WELCOME

Welcome parents to another great year of Friday Night Lights flag football. Our emphasis this year will be focused on teaching the little guys the game of flag football through the use of various drills mixed in with a pre season scrimmage or two. While there will be some running during the practice, our main goal will be to make sure everyone has fun and EVERYONE carries the ball. The same will be true in games.

Community

Friday Night Lights has enjoyed remarkable growth in just three years. The fun and light atmosphere combined with great food vendors (A new one each week) make for a true community experience. Competition on the field is combined with the all important “What’s for snack?” which at this age is what they really remember at the end of the day.

Practice

We will determine a practice time and location that fits into everyone's schedule to the best of our ability. The practice will be limited to a maximum of 90 minutes with most practices being done by 7PM. We only get one practice a week as a team so being on time and ready to play is key to their individual development. Please be certain that your player arrives five minutes early and has a cold water/ Gatorade or similar and has already gone to the bathroom and has their cleats on and tied tightly. A properly fitting mouthpiece is a must on the practice and game field at all times. I suggest you start the season with 3-5 of them as they do occasionally go missing!

Clinics/ Outside training

There are a number of clinics coming up that will provide a boost to your players and I highly suggest they participate in these useful instructional events.

·        TO BE ANNOUNCED
 

GAMES

Games will be held at Oak Middle School on the field nearest the outdoor basketball courts. Start times are currently scheduled to either be 5:30PM or 6:30PM. Please arrive at least twenty minutes before game time. If you will not be at a game or you are running late, please call my cell phone as soon as possible at 562 773 0552. Opening night will be February 20th. Our schedule will be posted on the FNL website: www.losalfnl.com

RULES & EQUIPMENT

“FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS” (FNL) youth Flag Football is a 6 on 6 game filled with fun and action.  In this game, the offensive team plays for a first down at midfield and a touchdown in the end zone.  Running and passing plays are allowed. The defensive team covers receivers, rushes the passer and grabs flags to make “tackles”.  It is intended to be a “non-contact” sport

THE BASICS

• A coin toss determines first possession.
• The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5 yard line and has 3 plays to cross midfield for a 1^st down.  Once a team crosses midfield, it has 3 plays to score a touchdown.  If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5 yard line..
• If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5 yard line.
• All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offenses 5 yard line.
• Interceptions may be returned
• Teams change sides after halftime.  Possession changes to loser of coin toss..

PLAYERS/GAMES

Teams must field a minimum of 5 players at all times.  Teams consist of 8 players – 6 on the field, with 2 substitutes.  ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY A MINIMUM 3 OUT OF THE 4 QUARTERS (EVERYONE SITS ONE FULL QUARTER).    SUBSTITUTIONS ARE ONLY ALLOWED AT THE QUARTER BREAKS UNLESS THERE IS AN INUJURY. 

TIMING/OVERTIME

Games are played with 10 minute running quarters (40minutes), 1 minute water break between quarters and a 5 minute halftime.  If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes, teams move directly into overtime (EXCEPT 1^ST/2^ND GRADE AND 3^RD/4^TH GRADE DIVISION WHICH WILL REMAIN A TIE).  The California tie-breaker system will be used for all overtime games.

• Coin flip determines possession
• Ball is placed at midfield
• Whichever team gains the most yards on 3 plays wins the game
•  If both teams are tied after 3 plays, we do it again until there is a winner.
• Interceptions not returned past midfield (to win the game) are placed at midfield..  Offensive team that turns the ball over does not gain an advantage.

Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.  Teams will receive one warning before a delay of game penalty is enforced.

2 timeouts per half and they do not carry over to 2^nd half if unused.

SCORING

Touchdown = 6 points

Extra Point:

1 point (played from 5 yard line) or

2 points (played from 12 yard line 

RUNNING

• The quarterback cannot run with the ball.
• Handoffs, laterals and pitches are allowed as per NFL rules.
• NO CENTER SNEAKS!!
• No-Running zones located approx. 5 yards from each end zone (as marked) and approx. 5 yards on either side of midfield (as marked) are designed to avoid short yardage, power-running situations.
• The player who takes the handoff, lateral or pitch can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
• Once the ball has been handed off, lateraled or pitched, all defensive players are eligible to rush.
• Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving).
• The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.

RECEIVING

All players are eligible to receive passes (including the QB, if the ball has been handed off, lateraled or pitched behind the line of scrimmage as per NFL Rules).  As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time.  A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.

PASSING

• Shovel passes are allowed.
• The QB has a seven second “pass clock”.  If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down.  Once the ball is handed off, the seven second rule no longer is in effect.
• Interceptions may be returned.

DEAD BALLS

• The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play.
• Play is ruled “dead” when:
  • Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
  • Ball carrier steps out of bounds
  • Touchdown or safety is scored
  • Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
  • Ball carrier’s flag falls out

**NOTE: THERE ARE NO FUMBLES.  THE BALL IS SPOTTED WHERE THE BALL HITS THE GROUND* 

RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK

All players who rush the QB must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage (as marked by ref) when the ball is snapped.  Any number of players can rush the QB.  Players not rushing the QB may defend on the line of scrimmage only until the ball leaves QB hands.

Once the ball is handed off, the seven – yard rule no longer is in effect, and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.  A special marker, or the referee, will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage.  Remember, NO BLOCKING OR TACKLING IS ALLOWED.

SPORTSMANSHIP/ROUGHING

If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game.  The penalty if called is a dead ball at point of infraction and automatic 1^st down.  It will ALWAYS benefit the other team.

**FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED**

Trash talking is illegal.  Officials have the right to determine offensive language.  (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams or spectators.)  If trash talking occurs, the referee may give one warning and if it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

PENALTIES (ALL PENALTIES CAN BE DECLINED)

All penalties will be called by the referee.

DEFENSE:

Offsides:

5 yards and automatic 1st down

Interference:

10 yards and automatic 1^st down.

Illegal Contact:

(Holding, blocking, etc)

10 yards and automatic 1^st down.

Illegal Flag pull

(before receiver has ball)

10 yards and automatic 1^st down

Illegal rushing

(starting rush from inside 7-yard marker)

10 yards and automatic 1^st down.

OFFENSE:

Illegal motion

(more than one person moving, false start, etc.)

5 Yards and loss of down

Illegal forward pass

(pass thrown beyond line of scrimmage)

5 yards and loss of down

Offensive pass interference

(Illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender)

10 yards and loss of down

Flag guarding

10 yards (from line of scrimmage and loss of down

Delay of Game

Clock stops, 10 yards and loss of down

Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.  All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage!!

Only the team captain may ask the referee questions about rue clarification and interpretations.  Players cannot question judgment calls.

Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.

ATTIRE

Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes.  Inspections must be made.  All players must wear a protective mouthpiece; there are no exceptions!!

Official NFL/FNL Flag jerseys must be worn during play.

NOTE:  THERE ARE NO KICKOFFS, AND NO BLOCKING IS ALLOWED

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