The document outlines the rules and guidelines for the Southern Maine Flag Football League. It discusses player eligibility requirements, scheduling details like rainouts and forfeits, penalties for various infractions, overtime and playoff procedures, equipment requirements, and specific game rules around scoring, kicking, passing, and more. Teams must have a minimum of 5 players to avoid a forfeit and 4 games are required to qualify for the playoffs. Penalties range from 5 to 15 yards and can result in automatic first downs, ejections, or loss of downs depending on the infraction.

1. Southern Maine Flag Football League
Eligibility:
Required to make 4 games to qualify for playoffs.
Must be out of high school (18 or older)
Miscellaneous:
• Rainouts will be made up as part of double headers, or on a Saturday.
• Teams may be required to provide officials for games. They will be
paid $25 per game.
• Teams are allowed 1 forfeit. Second forfeit results in suspension from
league without a refund.
• In week 1, the winning team in a forfeit wins 16-0. Every week
thereafter, the winning team wins by their average points scored vs. 0.
• Teams cannot play with less than 5 players
• Each team must name an offensive and defensive captain at the coin
toss. Captains will be the only people to converse with the officials
regarding penalties.
5-Yard Penalties:
1. Offense false start, defense offside or neutral zone infraction
2. Illegal motion
3. Delay of game
4. To many men on the field
5. Defensive holding (including holding offensive lineman), also automatic
first down
6. Illegal contact beyond 5 yards, also automatic first down
7. Illegal forward pass
8. Hand guarding from spot of foul, and loss of down
9. Stiff Arm, from spot of foul, and loss of down
10. Shirts not tucked in after 1 warning
11. Forward lateral, from spot of foul
12. Rushing Punter
13. Player is not wearing flag belt at snap of ball
14. Illegal flag pull also automatic first down. Play will stay live until ball
carrier is touched.
15. No running start blitzes by defense
16. No 3-point stances

2. 10-Yard Penalties:
1. Foul language- second occurrence results in ejection from game
2. Forcing a fumble (stripping) from spot of foul if beyond line of
scrimmage
3. Shoulder blocking
4. Pass interference offense + loss of down
5. Holding offense
6. Leaving early on punts
7. Pushing (out of bounds) from spot of foul
8. Impeding runner 10yds from the end of play
9. Lowering your shoulder, leading with your head, or diving to advance the
ball. Penalty is from the spot of the foul.
15-Yard Penalties:
1. Spiking the ball (other than on a score)
2. Taunting (any type) including from the sideline
3. Blocking below the waist or above the shoulders
4. Clipping
5. Tackling, automatic 1st
down and player will be ejected
6. When a player is ejected
7. Arguing a call, other than a captain
8. Personal foul
g. Unsportsmanlike conduct
10. Roughing the QB, after the pass is thrown if incomplete 15yds from the
line of scrimmage, if complete 15yds from end of play
Other Penalties:
1. Defensive pass interference (at spot of foul)
2. Offensive holding in the endzone results in a safety
3. Disorderly conduct before, during, or after a game may result in a league
suspension
4. No one may strike opposing players, referees, or teammates. This will
result in a season suspension
5. Personal Foul/Unsportsmanlike Conduct vs. the defense results in an
automatic first down. If, on fourth down, & the penalty occurs AFTER the
play, the yards are assessed on the change of possession. If the penalty is
against the offense, then it will be a loss of down (if during the play).
6. Ejections carry over to following game.

3. Clock Rules:
1. To start the game, the clock will start on the snap of the ball
2. The clock will continuously run for (2) 20-minute halves with the
exception of injuries, scores, or time-outs. Inside the 2 minute warning of
each half the clock will also stop on out of bounds, and incompletions.
3. Each team has (3) 1-minute timeouts per half.
4. 5 minute half time
5. There’s a 2 minute warning each half. If the 2-minute warning happens
during a play, the clock will stop at the conclusion of the play
6. Overtime: Each team will alternate possessions from the 10 with 4 downs
to score in overtime. Extra points will apply as normal. A maximum of (2)
possesions per team.
Equipment Rules:
1. Rosters must be submitted by first game with names, jersey number, and
e-mail address. 15 players per team
2. A mouthpiece is advised
3. Team must have same colored shirts with a number on the back
4. No metal cleats
Game Rules:
1. Each team must name an offensive and defensive captain at the coin toss.
Captains will be the only people to converse with the officials regarding
penalties.
2. There will be a coin toss to begin each overtime
3. There will be a free kick from the 10 after a safety
4. Team can use their own balls as long as they are regulation size. No youth
balls.
5. Teams switch sides at halftime
6. Tie Breakers are, as always, head to head first. In case of a tie, the next tie
breaker is point differential. The team who had a better differential of points
scored vs. points allowed, gets the tiebreaker.
7. There are no grace periods for games. They start at scheduled time. If you
have 5 players at your game start time, you start. If there are 4, you forfeit.
We need to keep things moving
8. We have a 9-week regular season. Each team has one bye. There will be a
league wide bye 11/8/15. This week can be used to make up rainouts.

4. 9. Playoffs begin 11/15/15. Seed 1 receives a first round bye. The 8th
& 9th
seed don’t make the playoffs
10. The field is 60yds long goal line to goal line with two 10 yd end zones,
and 35 yards wide. There are two 20yd first downs. The games (and
possessions after a score) start with the ball on the 10yd line
11. No smoking, alcohol, or drugs
12. After a player pulls flag belt, the belt must be given back to offensive
player, or laid on the ground otherwise it’s a 15yd penalty
13. No throwing elbows or forearms - 15yd penalty.
14. Any player caught wrapping his flags around his belt – 15yd penalty
15. If a ball carriers flags fall off during a play, the play will be live until the
ball carrier is touched by a defensive player.
16. Ejected players must leave field
17. Bench ejections carry over to next game.
18. Fumbles are live.
19. A safety is worth 2 points, and there will be a free kick from the 10
20. Diving is only allowed to catch a pass a grab flags
21. Only one forward pass is allowed.
22. Intentional grounding only inside of 2 minute warning, and only to stop
the clock
23. QB must be in shotgun, approximately 3 yards behind center
24. Punts are automatic, and cannot be rushed
25. No kick-offs. The ball will be placed at the 10 yd line and first down will
be at the 20yd line.
26. Extra point from the 5 is worth 1 point, while an extra point from the 10
is worth 2 (run or pass)
27. A turnover on an extra point can be returned for equivalent point value