1. Flags: All players must wear a "Triple Threat" flag belt with three flags. Flags must be on the player's hips and tailbone.

2. Attire: Shirts must be tucked in. Pants or shorts cannot have any pockets.

3. Footwear: Cleats are allowed, but they must be molded rubber or plastic. No metal spikes.

4. Ball: The tournament will use a standard official HS Flag Football.  

1. Halves: The game consists of two (2) 20-minute halves.

2. Running Clock: The clock will run continuously for the entire first half and for the entire second half. There are 2 games going on at once, we cannot separate the clocks. 

3. Halftime: Halftime will be 3 minutes.

4. Play Clock: The offense has 30 seconds to snap the ball after the referee spots it and whistles it ready for play.

1. Touchdown: 6 points.

2. Safety: 2 points. The team that scored the safety will then get the ball from their own 5-yard line.

3. Point After Touchdown (PAT):

   • 1 Point: Attempt from the 3-yard line.

   • 2 Points: Attempt from the 10-yard line.

   • Note: The defense cannot return a failed PAT for points. The play is dead if the defense gains possession.

1. Starting Possession: A coin toss determines which team will have the choice of offense/defense or which goal to defend. The team that loses the toss gets the choice in the second half.

2. Starting Field Position: All drives (except after an interception) will begin at the offense's 5-yard line.

3. First Down Rule (The 25-Yard Line):

   • The offense has four (4) downs to cross the 25-yard line.

   • If the offense successfully reaches or crosses the 25-yard line, they are awarded a new set of four (4) downs.

   • This is the only first down available on the drive.

   • After achieving the first down, the offense has four (4) downs to score a touchdown.

4. Turnovers:

   • If the offense fails to reach the 25-yard line in 4 downs, it is a turnover on downs.

   • If the offense fails to score after gaining the first down, it is a turnover on downs.

   • The opposing team takes possession at the spot where the 4th down play ended.

5. Snap: The snap must be a legal snap (either between the legs or from the side) to the quarterback.

6. Eligible Receivers: All 5 players on the field are eligible receivers.

7. Running:

   • The quarterback cannot run the ball across the line of scrimmage unless they have first handed the ball off or pitched it to another player, who then returns it to the QB (e.g., a "flea flicker" or option-pitch-return).

   • Direct runs, pitches, and handoffs are all permitted.

8. Passing:

   • Only one (1) forward pass is allowed per play.

   • Laterals and backward passes are allowed anywhere on the field.

9. Fumbles: The ball is dead when it hits the ground.

   • If the ball is fumbled forward, it is spotted where the ball carrier lost possession.

   • If the ball is fumbled backward, it is spotted where the ball hit the ground.

   • A bad snap is dead at the spot where it hits the ground. Possession remains with the offense (unless it was 4th down).

1. Rushing the Quarterback:

   • Any defender who rushes the QB must start 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage (at the blitz line marker).

   • Any number of players may rush, provided they start from the blitz line.

   • Once the ball is handed off, pitched, or the QB fakes a handoff, all defenders are eligible to cross the line of scrimmage from anywhere.

2. Flag Pulling:

   • The play is over when a defender legally removes one of the ball carrier's flags.

   • The defender must hold the flag up for the official to see.

   • Tackling, holding, pushing, or tripping the ball carrier is illegal.

   • If a player's flag inadvertently falls off, the play becomes one-hand touch.

3. Interceptions: Interceptions are live and may be returned for a touchdown.

1. No Blocking / No Contact: This is a non-contact game.

   • Blocking: Offensive players cannot use their hands, arms, elbows, or legs to block a defender.

   • Screening: Stationary "pick" plays are allowed, but the player setting the screen must be stationary (no "moving picks").

   • Penalty for Illegal Contact/Blocking: 10 yards from the spot.

2. Offensive Penalties:

   • Flag Guarding: (Using hand or arm to block a flag pull) 10 yards from the spot, Loss of Down.

   • False Start / Illegal Motion: 5 yards, Replay Down.

   • Delay of Game: 5 yards, Replay Down.

   • Illegal Forward Pass: (2 forward passes, or pass from past the LOS) 10 yards, Loss of Down.

   • Offensive Pass Interference: 10 yards, Loss of Down.

3. Defensive Penalties:

   • Offsides / Illegal Rush: (Rushing from inside the 7-yard blitz line) 5 yards, Replay Down.

   • Illegal Flag Pull: (Pulling flag before the receiver has the ball) 10 yards, Automatic First Down.

