BOSTON WOMEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

2007 RULES AND REGULATIONS

Purpose and Intent of the Boston Women's Flag football League (BWFFL)

In our society, winning tends to be emphasized more than pure competition itself and the values and/or benefits of competition can be lost. It is the desire of the BWFFL, through it's games, to promote, organize, offer competition, increase skill level, develop strong character and personality traits, high self-esteem, encourage good sportsmanship as well as comradeship amongst other athletes and to professionalize the sport for females. The spirit of the game of women's flag football lives in effective blocking, aggressive flag-grabbing, tireless pursuit, skillful running, passing and kicking, and well-planned game strategy. This positive atmosphere cannot be maintained unless the spirit, as well as the letter, of the playing rules are observed.

Establishing Principles of Good Sportsmanship

While the code attempts by rule and penalty to prohibit all forms of unnecessary roughness, unfair tactics and unsportsmanlike conduct, it is obviously impossible to list every conceivable dishonorable or unethical act that might take place. It is the responsibility of players, coaches, officials and team supporters to maintain the highest ethical standards. Deliberately violating the rules in the hope or expectation of not being detected is deplorable and indefensible. No true athlete should violate any of the unwritten rules that exist for the good of the game. Coaches need to be responsible for conduct of their players as they all are a reflection of the BWFFL and all female athletes. The negative actions of a few individuals may ruin the reputation, enjoyment and integrity of the sport for all.

Code of Ethics

· Respect to opponents, officials, organizers and own teammates - off the field as well as on.

· Fans who show disrespect to opposing players also become a liability rather than asset. Therefore, fans need to be educated and included in the code of ethics to promote a healthy, positive atmosphere for all involved. Courteous treatment of all opposing players and fans

· Refraining from acts of discourtesy, such as derogatory remarks addressed toward players, taunting action and cheering decisions made by officials against the opposing team.

· Graciously accepting the decisions of the officials against the opposing team by refraining from booing & jeering.

· Being humble in victory and gracious in accepting defeat

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL RULES:

The officials and league commissioner have the authority to rule promptly on any situation not specifically covered in the rules. These decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game. The officials shall govern all players, coaches, trainers, and other persons in team area. Only authorized persons shall be allowed on the sidelines and field of play.

LEAGUE and TEAM PLACEMENT

There are two leagues (A League and B League) in the BWFFL. Once the season has concluded, the team with the best record in the B League will advance to the A League the next year. Conversely, the team with the worst record in the A League will move down to the B League. If a tie record exists, refer to “Ties to Rank Teams” on page 10 to determine placement of team.

CAPTAINS

Each team shall designate a field captain (offense/defense/special teams) who is the only one allowed to speak to the officials.

HOME FIELD RESPONSIBILITIES

Home team must fax/email game statistics to BWFFL commissioner at conclusion of game for archive purposes (within 48 hours following the game). Teams are also randomly assigned to paint the lines on the field as well as take the down markers, chains, and sideline markers home after the last game and bring them back to the field for the first game the next Sunday. All of this is published on the game schedule.

PLAYER/TEAM WAIVER

Each player, coach, and official must sign a waiver release acknowledging that they are participating in an flag football event and agree not to hold the BWFFL or any sanctioned BWFFL leagues and events liable for any injuries or harm that may result from their participation. Waiver forms must be submitted, on the correct form, by the deadline as set by the commissioner (3^rd week of the season) in order for a player (team) to participate in that season. If the roster form is not turned in by the start of the 3^rd game of the season that team will forfeit that game, and all games, until the proper paperwork is turned in.

PLAYER INELIGABILITY

All players and coaches need to be active members of the BWFFL and listed on team roster (listed on waiver form). If it is discovered during competition that a player or coach is not:

PENALTY: Player Ineligibility - game will be forfeited immediately. If opposing team was winning, game score stands. Otherwise score will be 18 - 0 in favor of opposing team.

