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Frozen Tundra Flag Football Tournament 2026 Rules
The following rules and regulations have been established to allow participants to compete in a safe and fair environment. Participants and coaches are to be familiar with these directives.
A. Players, Equipment, and Clothing
- The field shall be a 60-yard football field (not including the end zone).
- No equipment, which in the opinion of the referee could endanger others, shall be used.
- Helmets or pads will not be allowed.
- Participants will not be allowed to participate when wearing jewelry, watches or any other potentially dangerous items.
- Metal spikes or metal cleats will not be allowed.
- A referee may remove a player at any time for dangerous equipment.
- Teams must have a minimum of four (4) players to begin the game or a forfeit will be declared.
- Three offensive players must be on or within one yard of the line of scrimmage before a play is started. A maximum of 5 players per team will be allowed on the field when the ball is in play.
- XCEL Sports will provide footballs and flags. If a team wishes to play with their own NFHS, NCAA, or NFL approved football (jr. balls or youth league balls ARE NOT considered regulation) and both teams agree on the ball, it will be allowed.
B. Time
- The game will consist of two 18-minute halves with a running clock, except for during timeouts. Once the clock has run off 14 minutes, the clock will stop and there will be 8 plays total left in the half/game.
- There will be a three-minute break between halves.
- Play clock is set for 30 seconds each play. Clock begins when the ball is placed on the ground. 4. Each team will be allowed two 1-minute time-outs per half. Time-outs do not carry over. No time-outs during overtime will be allowed.
- In case of a tie at the end of regulation, overtime will consist of the alternation of extra point attempts. Each team will attempt to score an extra point and can choose to either go for one or two. This will go on until one team outscores the other after equal attempts.
C. Scoring
- Touchdown – 6 points
- Extra Point – 1 point from the 3-yard line
- Extra Point – 2 points from the 10-yard line
- Safety - 2 points
NOTE: Teams must notify officials if attempting a 2-point play. Extra points may be scored via the pass or run.
Defense cannot return extra point
*during an extra point attempt, teams MUST throw the ball.
E. Home Team/Away Team Designation
- Coin flip will determine who starts with the ball/which end each team is defending.
F. Kick Off
- There will be NO KICKOFFS. Games will begin with the offensive possession at their own 10 yd line.
- After a PAT (point after touchdown) or a safety, the “receiving” team will take possession at their own 10 yd line.
G. Line of Scrimmage/Downs
- Three offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage before a play is started.
- The center cannot retain the snap; the ball must be exchanged to a player in the backfield.
- A first down will be awarded to the offense when they cross mid-field. No other 1st downs will be awarded unless a penalty awards another 1st down.
- If a team crosses midfield and then loses yardage behind midfield they can't gain another first down unless awarded by Defensive Pass Interference.
H. Flags
- Flags may not be wrapped or tied to a player.
- All players must wear flags while on the field.
- The spot on the field where the flag belt is pulled from the ball carrier is where that down ends, the ball will be put into play at that same spot on the next play.
- If a player’s flags are inadvertently lost, they are still eligible to handle the ball and will be down immediately after being touched while in possession of the ball.
- All flags must be worn over the shirt/ jacket.
- A player may not hold or guard their flags from a defensive player. Stiff arming or leaving your feet to avoid being deflagged are prohibited. The penalty is that the ball is blown dead at point of infraction.
- Defensive players who purposely pull opponents flags prior to them receiving the ball will receive a 10-yard penalty OR player can decline the penalty and retain the ball at the spot of the catch.
I. Blocking
- Offensive linemen cannot place hands on defensive rushers nor use their shoulders to impede their progress or it will be called a penalty. Defensive rushers cannot place hands on or rush through offensive linemen or it will be called a penalty. Contact must be avoided at all costs. Also, offensive players cannot "bull rush" through defenders or else the play will be blown dead.
- Blocking is allowed downfield, but use of hands while blocking will result in a foul.
