North MS Flag Football League

General Procedures
1. Every player must fill all requirements on IMLeagues.com.
2. All team sports will follow a limited roster policy. New players may be added to team rosters if an open position is available. If not, one team mate must be removed from the roster in order for a new player to be added. Once a player is removed from a team, that player is no longer eligible to play for that team. If the player that has been removed from the team they are no longer eligible to play during the season.
3. Players may not play on more than one team. The first team you play with is your team for the season. Players also may not switch teams.
4. To be eligible for playoffs, a player must have played at least one regular season game for that team.
5. The regular season will be followed by a single elimination playoff tournament when time permits.
6. Abusive, derogatory, and demeaning comments & gestures will NOT be tolerated. Violators could face suspension or expulsion from the program.
7. All persons attending intramurals are subject to rules. This includes, but not limited to, team representatives, players, substitutes, replaced players, coaches, spectators, and other persons affiliated with the team are subject to the rules of the game and shall be governed by decisions assigned to the game.
8. The Referee has authority to rule promptly, and in spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules. The Referees decisions are final in all the matters pertaining to the game.

Team Captains Meeting
1. Attendance at the team captains meeting is MANDATORY. Any team not represented at this meeting will not be included in league play, unless the team captain makes other arrangements with the administration staff.

Rosters
1. Make sure all players are signed up on your team roster on imleagues.com.
2. If they aren’t on the roster before 4pm the day of a game they will not be permitted to play.

Schedules
1. Season schedules can be viewed and printed off at imleagues app immediately after the captains meeting. Playoff schedules will be available two days prior to the start of the playoffs.
2. Teams are expected to be at the field “ready to play” ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled game time.
3. Any team with less than the minimum players to start a game (5 players) at the scheduled start time will forfeit the game.

Equipment
1. Each player must wear pants or shorts with NO belts, belt loops, pockets, or exposed drawstrings.
2. Pants/shorts must be a different color than the flags; Any player wearing the same color flag as their shorts will not be permitted to play until they change.
3. Shirts must be worn, with either tails tucked inside pants or short enough to be a minimum of four inches above the belt. Jerseys that have been altered in any manner that produces a knot-like protrusion or creates a tear-away jersey are illegal.
4. Teams are required to wear a provided numbered pinnie.
5. All players are required to wear flag belts the entire game. Belts must be secured around the waist line in the appropriate manner and may not be wrapped around itself or tied.
6. Metal spikes are NOT ALLOWED, players are prohibited from wearing spiked shoes. Players found wearing such shoes will be banned from play for the remainder of the season. Only tennis shoes, flat rubber, molded rubber cleats, removable cleats, or turf shoes are permitted.
7. Players are not permitted to play barefoot or while wearing sandals.
8. Pads or braces above the waist not approved by the administrative staff prior to the game are considered illegal.
9. Leg and knee braces made of hard material unless covered on both sides and edges are illegal.
10. Teams may wear apparel of their choice as deemed appropriate by administrative staff. However, shoes and shorts must be worn at all times.
11. NO JEWLERY or headgear (including hats) of any kind is permitted while participating in any Intramural activity.

Start of Play: Players must check-in with a Driver license, State I.D., or (virtual I.D. using the imleagues app) and be on the printed roster in order to play.
Rosters will be printed at 8 a.m. on game days.
Timing
1. Games will consist of two twenty-minute halves with a running clock. Stop timing will be used during the last two minutes of the second half, at which time the clock will stop on all whistles other than deflagging. Teams will be notified at the two-minute warning of the second half.
2. During the last 2 minutes of the 2nd half, the clock will stop for:
Incomplete legal or illegal forward pass
Out-of-bounds
Safety
Team time-out
First down
Touchdown
Penalty
Referee’s time out (re-starts at ref’s discretion)
Touchback
Team attempting to conserve time illegally
Injured player
4. The clock will stop for team and official’s timeouts throughout the entire game.
5. The clock will run during point conversions.
6. Half time will be ten minutes in duration.
7. Each team gets two 30-second timeouts per half (unused time outs do not carry-over).
8. When a player is injured on the field, the clock is stopped, and the player must sit out for one down. A player who has open wounds, or bleeding, or has blood on their uniform shall be considered injured.
9. Gridiron games will have a 25 second play clock, starting from when the referee places the ball.

Overtime

1. In the case of a tie, a coin toss will be conducted at midfield with the following options:
Offense/defense, or goal (both teams will use the same goal on offense).
Each team is allowed a series of four downs in which to score from the 20-yard line. If the score remains tied, each team will have another four down series with the opposite team having first option of offense/defense. This type of play will continue until a winner is declared.
2. Teams will receive one time-out in an overtime situation.
3. Extra point attempts will occur in overtime.
4. In the event of a turnover, all remaining downs are forfeited. The turnover may be returned for a touchdown. If this happens, the game is over, if not the team gets its turn to try from the twenty (20) yard line. This process is repeated until both teams have had an even number of offensive downs (*subject to turnovers) and one has a higher score.

