Flag Rules

2025 KJFL Flag Football Rulebook

Game set-up

  • Game play is 6-on-6 for kindergarten and 1st Grade, but may be switched to 5-on-5 if available players are low.  2nd-3rd grade will play 7-on-7, but may be switched to 6-on-6 if not enough players are available.
  • Field will be roughly 60 yards long by 30 yards wide, which includes a 5 yard wide end zone at each end. There will be lines marked at both ends of the field at the 5 yard line, 10 yard line, and mid-field. Teams will use the entire field, going both directions, only switching directions at half-time.
  • You must play with a minimum of 4 players from your roster to avoid a forfeit.
  • Two 20-minute halves with a five-minute halftime.
  • Running clock except for the final one minute of the second half. The clock will stop in the last minute after an incompletion, touchdown, extra point, safety, or an out of bounds.  The clock will also stop to set the ball after a first down.
  • Players are required to wear a protective mouthpiece at all times during the game. 
  • Game time is forfeit time.  If you aren’t at the field for your scheduled game on time, the game will be forfeited.
  • Playing time: each player should play at least half of the game.  They also should play roughly every other series on both offense and defense during each game. 
  • At the start of each game, captains from both teams will meet at mid field for the coin toss to determine who shall start with the ball.

Game Play

  • No kick offs. All possessions start with the ball spotted at the 10 yard line, except after an interception. 
  • The offensive team has four downs to gain 15 yards (marked with a cone) for a first down or score.
  • A turnover on downs will occur if the offense is short of the first down or the end zone after four downs, which results in an immediate possession change at that spot.
  • If a team chooses to declare a punt on 4th down, the other team will take possession at their 10 yard line. There will not be an actual punt.
  • Fumbles are a dead ball and the next down will be played from that spot, except the Center/QB exchange, which can be recovered by the offense and play continues. If a fumbled snap is recovered by the defense, the offense begins the next down from that spot
  • The offensive team must have a minimum of one player (center) or a maximum of four players on the line of scrimmage.

Post-Snap

  • Contact or blocking is allowed, but no knock down blocking.
  • The ball cannot be advanced beyond the line of scrimmage until a direct handoff, pitch, or pass to another player has taken place. If the QB fumbles the snap, this rule still applies.
  • The defense cannot cross the line of scrimmage until there is a pitch, pass, handoff or attempted handoff.  The exception to this is any player who lines up 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage (marked by an official). Any player behind the 7 yard mark may cross the line of scrimmage at any time.
  • All players are eligible to receive a pass.
  • Interceptions can be returned for a TD.  Otherwise, all interceptions will result in a change of possession to the defense at the spot where the flags are pulled.

Scoring

  • Touchdowns are 6 points.  PAT’s may be scored from the 5 yard line = 1 point, or the 10 yard line = 2 points.

Penalties

  • Most infractions will just be warnings, unless the infraction continues.
  • Most offensive penalties will not award yardage but rather a loss of down.
  • Ball will generally go into play from the previous spot.
  • A defensive penalty will result in an automatic first down.

 

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