FIELD

Regulation football field: 50 yards x 100 yards (includes 10 yard end zones). Field should be lined every 10 yards.

UNIFORMS and EQUIPMENT

A player wearing illegal equipment shall not be permitted to play until the official deems the equipment legal.

Football: An official junior size leather football such as the Wilson TDJ.

Flags: The official flag is the Flag-A-Tag Sonic socket release type (which pop).

Jerseys: All same color with numbers (no duplicates) displayed on back - numbers on front, optional. All jerseys must be tucked in and are not permitted to hang over the flag belt.

Shorts/pants: May not be same color (including stripes) as the flags. Pockets must be taped if they interfere with a defender’s access to the flag.

Hats: Must be soft or else the bill must be turned around.

Jewelry: Not allowed at anytime. However, taping is allowed if jewelry cannot be removed.

Shoes: No metal spikes allowed.

Padding: Soft pads for the knees, elbows and forearms and Neumann hand gloves are allowed. Hard materials are prohibited. Knee braces are allowed if properly covered.

Mouth guards: Mandatory.

FLAGS

All players on offense, defense & special teams MUST wear flags at all times. The belt is to be worn fitting (not loosely) around the waist with 1 flag on each player’s side. They are to be worn with the stem of flag attachment protruding outward. Excess belt must be tucked in.

FIRST PENALTY - Official warning

SECOND PENALTY (and thereafter) - Delay of game - 5 yard penalty.

ROSTER

25-woman MAXIMUM roster limit. Teams do not have to use one of the 25 spots for a non-playing coach. A player cannot play on two different teams. No team should have more than 5 players who play for a women’s pro or semi-pro tackle football team within the last roster year. For example: If a player was on a tackle team’s roster for the 2006 tackle season but not on the roster for the 2007 tackle season they are eligible to play in the BWFFL and not count against the 5 tackle player limit. Any player who played in the BWFFL (formerly JPWFFL) before the 2001 season shall not be considered a pro/semi-pro player.

PENALTY: Player ineligibility -- team will forfeit that game.

NUMBER OF OFFICIALS

The BWFFL requires 3 officials per game. Their positions are: Line Judge, Back Judge, and Umpire.

Play-off games should use 4 officials. The added official will be Side Judge.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON FIELD

More than 8 players per team on the field:

PENALTY: Team offended has choice - 5 yard loss from line of scrimmage, repeat the down / or to decline penalty and take end result of the play.

Less than 8 players per team: before or during game (due to injuries), they cannot continue with game.

PENALTY: Game will be forfeited immediately. If opposing team was winning game, score stands. Otherwise score will be 18 - 0 against team with less than 8 players.

TIME

There are two 25-minute halves. For the first 23 minutes of each half, clock will run continuously with the exception of called time outs, change of possession (until chains are set) and injuries until the final 2 minutes of each half. Half-time is 10 minutes.

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

Official will announce that there are two minutes left in each half. A time out is awarded which does not use one of either team's remaining time outs. Clock will stop for incomplete passes, out of bounds, first downs, change of possessions, scores, etc.

During the two-minute warning period, should injury occur to an offensive player, a time out will automatically be charged to the offensive team. If they do not have any time-outs left, a 5-yard penalty will be given to offensive team.

TIME-OUTS

Each time out will be 30 seconds. Refs must acknowledge the time out.

Each team is allowed (4) time-outs during the game.

One additional time-out added for overtime period for the entire over time period.

COIN TOSS- 3 CHOICES

Kickoff, Receive, Defend a Goal (only done at beginning of game).

· Receiving team to begin first half, will automatically become kicking team to start second half.

· Defending goals will switch for second half.

SLAUGHTER RULE

If a team is leading by 30 points at the end of 37 ½ minutes (midway through 2^nd half), the team that is behind will have one last chance to score. If unsuccessful, team will also have the option to play out the game and officials MUST STAY.

KICK-OFF:

· Starts each half or follows an extra point conversion.

