Sports Rules
SPORT RULES will be updated to this page throughout the school year. If you have any questions regarding rules, guidelines, eligibility, and other questions, please contact the Intramurals staff. Thanks!
7-on-7 Flag Football
(NIRSA Flag Football Rules in Effect Unless Amended)
1. All players must meet Northern State University Intramural Sports eligibility requirements. Only current NSU students, staff, and faculty are eligible for play. For Flag Football, a roster cannot contain more than 3 previous collegiate football players. This includes players that have played at least one season of collegiate football. Also, any participant that has played professional football on any level (Arena, European, Indoor, Amateur) is not allowed to be on a roster as a player. All eligibility requirements are voted and approved by the Intramurals Board of Directors. Students may appeal these standards through written appeals process. For more information, please contact the student activities director.
2. Teams wishing to reschedule games and make roster changes must follow IM Handbook Guidelines.
3. Team captains are responsible for team communication, rule interpretation, sportsmanship and conduct, and schedules.
4. Teams will play a 6-8 game regular season. The top 8 teams according to the weighted point system will play in a single elimination tournament at conclusion of the regular season with the championship game being played at the Clark Swisher complex on October ____, 2006. Teams must be prepared to play play-off games on days and times that are different from their regular season schedule.
5. Teams are composed of seven (7) players on the field at one time. A team must have a minimum of five (5) players to start a game. Game time is forfeit time. The Central Staff Coordinator will declare forfeits.
6. Men’s teams will play with an official size football only. The Intramural Office will provide the football. No other footballs will be allowed to play for competition. Women’s teams may play with an official size, an intermediate, or Junior/Youth size football.
7. The game is two (2) twenty-minute halves. The clock stops during the last two (2) minutes of the game for an incomplete pass, plays that end out of bounds, penalties, and change of possession. The clock is also stopped from the end of a PAT to the start of the next play (except during the last two (2) minutes of the game, when the clock will not run during the PAT). Each team is allowed two (2) one-minute time-outs per half; unused time-outs do not carry over.
8. Equipment: No metal or metal-tipped cleats are allowed. No jewelry of any kind is allowed. Shirts must be tucked in, and should not be tied in knots. PENALTY: A player discovered with illegal equipment prior to a play will result in the player leaving the game and may not return until the illegal equipment is removed. A player discovered with illegal equipment after participating in a play will result in a five-yard penalty; the player must leave the game and may not return until the equipment has been removed.
9. All participants must wear an Intramurals issued jersey or staff approved uniform. Prior to game-time, jerseys will be available at the field for use. All participants must sign in with the scorekeeper and check out a uniform number. Jerseys that are not returned or intentionally damaged will be assessed a $20 fine on their student account. If a roster name is unreadable, the team captain will be assessed the fine.
10. At the beginning of each game, the officials will conduct a coin toss. One captain shall call the toss. The winner will have the option to take the ball, to play defense, to choose a side to defend, or to defer to the second half. If the winning captain decides to defer to the second half, the losing captain must then select to take the ball, to play defense, or to choose a side to defend. If the winning captain chose to defer, he/she has the option to take the ball, to defend, or to choose a side to defend at the start of the second half.
11. The game will begin with a kickoff or punt-off at the designated spot used at the discretion of the official. Throwing the ball down field is not acceptable. The ball is live on kickoff and punt and can be returned if it hits the ground. The punting team does not have rights to the possession if they touch the ball first. Kickoff’s are live and on-side kicks must travel to the spot of the first marker, which is roughly 20 yards, before the kicking team has claim to recover.
12. On all offensive plays, the offensive team must have a minimum of four (4) players on the line of scrimmage. All four players must be set when the ball is snapped. On protected kicks (punts) the offensive team must have a minimum of four (4) players on the line of scrimmage, and all offensive and defensive players, except for the punter, must remain motionless until the ball is punted.
13. A team gets 25 seconds to put the ball in play after it is signaled ready for play by the referee. (PENALTY –Delay of the Game– 5 yards)
14. One offensive player may be in motion, but not in motion toward the opponent's goal line at the time of the snap. There must always be a minimum of four (4) players on the line of scrimmage, excluding any players in motion. Offensive players not in motion must be stationary in their positions without movement of the feet, body, head, or arms. The quarterback may move in order to give directions to teammates.
