4 on 4 Flag Football Rules
Intramural Sports General Information
The Intramural Sports Office is located in the atrium of the Student Recreation Center.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone Numbers:
205-348-8055
205-348-3906
Rain Hotline: 205-348-2708
Email address:imsports@bama.ua.edu
4-on-4 Flag Football
The NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rules shall govern all 4-on-4 flag football games. The only exceptions to these rules are the special league rules as indicated below. In all other areas not listed below, NIRSA rules shall apply.
Rule 1: Field
Section 1: Playing Field
The field measures 60 yards in length, end line to end line, and 30 yards in width. The field consists of two end zones (10 yards each), two 20-yard zones, and a dividing hash mark.
Section 2: Try Lines
There will be a one point try line at the 3-yard line and a two point try line at the 10-yard line.
Rule 2: Game
Section 1: Coin Toss
The captain winning the toss shall select offense, defense, direction, or defer their choice to the second half.
Section 2: Teams
The game is between 2 teams of 4 players each. Three players are required to begin the game and avoid a forfeit. Co-Rec teams will consist of 2 males and 2 females. At least one male, one female, and one more player are required to begin a game.
Section 3: Putting Ball in Play
The ball shall be placed at the Team A 10 yard line to begin each half of a game and following a try, touchback or safety, unless moved by penalty.
Section 4: Kicking
There will be no kicks in 4-on-4 Flag Football.
Section 5: Mercy Rule
There will be no mercy rule in 4-on-4 Flag Football
Rule 3: Timing Procedures
Section 1: Game Time
Playing time shall be two 12 minutes halves. The clock will start on the snap to begin each half. It will run continuously for the first 11 minutes unless stopped by a team or Referee’s time-out.
Section 2: Stopping of Clock
The clock will stop according to regular flag football rules during the final minute of each half.
Section 3: One Minute Warning
Approximately 1 minute before the end of the half, the Referee will announce to both teams that 1 minute remains in the half. The clock shall start on the snap after this announcement and the stop clock rule will be in effect for the remainder of the half.
Section 4: Time-outs
Each team is entitled to one charged time-out per game, including overtimes.
Section 5: Series of Downs
A new series of downs will occur when a team moves the ball legally into the next zone or the opponent obtains possession of the ball by penalty, pass interception, or failure to advance to the next zone. A team shall have three (3) consecutive downs to advance to the next zone.
Rule 4: Line of Scrimmage
Section 1: Scrimmage Lines
The scrimmage lines will be the same as regular flag football.
Section 2: Players on Scrimmage Line
The offensive team must have at least one player on their scrimmage line (first ball spotter-orange) at the snap.
Rule 5: Running and Passing
Section 1: Running the Ball
An offensive runner cannot advance the ball through the offensive scrimmage line (first ball spotter-orange). There are no restrictions after a change of possession or once a legal forward pass has been caught beyond offensive scrimmage line. Teams shall not rush the quarterback after the snap.
Section 2: Legal Forward Pass
There must be a legal forward pass each down. The receiver must catch the ball beyond the offensive scrimmage line. The passer has 7 seconds to release the ball on a forward pass. If not, it is a loss of down and the ball is next snapped at the previous spot. The Referee will sound his/her whistle at 7 seconds if the passer has possession of the football. The Referee shall count have a verbal count so the passer can hear him/her.
Rule 6: Penalties
Section 1: Types of Penalties
All penalties will be the same as a regular flag football game.
Section 2: Penalty Enforcement
All 10-yard penalties are 5 yards and all 5-yard penalties are 3 yards.
Rule 7: Co-Rec Rules
Section 1: Team Composition
Teams consist of 4 players. Three players are required to avoid a forfeit. Teams shall have at least one female and one male on the field at all times.
Section 2: Points System
Scores involving females (as passer or carrying ball into end zone) are worth 9 points – extra points are worth the same regardless.