Skill Levels

We are first and foremost a SOCIAL company. As we grow though we are starting to offer more and more variations and competitiveness levels for our leagues. For flag football we have several different options:

• Social Coed – for the players looking to get out and be active. Leagues are 50% Games 50% Social. It’s a party!
• Athletic Coed – for our more serious players who love the thrill of victory and loath the taste of defeat! Games are a little more intense and teams more organized. These leagues are designed for players that have significant experience with the sport.
• Men’s Athletic – Our all male 5v5 flag league. These leagues are designed for players that have significant experience with the sport.

Team Sizes

Flag football teams vary in size based on which type of league it is.

• For 8v8 teams average 14 players.
• 7v7 – 12 players.
• 5v5 – 10 players.

There may be gender requirements for certain leagues. Please check your rules sections.

Roster Management

We allow individuals, small groups and teams to all join our leagues. JAX Fray reserves the right to add additional players to ANY team that is under the official roster size for the league. During registration captains can pick up free agents or mark their group as ready to merge via commish. After registration closes JAX Fray goes through and finalizes rosters by placing free agents, merging groups and deleting unpaid players. Being a promoted team does not mean you may not receive additional players. Teams who want to “lock” their roster may prepay for a team at the official roster size. Example, flag football is 12 players officially but your team only wants 10 players. You can purchase a team spot for a roster of 12 and only fill your desired number but those additional spots are technically used and are not refundable.

Our roster sizes tend to allow for more players as our goal is to avoid forfeits at all costs. 1. They are LAME. and 2. It’s not fair to the other teams in the league who expect to play each week if a smaller team cannot field a team week to week. Free agent teams (merged small groups or all FAs made into teams) tend to have larger rosters as the players typically do not know one another and everyone’s schedule varies week to week.

FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

DOWNLOAD FLAG FOOTBALL RULES HERE – Updated 11/22

// PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. All Players must be at least 21 years of age and have current, adequate health insurance.
2. All players must be properly registered on a team during the season for which they are playing.
3. If a player is registered on more than one team within the league, they may only play for one team in the playoffs.
4. All players must agree to the Fray Liability Waiver as described in the Fray Terms and Conditions section of Player Registration.
5. Any use of an ineligible player will result in a forfeit.

// GAME PLAY

1. Starting the Game: The game will start with a game of “Rock, Paper, Scissors” between the two Captians, followed by controlled possession. There are no kickoffs.
   1. The winning team will then have one of three options: Offense, Defense, or Direction. The team that started the game on defense will start the second half on offense and vice-versa. Teams will also reverse direction of play
   2. Possession starts at the ten (10) yard line

• Scoring: To score, the ball must cross the goal line with the ball carrier establishing & maintaining possession in bounds. There are no field goals.

• Touchdown = 6 points

• One (1) Point Attempt – five (5) yards/paces

• Two (2) Point Attempt – ten (10) yards/paces

• Extra point attempts may NOT be intercepted and returned for points.

• Safety = 2 points

• The team on defense receives 2 points, and then starts a new possession from their own 10 yard line. A safety will be scored if a player is:

• Tagged down in their own end zone (not on a punt return)

• Runs out of bounds in their own end zone.

• Snaps the ball out of the endzone

• The offense fumbles the ball in their own end zone.A player having intercepted a pass or received a punt in the end zone cannot be downed in the end zone for a safety unless they had previously crossed the plane of the end zone with the ball.

• A player having intercepted a pass or received a punt in the end zone cannot be downed in the end zone for a safety unless they had previously crossed the plane of the end zone with the ball.

1. Line of Scrimmage:
   1. a.The line of scrimmage is established at the location of the ball when the ball carrier is downed. Ball extension for additional yardage is permitted.
   2. The offense must have at least five players at the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. All offensive players, except one player permitted to be in
   3. Offensive players must line up within 15 yards of the ball. No sideline sneak play (or similar).
   4. Only one offensive player in motion is allowed each play. They may move in any direction before the snap. At the time of the snap, they must not be moving in a forward direction.

1. First Downs: The offense has four downs to gain another first down or score.
   1. First downs are earned each time the ball reaches the next marker from where the ball was originally spotted.
   2. Offensive teams may elect to punt on fourth down.