Players
1. Eight 8 players per team are allowed on the field at a time. A minimum of five (5) players is necessary to begin and continue play.
2. Offensive players are responsible for helping retrieve the ball after a down has ended.
4. All players not in the field and spectators must remain between the 20-yard lines and two (2) yards off the sideline.
5. Any number of substitutions may be made during a game when a stoppage in play has occurred and they must check in with the officials.

Start of Play
1. Games will begin with a coin flip at midfield.
2. The team winning the coin toss will have to choose from one of the three options: receive the ball, choose the goal they would like to defend, or defer their choice to the second half.
3. Once decided, play will begin with the ball being spotted at the appropriate 20-yard line for kickoff.

Snap
1. All plays must originate with a snap from the center. This snap may be received at least two yards behind the offensive scrimmage line. The snap can be made between the legs of the snapper or on the side but must originate from the ground.
2. Anytime on or after the ball is marked ready for play, each offensive player must start within 15 yards of the ball before the snap.
3. The offense must have at least 5 players on the offensive line of scrimmage.
4. Only one offensive player may be in motion when the ball is snapped. This motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmage (no motion toward the line).
5. No defensive player may be closer than one yard to the line of scrimmage during all downs. Defensive players may not break the neutral zone until the ball is snapped.

First Downs
1. A first down is awarded to a team whenever they advance the ball across the next 20-yard marker.
2. Four downs will be allowed to complete the series.
3. Only one first down per series of possession can be obtained at each 20-yeard marker. A team may have anywhere from one inch to 20 yards to get to reach a first down.

Carrying the Ball
1. A ball carrier may not deliberately guard their flags. Actions such as slapping with the hand, hurdling or stiff arming are examples of flag-guarding.
2. If a player inadvertently loses their flags or it is pulled by the opposition before gaining possession of the ball, the play will continue and the player must be downed by a one hand touch, between the shoulder and knees, including the hand and arm. Any player who pushes instead of touches will be called for penalty.
3. A player will be ruled “down” when any part of the body other than the hand or foot touches the ground.
4. The defender may not hold or tackle the runner while deflagging the ball carrier. It is illegal to attempt to steal a ball in player possession. The object of the game is to deflag a ball carrier, not steal the ball.
5. Anytime the offense fumbles the ball other than the snap the play is instantly dead. There is no opportunity for change of possession.

Blocking (Gridiron league specific)
1. While blocking, no part of the body except the feet shall be in contact with the ground and the feet must remain on the ground for the duration of the block.
2. Blocks may be made with hands and elbows inside the blockers chest and must contact the defender between the shoulders and waist.
3. High elbows, cross body, and chop blocks are ILLEGAL. Grabbing, holding, elbowing, kicking, tripping, and shouldering are also NOT allowed.
4. Pancake blocks and thrown shoulders will be considered UNNESSARY ROUGHNESS. And are grounds for ejection.

Rushing & Blitzing (Gridiron league specific)
1. The defense may rush after the ball is snapped.
2. The defensemen may not swim past a defender or contact the blocker over the shoulder or below the waist.

Passing the ball
1. A forward pass may be thrown from any point behind the line of scrimmage.
2. All incomplete backward passes shall be marked down at the point of ground contact.
3. Only one forward pass may be attempted from behind the line of scrimmage on a given play.
4. A forward pass is illegal if:
It is thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage
It is intentional grounding (not near a receiver while inside the tackle box)
It is thrown after a change of possession
The passer catches his/her untouched forward/backward pass.
It is the second forward pass during play.
5. The center and 2 guards are ineligible for passes.
6. A player must have complete possession of the ball and land with the first part of their body inbound (normally one foot) to be a legal reception.
7. A pass intercepted in the end zone may be advanced.
8. If the passer is deflagged prior to releasing the ball, the ball is dead at that spot and the down has ended.
9. If an offensive player goes out of bounds on their own violation and returns inbounds, it is an illegal participation foul if they participate in any way with the play.
10. Roughing the Passer: defensive players must make a definite effort to avoid charging into a passer after it is clear the ball has been thrown.


Running the ball (Gridiron league specific)
1. The offense may run the ball as often as they want.
2. A runner may pass the ball backward at any time, but the ball may be intercepted by an inbounds player. If the ball hits the ground, the play is ruled over.