15. When a first down is gained in a zone, the team in possession of the ball is allowed four (4) downs in which to move it from that point into the next zone. Zones will be approximately 20 yards in length.
16. College rules (one-foot and possession) applies for catching a ball inbounds and in an end-zone.
17. Any encroachment by either team into the neutral zone prior to the snap of the ball is a dead ball foul. A player cannot jump back on side. The penalty is 5 yards and replay the down.
18. There are no direct snaps (under center). The person receiving the snap can be anywhere in the backfield, but must be at least two yards behind the line of scrimmage.
19. Blocking must not include your hands. Hands and arms must be placed at the side, behind the back, or against the chest. Defensive players may use hands on the rush only for balance. Incidental contact is allowed. Incidental contact is defined as unintentional bumping or contact with players on your team or the opposing team. The offensive player shall not: make contact with an opponent, take a position so close to an opponent that the opponent cannot avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. The defensive players cannot plow through a block. Penalty for Illegal Blocks (Offense & Defense) = 10 yards from OLOS, replay the down
20. Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove the flag belt. An untucked shirt/jersey (official’s judgement) is also considered flag guarding. SHIRTS MUST BE TUCKED IN AT ALL TIMES! Penalty for Flag guarding = 10 yards from OLOS, replay the down.
21. Hurdling, Spinning and diving are acceptable, but contact resulting from hurdling, spinning or diving is the responsibility of the ball carrier.
22. Only one (1) forward pass is allowed per offensive play. PENALTY – Loss of Down.
23. Standard Pass Interference rules apply such as pushing, grabbing, bumping, tripping, and holding. Defense cannot grab or “jam” the offense within the first 5 yards. Keep in mind that incidental contact is acceptable and that both players have rights to the ball. If necessary, a ball will be deemed as uncatchable by the closest official and no penalty will be assessed. Penalty for defensive pass interference = Spot of incident, and first down. If defensive penalty takes place in the endzone, the ball is placed at half the distance to the goal and a new set of downs are issued. Penalty for Offensive Pass Interference = 15 yard from OLOS and loss of down.
24. No fumble recoveries unless made in mid-air. A loose ball is dead immediately when it hits the ground. An offensive player cannot intentionally fumble a ball and advance, toss, or throw to gain yardage, a touchdown, or a first down. The spot of the ball is downed at first contact with ground, not final spot where the ball may have rolled. A muff by the receiving team during a protected kick (punt) may not be advanced and possession belongs to the receiving team.
25. PAT may be run or passed into the end zone from either the 3-yard line (one point) or the 10-yard line (two points). The ball becomes dead when the try is unsuccessful (a fumble/interception may not be returned by the defense…the try ends and the ball is whistle dead).
26. Teams may be penalized for unsportsmanlike acts committed by their players, bench personnel, and/or fans.
27. Mercy rule: If a team is leading by 35 points at any point in the second half the game shall end. If a team is leading by 21 points or more when the two-minute warning is called in the second half, the game shall be over. Also, if a team scores after the two-minute warning to make a 21 point difference, the game will end.
28. If a game is tied when time expiries, overtime procedures will be used.
Overtime: Coin is tossed; winner has choice of whether to be on offense first or second. The ball is placed on the 20-yard line; the offensive team is given four (4) downs in which to score. If they score, they may attempt a PAT. After the team has either scored or turned the ball over, the opposing team is given four (4) downs in which to score. If the score is still tied after both teams have gone, the entire procedure (including coin toss) is repeated until a winner is determined. Each team has one timeout per overtime period; unused timeouts do not carry over to subsequent overtimes. All downs will be run at the same end zone. NOTE: An interception during the four (4) downs may be returned for a touchdown, ending the game.
29. The IM Officials and staff will select a Football Ironman at the end of the season. This award will be given to a player based on skill and sportsmanship. Former collegiate football players are not eligible for this award.
30. The captains will vote for All-Star players to represent the IM Flag Football league at the NSU Varsity Football Spring Scrimmage Game that is typically held in late-April. Any players with more than 1 filed conduct infraction will not be eligible for the All-Star game.