1. Dead Balls: Play will continue until:
   1. The ball carrier is downed.
   2. Ball carrier is deflagged by an opponent, or downed by a one hand touch. 
      1. One hand touch is in effect if a player’s flags fell off inadvertently and/or were illegally removed prior to catching the ball.
   3. The ball carrier goes out of bounds.
   4. The ball carrier scores a touchdown or extra point.
   5. The ball carrier’s knee or elbow touches the ground.
   6. The defense scores.
   7. The ball touches the ground as a result of a fumble, punt or incomplete pass.
   8. Referee sounds a whistle.
      1. Inadvertent Whistle – If the referee inadvertently blows a whistle after the receiver has caught the ball or is running, the ball is dead at that point. If an inadvertent whistle is blown before the quarterback has thrown the ball or the ball is in mid-air, then the play will be redone.
2. Receivers: All offensive players are eligible receivers. 
   1. Receivers need only one (1) foot in-bounds with possession of the ball to be considered a catch.
   2. If a player runs out of bounds (end zone or sideline) prior to a pass, they become ineligible unless a defensive player forced them out of bounds.
   3. If a receiver is in midair, catches the ball, and is forced out of bounds by a defender prior to landing, the pass will be considered complete.
   4. Offensive players CANNOT dive to further advance the ball.

1. Quarterback Run & Rushing:
   1. The quarterback can run the ball ONLY if the defense rushes them.
   2. There is no immediate rush. The defense cannot rush the quarterback until:
      1. A 5-one thousand rush count followed by the word “GO!” by the Line Judge. 
         1. The count will be as follows: “1- One Thousand, 2- One Thousand, 3- One Thousand, 4- One Thousand, 5- One Thousand, “GO!!” 
      2. The defense may not cross the line of scrimmage until the referee says “GO!”
   3. IF the quarterback fakes a handoff or pitch, the defense may rush immediately, regardless of the Rush count being announced by the Head Ref.
      1. “Pump Fakes” or “Fake Passes” do not fall under this rule.
   4. Silent snaps are not permitted. The player calling the snap cadence must receive the snap. 
      1. The player receiving the snap may not be in motion.
   5. If the ball hits the ground on the snap, the play is ruled a fumble and considered “dead”, the ball is spotted where it hit the ground, and it is a loss of down.

1. Blocking & Contact: All players must attempt to avoid contact with other players. 
   1. Blocking at or behind the line of scrimmage and/or down field is not permitted, Aggressive contact and the “bump and run” are not permitted. Moving picks are regarded as illegal blocking.
   2. There is no contact at the line of scrimmage
   3. Players acting as the offensive line must have their hands behind their backs or at their sides when protecting their quarterback from pursuing defensive rushers.
      1. The offensive line can position their body at any particular angle in an attempt to direct the rushers to a particular area, but they may not physically direct them.

1. 9. Punts: A punt must be declared and cannot be faked. 
   1. A team does not have to snap the ball during a punt as a dropped snap during a punt is not a fumble. The receiving team may not raise hands or jump to block a punt.
   2. Punts must be kicked. Punts cannot be thrown.
   3. Punts are “open” plays.
   4. The kicking team may not cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked. 
   5. The kicking team cannot recover their own punt. 
   6. If the kicking team touches the ball before the receiving team, it is a dead ball and is spotted where it was touched.
   7. If a punt is caught, it is a live ball and is returnable.
      1. If the ball comes into contact with the ground after it has been punted, it is a dead ball and may not be returned. The ball is spotted at the point where it hit the ground.
   8. The receiving team can run up the field but cannot block.
   9. A punt through the end zone and a dropped punt in the end zone are touchbacks. The ball is placed at the designated starting distance from the goal line.

• Change of Possession

• Score

• Interception

• Turnover: Offense fails to score or earn another first down. The opposing team gets the ball at the previous line of scrimmage.

• Offense punts the ball on fourth down.

• Loss of down penalties which occur on fourth down

• Fumbles cannot be turned over unless the fumble is caught in mid-air. If the fumbled ball touches the ground, it is dead at that point and the line of scrimmage is moved there.

• Coed Specific Rules

• (7v7 Coed): There must be at MINIMUM, 3 females on the field per team at all times. There is no maximum limit to the amount of females allowed on the field.

• The offense must involve a female player as an “Operative Player” within three (3) consecutive downs. 

• If two consecutive plays during a possession exclude females, then the following play is “Closed” and must include a female operative player. 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Any Play called out as “Open”, means that the ball can be thrown to, or by, any gendered player.

• On a closed play, a male quarterback cannot run for positive yards EVEN if he is rushed. 

• If a male quarterback is sacked on a closed play, the down is lost and the closed play carries over to the next down.

• An Operative Player is defined as a player who:

• Is the intended receiver in the eyes of the official. The ball must CLEARLY be intended for a female receiver for it to count. 

• Example: if the ball is 5+ yards away from the female, it will not be counted.