· Teams line up at each 30 yard line (20 yards apart from each other).

· Ball can be kicked using a kicking tee or can be held upright in the dirt by another player or can be punted.

· Ball does not have to travel 20 yards to become live.

· Kicked ball should stay in-bounds, on the playing field, if not:

PENALTY: Receiving team has choice to accept ball where it went out of bounds (ball will be hashed at the middle of the field), or re-kick with 5 yard penalty.

KICKING TEAM

· Will line up 7 players on their 30-yard line.

· Kicker may line-up 10 yards behind kicking line.

· Once the ball is kicked, kicking team will then travel down the field to pull the ball carrier's flag.

If kicking team does not have 7 players on the kicking line, either too many or not enough:

PENALTY: Illegal formation - 5 yard penalty - ball will be re-kicked at kicking team's 25 yard line. Receiving team will then line up at their 35 yard line (there should be 20 yards apart between the kicking and receiving team)

If kicking team crosses line before ball is kicked

PENALTY: Offside - 5 yard - ball will be re-kicked at kicking team's 25 yard line. Receiving team will then line up at their 35 yard line

After the ball is kicked and if the kicking team catches the ball or touches the ball, the ball will be dead at that spot where the receiving team will take possession of the ball (first and ten).

Receiving team will always receive the ball unless offensive player catches the ball, clearly has possession and laterals to teammate and it is intercepted by player on kicking team – then it is an interception.

RECEIVING TEAM

· Will line up minimum of 5 players on their own 30-yd line. Remainder of players will line up in their backfield.

· If the ball lands or goes through the end zone, it automatically becomes a "touchback".

MUFFS

Only the player that has touched and dropped the ball when receiving a punt or kick-off may pick up the ball up and advance it.

TOUCHBACK

When a kick returnee catches the ball in her own end zone and elects not to run it back out of the end zone, she signifies the election of a touchback by touching one knee down on the field. The next play automatically starts on the receiving team's 20-yard line.

A touchback also occurs automatically when a kicker kicks the ball past the receiving team's end zone, the ball goes "untouched" into the endzone, or should player "muff” the ball and tap the ball into the endzone.

If the ball catcher gets caught in the endzone and de-flagged, ball will come out to 20 yard line. However, if ball catcher runs out of endzone, then back into endzone and gets "de-flagged", it is a safety for opposing team.

OFFENSIVE TEAM:

HUDDLE CLOCK

30 seconds - Offensive team has 30 seconds to call play, set up formation and hike the ball (to put ball into play).

Official will blow whistle (after setting chain gang) to start the 30-second clock.

PENALTY: Delay of game 5-yard penalty repeat down.

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE

A minimum of 5 offensive players on line of scrimmage at snap. All other offensive players must be in the offensive backfield. Center must be between the 2 guards. Receivers may overload to one side.

PENALTY: Illegal formation - 5 yard from the line of scrimmage and repeat the down.

FALSE START

Offensive penalty - offensive player feigns or moves prior to snap, after being "set".

PENALTY: 5 yards from line of scrimmage / Repeat down /Penalty cannot be declined (dead ball foul).

OFFENSIVE LINE:

The offensive line (center and 2 guards) must be in a 3-point stance at the time of the snap and can be no more than 3 inches (as close to toe-to-toe as possible) from each other.

· They may not receive a forward pass or a snap.

PENALTY: Illegal Procedure - 5 yards from the line of scrimmage / Repeat the down.

· They may receive a "lateral" downfield.

· On running plays: are allowed to come off the line immediately after the snap.

· On passing plays: are not allowed to go downfield MORE THAN 3 YARDS before the ball is thrown.

PENALTY: Ineligible Receiver - 5 yards / line of scrimmage / Repeat the down.

SNAPS

Direct and shotgun snaps are legal and center must snap ball between legs. Ball must be caught cleanly and cannot touch the ground.

PENALTY: Illegal snap - 5 yard penalty from line of scrimmage / Repeat the down.

Once