Kickoffs
1. The ball will be kicked off from the twenty-yard line. The kicking team must be behind the line of scrimmage before the ball is kicked and no one can pass the line of scrimmage until the kicker has made contact with the ball.
2. Kickoffs will occur at the beginning of each half and after every touchdown.
3. All blocks must be clean (Gridiron). No contact may be made (Backyard)

Punting
1. The punting team must announce the punt to the officials and to the opposing team when the ball is marked ready-for-play.
2. If a punt is made, the offense must have a minimum of 5 players on the line of scrimmage. The kicker must receive the ball two yards behind the center.
3. The punt must be made immediately and in a continuous motion upon receiving the snap.
4. Players of both teams may not advance beyond their respective scrimmage lines until the ball is kicked.
5. Blocking Kicks: once the ball is punted, any defensive player may block the kick. If a blocked punt hits the ground, it is dead at the spot. If the punt is blocked and then caught by an offensive player behind the scrimmage line it may be advanced. Any player on the defensive team may advance the kick anywhere in the field of play or end zone.
6. Returning Kicks: When a punt which has crossed the scrimmage line, touches a player from either team and then hits the ground, the ball is dead and belongs to the receiving team. If the ball is caught in the air, or after the ball has hit the ground, it can be advanced by any player on the receiving team. If the ball hits a player on the receiving team and then is caught in the air by anyone on the kicking team, the ball is dead and belongs to the kicking team.
7. A ball punted into the end zone will be put into play at the twenty (20) yard line.

Scoring
1. Point values will be as follows:

Touchdowns: 6 pts
Conversions: 1 or 2 pts (1 pt will be from the 3 yard line and 2 pts will be from the 7 yard line)
Safety: 2 pts
Defensive conversion: 1 or 2 pts (The defense may return an interception during a conversion for either 1 or 2 pts, whichever the offense was attempting).




Penalties
1. Five-yard penalties:
Illegal formation, not a dead ball foul Delay of game
Illegal motion, not a dead ball foul
Offside (any movement of a set offensive player on the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Not a dead ball foul).
Encroachment (When a defensive player is past the neutral zone before the snap or in the neutral zone at the time of the snap).
More than 7 (8 for gridiron) players on the field
Failure to keep the sidelines clear
Flag guarding
Unintentional tackling

2. Five-yard penalties with a loss of down: Illegal forward pass (A pass thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage).
Intentional Grounding (A ball thrown more than ten yards away from any receiver to avoid a sack. To avoid, must be outside of the pocket and the ball must be thrown past the line of scrimmage).
3. Ten-yard penalties: Infraction while running the ball. (Stiff arming, lowering a shoulder or failing to avoid a defensive player).
Illegal blocking. Unintentional blocks above the shoulders or below the knees.
Holding the Runner
Offensive pass interference
Defensive pass interference (Ten-yard penalty and auto first down).
Down field punt blocking
Clipping (Blocking in the back).
Hurdling (Jumping over any player).
4. Fifteen-yard penalties: Intentional block made above the shoulder or below the waste.
Unnecessary roughness (includes touching a QB while he’s throwing, anywhere besides the flags, without touching the ball).
Unsportsmanlike conduct. (i.e. language and attitude. Also includes any player from either team who comes onto the field during any kind of altercation will be disqualified and a 10-yard penalty will be enforced from the succeeding spot).
Spearing, tackling, kneeing, kicking, and striking
5. All of the above penalties are subject to player(s) ejected from game, suspended from play, or banned from season and/or all Intramural Sports.

Inadvertent Whistle
1. When an inadvertent whistle occurs. The offensive team will have the option of taking the play with the ball spotted at its location when the whistle blew or replay the down. If the ball is loose

following a backward pass or fumble, the will have the option of taking the ball at the spot where possession was lost or replay the down. During a legal forward pass or kick, if an inadvertent whistle occurs, the ball is returned to the previous spot and the down replayed.

Sportsmanship
1. Team captains are responsible for the eligibility and conduct of all their players. Referees are instructed to speak with team captains only.
2. The referee may eject players who choose to ignore this rule.
3. There will be “ZERO TOLERANCE” rule for harassing officials.

Defaults and forfeits
1. A minimum of five (5) players is required to play a game.
2. If the game is played with the less than minimum amount of players, it will be declared a default.
3. If no game is played at all, it will be declared a forfeit.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
BE ON TIME!! We have limited time and space so it is imperative that we stay on schedule.
There will be “ZERO TOLERANCE” for, foul language, trash talk, intimidation, talk back to the officials and intramural staff, fighting, and bad attitudes.
It’s important that Captains represent their team.
Always check imleagues app for up to date information.
Have Fun!!

IMLeagues

If you are looking to join as a free agent or start a team go download the imleagues app and set up an account and send your email to La’Kendrick Butler

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