team at the point of touching.

DOWNS :

Regardless of where the ball is initially spotted for an offensive series, teams are given four downs to advance to the next line-to-gain: the 20, 40, 20 or goal line (first down or touchdown).

Fourth down options are: to punt or "go" (try for first down or touchdown). The team in possession must declare to the officials its 4th down decision at the time the ball is reset for play. To change this decision before the snap, the team in possession must call a time out. A failed "go" gives possession to the opponent at the spot of the dead ball. 

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE ("LOS") and before the snap:

Four offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.  The side judge will signal in the affirmative if the offense has 4 on the LOS. Offensive players must be "set" for a full second before the ball is snapped; however one player may be in motion, lateral to the LOS and not facing it.

The defense lines up one yard back from where the ball is placed (neutral zone), and may not advance until the ball is snapped (off sides = a 5 yard penalty). There is no minimum or maximum number of defensive players who can be on the line of scrimmage.

All players of both teams, except the center, may use any stance. The center must snap the ball between his legs.

PLAY UNDERWAY

Once the ball is snapped, defensive players (no limit on how many) may rush the QB, and offensive players may move downfield.

ALL OFFENSIVE PLAYERS are eligible receivers.

The ball is dead when an opponent removes the ball carrier's flag. In all cases where a play is in progress and a ball carrier loses a flag either accidentally or inadvertently, the deflagging reverts to a one-hand tag of the ball carrier between the shoulders and knees . If any player loses a flag, he still is eligible to catch a legal forward pass, and the deflagging reverts to a one-hand tag of the player between the shoulders and knees. 

Ball Carrier: The ball carrier may not deliberately drive or run into a defensive player (charging), nor straight arm, nor protect the flag (flag guarding) - 10 yd. penalty from the spot for each. The ball carrier cannot hurdle a defender unless he does so in an effort to avoid stepping on a player on the ground or falling. A fumbled ball is dead where it hits the ground.

Defensive player: May not deliberately hold, grasp, or obstruct forward progress of a ball carrier when in the act of removing a flag. (10 yd. penalty). holding an offensive player who is not the ball carrier is 5 yds. and first down.

Blocking: Blocking occurs only at or behind the line of scrimmage. Although there is an initial five-yard "chuck" allowance for defensive backs, there is no blocking downfield (contact or moving screen). Blockers behind the line of scrimmage must be on their feet before and during contact, and must initiate and hold blocks with open hands between the waist and the shoulders - in front or on the side.

Forward Passing: All players are eligible receivers. A player may not make a forward pass beyond the LOS. If contact occurs downfield between the defensive player and an intended offensive receiver - it must be (1) incidental to the defensive player making an effort to catch or deflect the ball, or (2) a result of the offensive player physically engaging the defensive player - otherwise it is defensive pass interference (first down for offense at the spot of the foul, if in the end zone; first and goal from the 1 yard line.) Offensive pass interference is a 10 yd. penalty and loss of down. To make a catch, a player must have both feet in-bounds.

Backward Pass: Backward pass, pitch, or lateral  can be made at any time, and any number of times while the ball is live, to any other offensive player on the field.  If beyond the LOS, the spot of initiation of a pitch/backwards pass/lateral must be ahead of the spot where the ball is caught, otherwise it is an illegal forward pass (10 yard penalty from spot - loss of down). If an incomplete backwards pass, the ball is spotted where it hits the ground.

Punt: defensive team must have 4 players on the LOS at the kick. Neither team may cross the neutral zone before the punt. There is no blocking on punts or punt returns. An out-of-bounds punt spots the ball where it went out-of-bounds; a punt downed in the end zone or kicked out of the end zone is spotted at the 20. The kicking team cannot recover a punt unless the punt is muffed by the receiving team and caught by the kicking team before it hits the ground.

SCORING

Touchdown: To score a touchdown, the ball must break the plane of the goal line while in the ballcarrier’s possession. The exception to this is the "last man" rule, whereby if a defensive player holds the ballcarrier in a situation where the officials judge that no other defender  would have been able to de-flag the ball carrier before he crossed the goal line - a touchdown is awarded instead of a defensive holding penalty.

Extra point: ONE point is earned from a ball spot on the 5 yard line by either running or passing. TWO points are earned from a ball spot on the 10 yard line by either passing or running.