• Runs the ball as the primary runner (an attempt has to be made to cross the line of scrimmage)

• Receives the snap as the Quarterback and throws the ball forward towards the line of scrimmage (ball does not have to cross the line of scrimmage).

• If the female Quarterback is sacked, throws an incomplete pass, loses yards, or does not catch the ball, the down still counts as a play made by a Female Operative, and the Female Operative count resets

1. 1. An Operative Player is NOT defined as a player who:
      1. Hands off or pitches the football.
      2. Snaps the ball into play.
      3. Receives a hand off only to give it back to a male before crossing the line of scrimmage. 
         1. “Flea Flickers” and “Catch and Pitch” plays fall under this rule as not counting. As the female is giving the ball back to the male to make the play
      4. Receives the snap and immediately spikes the ball at her feet.

// Flag Football Penalties

Normal rules and penalties of the NCAA apply unless exceptions have been made herein. A half or game cannot end on a defensive penalty.

• 5 yard penalty, down is replayed

• Delay of game20 seconds after the ball has been spotted

• • • Encroachment
      • Offense will receive a free play. They may accept the penalty or take the result of the play.
    • False start
    • Holding
    • Illegal block
      • The offensive team may not initiate a pick/block while in motion. If a catch is made after a clear, illigal block, it will be ruled no catch.
    • Illegal contact
    • Illegal motion
    • Illegal snap
    • Offensive Offsides 

• 5 yard penalty, loss of down

• • • Illegal forward pass
    • Flag Guarding
    • Diving (Ball carrier cannot dive into, over, or under a defensive player.)
      • Ball spotted at point of takeoff

• 10 yard penalty, down is replayed

• • • Defensive pass interference [automatic first down]
      • If in the end zone, ball is spotted at the 1 yard line.
    • Defensive unnecessary roughness [automatic first down]
    • Offensive unnecessary roughness
      • If during a play, any yardage gained will not stand and penalty will be marked off from the line of scrimmage.
      • If after a play, the penalty will be marked off at the end of the play.
    • Unsportsmanlike Conduct
      • Taunting of any kind is not allowed, and will result in an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. This includes:
        • Yelling or Directing obscenities at the other team or a referee 
        • Tossing an opposing players flag or their ball out of play in an attempt to disrupt their retrieval of it
        • Aggressively making contact with another player.

• 10 yard penalty, loss of down

• • • Offensive pass interference

• Additional Penalties

• • Failure to use a female operative – 5 yards & Loss of Down
    • The next play is still closed. 
  • Illegal flag pull – 10 yard penalty
    • Down is replayed
  • A player may only de-flag an opponent in possession of the ball.
    •  If a player removes an opponent’s flag belt before they gain possession of the ball, play will continue until the ball carrier is downed by one hand touch.
  • Intentional grounding – Loss of down
    • Ball spotted at point of infraction (QB’s release point).

// Overtime

1. Overtime will only be played during Playoffs. Regular Season games can end in Ties.
2. Overtime will begin with a rock-paper-scissors game by the captains.
   1. The team that wins the game decides if they start on offense or defense. Their opponent will decide which endzone to use. Both teams will attempt to score into the same endzone.
3. Each team will have 4 downs to score from ten (10) yard line line. If a team scores, they will have the opportunity to go for one (1) or two (2) extra points. The game will be decided when one team scores more points within an overtime period.
4. No 1st downs will be awarded except in the case of a penalty.
5. The Female Operative rule still applies.
6. An interception will result in a turnover and may not be returned for any points.
7. If the score is still tied after the first overtime period, each team must attempt a two-point conversion after they score a touchdown until a winner is decided.

// GOLDEN RULE

First and foremost, all Fray leagues are 50% Social and 50% Sport. While we have staff // officials, we expect individuals to respect the league’s culture of fair and fun play. Foul language and rough play will not be tolerated. Individuals who cannot adhere to our standards of fair play and sportsmanship may be asked to leave the league. We want everyone to have fun and be social while enjoying a great sport. We will do whatever we can to make sure all players are having fun!

// GENERAL POLICIES

Fray is proud to relieve captains of the burden of paying for full teams. We accept individual player payments and allow prepayment for additional players and/or full teams. We are also proud to welcome those who do not have a full team (small groups and free agents) to participate in our league.

Because our mission is to make fun possible, these policies make it easier for people to get involved with and build community through social sports.

All registrations are on a first come, first serve basis. Any roster that does not reach our official size (based on each sport) is eligible to receive free agents and/or small groups. Rosters made up of primarily free agents and/or a collection of small groups may have more players than the