1. FLAG REQUIREMENTS: Flag-A-Tag Three-Flag Belts are the official flags for all divisions. The flags must be a contrasting color to the player's pants or shorts. Any player caught tampering with their flags will be ejected. To order call 513-348-4633 or visit us at www.cincyflag.net

2. Teams must have Jerseys or T-shirts that are alike and opposite the color of the other team. The Jersey must be either long enough to tuck in during the whole game or about 4 inches from the bottom of the jersey to the players waistline. An official will measure this by using a closed fist to measure the distance from the bottom of the jersey to the waistline.

3. Each player must wear pants or shorts and they must be a different color than the flags worn. It must be contrasting so that the flags can be seen.

4. Any type of hat is allowed, as long as there is no hard material in its composition. Baseball caps must be worn backwards so that the bill of the hat covers the neck not the face to be legal.

5. No pads are allowed to be worn on the upper body. Soft pliable pads can be worn on the ankles or legs and women may wear breast protectors as long as they are soft and pliable. It is at the referee's discretion as to the use of padding to cover an injury. Check with the officials before the game to see if this type of padding you are using is legal.

6. Every player is encouraged to wear a mouth guard but ultimately it is up to each player if they wish to wear one. The USFTL requires mouth guards for all Tournament play.

7. Gloves are legal to wear as long as they are soft and pliable and have no hard protective areas on them. Spray stick-um is legal, however, paste stick-um is illegal.

8. Any equipment worn that does not adhere to the rules will have to be removed in order to play. Many times this may include jewelry. Not all officials require the removal of jewelry but do not be surprised if at a tournament you are asked to remove any jewelry including earrings.

9. Before the start of the game if darkness threatens the playing time may be shortened if it is mutually agreed upon by both teams. The playing time can be shortened at any point in the game if this is agreed upon. The referee has the authority to fix any time discrepancies as long as the period has not ended, after the period is over it cannot be changed.

10. A period can be extended if the half ends and the extra point after a touchdown has not been tried, or if a penalty has occurred and is accepted, and for an inadvertent whistle.

11. The referee will keep the playing time on the field.

12. Timeouts will last 30 seconds. Refer to the rules of each type of play to find out how many time outs are given to each team. The referee will warn the team charged with the timeout when 5 seconds remains before the timeout is over.

13. If a player is injured and the referee calls a timeout for the injured player-this player must be replaced for at least one play before they can reenter the game. When a coach wants a referee-coach conference to talk about a rule or some other problem, that team will be charged with a timeout unless the ruling on the field is changed then the timeout gets charged to the official.

14. Delay of a half will count as a 10-yard penalty that is assessed on the kickoff. It is the team captain's responsibility to have his players ready to go after half time. Halftime lasts no longer than five minutes and no less than one minute.

15. Delay of game happens when the offense does not run a play before the 25-second play clock expires. The official that is nearest to the huddle will count the time (usually the referee). The offense will be warned when only ten seconds remain before a penalty is assessed. This includes not punting the ball right after it is snapped. Delay of game is a 5-yard penalty.

16. Substitutions can take place during the game, but must occur between plays. No player substitution can happen during a live play. No player may substitute after a substitution penalty. This happens when more than the allowed number of players are on the field during a live play or a substituted player does not leave the field before the next play starts. This is a 5-yard penalty.

17. Any player that has an open wound may not reenter the game until the bleeding has stopped and the wound is covered. An official must check the covering before the player is allowed back into the game.

18. There are no fumbles in flag football. When the ball hits the ground or any part of a ball carrier other than the hands or feet touch the ground the ball is dead. If a player attempts to catch a kick and drops the ball-the ball becomes dead where it hits the ground. This also includes the ball hitting the ground when a ball carrier drops the ball it is also dead where it hit the ground.

19. Inadvertent whistles happen when one of the officials sounds the whistle before the play was actually dead. The result of this is that the play is over before the ball was actually dead. In this case the offense has the option to replay the down or to take the ball where the ball was blown dead.

20. When the ball or a player goes out-of-bounds the ball is ruled dead where the ball crossed out of bounds. This counts if the ball is fumbled. If the ball goes out-of-bounds before it hits the ground the ball is dead where it went out-of-bounds.

21. The offense is responsible for retrieving the ball after an offensive play. The ball is not used to spot the line of scrimmage. An orange puck is used to mark the line of scrimmage. The snapper shall bring the ball to the line of scrimmage when the player comes to the line to start the next play. No one will retrieve the ball except for the offense. Failure to do so can result in a delay of game penalty.

22. The official that is watching the line of scrimmage will call out to the offense or defense if one of them is over the line. If the player that is over does not move before the ball is snapped a penalty will occur. This is encroachment on the defense and offside on the offense. This is a 5-yard penalty unless it occurs two times in a row on the defense. The second encroachment penalty will result in a 10-yard penalty.

23. The offensive players may not move after they are set. Motion is allowed but the motion cannot be toward the line of scrimmage and only one player may move at a time. If multiple players are going to move the first player must be set and not in motion before the next player moves. More than one player in motion is a penalty that is 5 yards.

24. The defense can chuck the receivers but this must be done within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Any contact after that is illegal and brings with it an interference penalty, which is 10 yard and automatic first down. Offensive interference is 10 yards and loss of down.

25. A player may not intentionally ground the ball to avoid a loss of yardage. In the last two minutes of the game a quarterback is allowed to throw the ball into the ground right after the snap is received. This can be done to stop the clock. The quarterback may not try to run a play then spike the ball. This is a penalty and is considered intentional grounding, which is a 5-yard penalty and loss of down.

26. Pass interference occurs when one of the players going for the ball pushes off or uses the other player to advance the position the player is in. Any contact that hinders the other player is pass interference and comes with a penalty. If the offensive player is the guilty party the penalty is a loss of down and 10 yards. If the defense is the guilty party the offense will get the ball at the spot of the foul and its and automatic first down.

27. Roughing the passer is a 10-yard penalty and an automatic first down. This occurs when a defensive player hits the quarterback or hits the quarterbacks arm before the ball is out of his hands. The 10 yards is in addition to any yardage gained on the play the foul occurred. Example: If the ball is passed and completed for 10 yards and the quarterback is roughed the result is the 10 yard gain plus the 10 yard penalty and automatic first down.

28. Flag guarding is when the runner uses hand or the ball to cover the flags so they cannot be pulled off. This is a 10-yard penalty plus a loss of down. This includes lowering the shoulder or placing the arm over the flags.

29. Any player on their team cannot help the ball carrier. This is called helping the runner and is a 5-yard penalty.

30. A stiff arm by the ball carrier is guarding the flag but it is considered a personal foul. A stiff arm results in a 10-yard penalty. (Loss of Down) **

31. The defense cannot hold or obstruct the runner in any way. Holding the runner up or obstructing the runner while in the act of removing the flags is a personal foul and gives the offense 10 yards.

32. No player may dive to advance the ball. This is considered to be personal foul and is a 10-yard penalty.

33. Any legal forward pass is considered complete when caught and the player receiving the ball lands with at least one foot in bounds.

34. No defensive player may swat at the ball or try to dislodge the ball from the runner's hands. This is a 10-yard penalty.

35. Flags cannot be tampered with in any way at any time. If an official tries to pull your flag off and it does not come off normally it will be visually inspected. If the flag is found to be tampered with by tying it or knotting it or obstructing the flags normal usage the player can and will be disqualified and any play that resulted in a touchdown or score or positive yardage will be brought back to the original line of scrimmage penalized 10 yards and a loss of down.