   • Illegal Contact / Holding: 10 yards, Automatic First Down.

   • Defensive Pass Interference (DPI): Spot foul (ball placed at the spot of the foul), Automatic First Down.

1. Mercy Rule: If a team is leading by 28 or more points at or after the 2-minute warning of the second half, the game is over.

2. Overtime (Tournament Play):

   • A coin toss determines possession.

   • Each team gets one (1) possession (4 downs) from the 25-yard line, going in.

   • The goal is to score a touchdown and PAT.

   • If a team scores, they must attempt a 1- or 2-point PAT.

   • If the first team (Team A) scores a TD and gets a 1-point PAT, the second team (Team B) must match it. If Team B scores a TD and gets a 2-point PAT, they win.

   • If the defense gets an interception, the play is over, and it is the defense's turn to play offense (unless they return it for a "walk-off" TD).

   • Second Overtime: If still tied, the process repeats, but teams must attempt a 2-point conversion.

First Down & Field Position

• Q: How do first downs work? This seems different from other leagues.

  • A: It is! It's simple: You have one (1) first down available per drive, located at the 25-yard line.

    1. You start your drive at your 5-yard line.

    2. You have 4 downs to get to or past the 25-yard line.

    3. If you succeed, you get a new 4 downs to score a touchdown.

    4. If you fail, it's a turnover on downs, and the other team takes over at the spot.

• Q: What happens if we get the first down? Can we get another one?

  • A: No. Once you cross the 25-yard line, that is the only first down you can achieve on that drive. You will have 4 downs to score from that point, no matter what.

• Q: What happens on 4th down? Do we have to "go for it"?

  • A: No. On 4th down, you have two choices:

    1. Go for it: Attempt to get the first down or score.

    2. Declare a "Punt": This is a no-play. You simply tell the official you are punting. The ball is automatically given to the other team at their 5-yard line, and they begin their offensive drive.

Offense

• Q: Can the Quarterback run the ball?

  • A: No, not on a designed run. The QB cannot advance the ball past the line of scrimmage unless they have first legally handed off or pitched the ball to another player, who then returns it to the QB.

• Q: What happens on a fumble or a bad snap?

  • A: The ball is dead the instant it hits the ground.

    • Bad Snap: The ball is spotted where it hit the ground. It is a loss of down (unless it was 4th down, which results in a turnover).

    • Fumble: The ball is spotted where the player lost possession (if fumbled forward) or where the ball hit the ground (if fumbled backward). There are no fumble recoveries.

• Q: What is "Flag Guarding"?

  • A: This is an illegal act by the ball carrier to prevent a defender from pulling their flag. This includes using a hand, arm, or the ball to block a defender's access to the flag. It also includes stiff-arming, swatting, or lowering your head/shoulder.

  • Penalty: 10 yards from the spot of the foul, Loss of Down.

• Q: Can we block?

  • A: No. There is absolutely no blocking. You cannot use your hands, arms, or body to obstruct a defender. You are allowed to run "pick" or "screen" routes, but the player setting the screen must be stationary.

  • Penalty for Blocking: 10 yards from the spot.

Defense

• Q: How does rushing the QB work?

  • A: Any defender who wants to rush the QB must start 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage (at the "Blitz Line" marker). Any number of players can rush, as long as they all start from that line.

• Q: What if the offense runs a handoff? Can we rush then?

  • A: Yes. As soon as the QB hands the ball off, pitches it, or fakes a handoff, all defenders are free to cross the line of scrimmage from anywhere. The 7-yard rule no longer applies for that play.

• Q: What is Defensive Pass Interference (DPI)?

  • A: This is illegal contact that interferes with a receiver's chance to catch a pass. It includes early contact, holding, or pushing.

  • Penalty: This is a "spot foul." The ball is placed at the spot of the penalty, and the offense gets an automatic first down.

Clock Management

• Q: When does the clock stop?

  • A: This is the most important rule! The clock is running both halfs regardless of situation, even within 2 minutes of the final half. 

• Q: Do our timeouts carry over?

  • A: No. You get two (2) 30-second timeouts per half. Use them or lose them.

Overtime

• Q: How does Overtime work?

  • A: Each team gets one possession from the 25-yard line (the first down line), going in.

  • You have 4 downs to score a touchdown and attempt a PAT (1- or 2-point).

  • An interception by the defense ends the offense's possession.

  • If the score is still tied after both teams have a possession, you go to a second overtime. In the second overtime, teams must attempt a 2-point conversion after a touchdown.