J. Passing
1. All players are eligible to receive a pass.
K. Running
1. Quarterbacks are not allowed to rush at any point on the field.
2. You are allowed to hand the ball off to another player on your team and have them rush, unless they are within the designated “no run zones” (The “no run zones” are within 5 yards of the first down and within 5 yards of each endzone).
3. No running on extra point attempts.
4. Players may not jump or hurdle to evade having their flags pulled or dive into the endzone. If a player leaves their feet for one of those movements, they will be marked down where their feet left the ground.
L. Fumble/Dead Ball
1. All fumbles are dead when it hits the ground, including the center / qb exchange, and ball goes back to the team that had possession of the ball at the point of the fumble, except on the 4th down.
2.The ball may not be fumbled forward.
3. A live ball becomes dead when:
- an official blows the whistle and declares it dead
- the ball goes out of bounds
- any part of the ball carrier’s, other than the hand or foot, touches the ground
- a forward pass strikes the ground
- a ball carrier’s flag is removed
- an inadvertent whistle occurs
M. Defensive Restriction
1. Defensive players may not use their hands on blockers. They must attempt to avoid blockers. (No swim move will be permitted)
2. No Bump & Run Coverage or Press Coverage
3. Defensive players may not impede the forward progress of the ball carrier. No tackling is permitted. 4. If defense is rushing the QB, they must line up 7 yards off the ball, marked with an official, for an immediate rush allowed.
5. While playing defense, defenders must go for the flag and not the ball. Rushers may put their hands in the air while approaching the QB but must go for the flag when they are within reach.
6. Defensive Pass Interference is a 10-yard penalty and an automatic 1st down.
N. Substitutions
1. Substitutions can be made at any time, and the player may re-enter the game as often as they wish when the ball is dead. All substitutions must be made within 30 seconds.
O. Punting
1. If a team elects to punt, it will go to the opponent’s 10-yard line.
2. If a team goes for a 1st down and does not accomplish that after 4 downs, the opposing team receives the ball at the spot of failure.
P. Penalties
5-Yard Penalties (from line of scrimmage)
• Delay of game – clock must stop (Officials have the discretion to add an un-sportsmanlike penalty if they feel that the delay of game was intentional)
• Too many players on the field – Play blown dead
• Less than 3 offensive players on the line of scrimmage – Play blown dead
• Offsides / false start – Offsides, play continues (may take result of play or replay down with 5 yd. penalty), false start is a dead ball with 5 yd. penalty.
• Illegal motion – Play blown dead
• Illegal forward pass (5 yards from line of scrimmage & loss of down)
10-Yard Penalties (from line of scrimmage):
• Defensive pass interference (10 yards from line of scrimmage & automatic first down)
• Offensive pass interference (10 yards from line of scrimmage)
• All other non- five or fifteen yard penalties
15-Yard Penalties (from line of scrimmage):
• Unnecessary roughness (loss of down)
• Unsportsmanlike Conduct (disqualification of coach and/or player involved)
*if there is no attempt to change after a player has been penalized with unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct, player will ejected for the remainder of the game and will not be allowed to participate in their teams next game. To re-enter the tournament, player must have further discussion with the Tournament Director and Head Official.
Q. Special Rules
1. Official football rules (not in conflict with the above rules) will govern all other plays. The tournament follows high school rules, not NFL or college. Please remember that if a ball carrier’s knee is down, the play is over and blown dead. Also, a receiver needs only one foot inbound for a legal catch.
2. Tiebreaker Rule - In the event of a tie, the following tiebreaker rules will be used:
a. Head-to-Head – Points allowed – Points scored
3. Center may side snap or snap between the legs
4. Motion is legal
Player Ejections – Any player ejected from a game is automatically ineligible for that team’s next game.
TEAM CAPTAINS: Each team will be required to provide a score keeper during their off game.
WELCOME TO XCEL SPORTS
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