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| CO-REC FLAG FOOTBALL RULES REVIEW |
Revised for Fall 2010
Co-rec flag football is played with several rule variations. FSU is using simplified co-rec rules for 2011. Below are 3 different explanations of the same rules, hopefully one helps you understand the changes!
| Co-Rec Flag Football Rules Presentation |
| Jump to the Flag Football Rules Portal for Additional Info. |
- Co-rec teams play with 8 players (4 males and 4 females) on the field. 6 or 7 players also possible, see below.
- A co-rec team must have 5 stationary players on the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap (up from 4 in men's and women's).
- Female players score more points than males on TDs. Females who carry the ball across the goal line or catch a pass in the endzone score 9 points. Also, females who throw a legal forward pass to any player and an offensive TD is scored on the play, 9 points are awarded. All other TDs ar 6 points. PATs are the same regardless of who scores.
- Due to this scoring difference, the mercy rule in a co-rec game is 25 points at the 2:00 mark of the 2nd half (vs 19 in men's and women's).
Play Types & Special Co-Rec Restrictions
- Prior to each down, the game referee will announce the down (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) and play status (either open or closed).
- On an open play, all regular flag football plays are legal EXCEPT having a male carry (run) the ball across the line of scrimmage prior to a legal forward pass reception. No male QB scrambles, no male handoffs. This would be a co-rec penalty (illegal male advancement).
- On a closed play, all regular flag football plays are legal EXCEPT the male runner rule / illegal male advancement AND a male passer may not complete a legal forward pass to a male receiver anywhere on the field. This would be a co-rec penalty (illegal male pass reception).
- There are no restrictions on any players once a legal forward pass reception has been made. Complete a pass and eliminate the restrictions.
- Play status changes from open to closed on any legal male to male forward pass completion; the play can gain OR lose yards.
- Play status changes from closed to open on any legal male to female, female to male, or female to female forward pass completion; the play MUST gain yards (end beyond the line of scrimmage prior to any penalty enforcements).
- Plays that do not have a legal forward pass, such as strictly run plays or plays with only laterals and backwards passes, do not affect open/closed status.
- The markoff for all co-rec exclusive penalties (illegal male advancement & illegal male pass reception) is 5 yards from the previous line of scrimmage AND loss of down. For example, if penalized on 1st down, the next play would be 2nd down, 5 yards back from the previous spot.
Here's another way to put our new co-rec flag football rules with regard to restricted plays and including some sample plays & rulings.
Restricted Plays - Simplified
1. Prior to the reception of a legal forward pass by any player, no male runner (ball carrier) can be the first player to advance the ball across the scrimmage line. Any play with this action, regardless of positive or negative yardage gain, is a foul.
2. On a "closed" pass play, a male passer may not complete a pass to a male receiver anywhere on the field. Any closed play with this action, regardless of positive or negative yardage gain, is a foul.
PENALTY: For all co-rec exclusive fouls, the penalty is a 5-yard markoff from the previous spot and a loss of down (the loss of the right to repeat the down).
Sample Plays
Play 1 > A male quarterback is rushed by a defender and scrambles ahead across the scrimmage line.
- (All plays) PENALTY: Illegal male advancement, 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and loss of down.
Play 2 > A female quarterback is rushed by a defender and scrambles ahead across the scrimmage line.
- (All plays) NO penalty, legal play, no restrictions on a female player.
Play 3 > A male quarterback hands off to a male runner who runs ahead across the scrimmage line.
- (All plays) PENALTY: Illegal male advancement, 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and loss of down. A male may never be the first player to carry ball across the line during a run play. Even if there was a loss of yardage on this play, this action is still a penalty.
Play 4 > A male quarterback scrambles across the line of scrimmage, runs back behind the line, then throws a legal forward pass to a female receiver who runs ahead across the scrimmage line.
- (All plays) PENALTY: Illegal male advancement, 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and loss of down. A male may never be the first player to carry the ball across the line prior to the throwing of a legal forward pass.
Play 5 > A male quarterback throws to a male receiver behind the line who runs ahead across the scrimmage line.
- (Open status) NO penalty, legal open play because a legal forward pass was involved. Next play is CLOSED.
- (Closed status) PENALTY: Illegal male pass reception, 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and loss of down. Run is legal, but male-to-male pass on closed play is a penalty. Next play remains CLOSED.
Play 6 > A female quarterback throws to a male receiver behind the line who runs ahead across the scrimmage line.
- (All plays) NO penalty, legal open and closed play because a legal forward pass was involved. If closed, the next play is OPEN if positive yards are gained.
Here's a more specific rule-by-rule breakdown of the co-rec differences.
Number of Players
Co-rec flag football is 8-on-8. Teams need a minimum of 6 players to start a game (3 males & 3 females). The only legal combinations of players on the field for a team in a co-rec game are 4 males / 4 females, 4M / 3F, 3M / 4F, or 3M / 3F.
Equipment
Regular or intermediate size footballs may be used.
Scoring
If a female scores a touchdown (runs across goal line or receives a pass in the endzone), the point value is 9.
If a female throws a legal forward pass in a play that results in a touchdown by any offensive player, the point value is 9.
All other touchdowns (by male players) score 6 points. Successful PATs count the same for both genders (1, 2, or 3).
Line of Scrimmage
The offense must have at least 5 stationary players on the line at the time of the snap.
Run Plays / Action Before a Pass / Illegal Male Advancement
Male Runner (Ball Carrier) > Prior to the reception of a legal forward pass by any player, a male runner cannot be the first player to advance (carry) the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
Female Runner > There are no restrictions on any run by a female player at any time.
Male Restrictions In Effect > During the period between the snap and when a legal forward pass is thrown.
Male Restrictions in Effect > During the period between the snap and the time when the ball is legally possessed beyond the line of scrimmage by any player.
Male Restrictions End > When any player has caught a legal forward pass anywhere on the field. Complete a pass, eliminate the restrictions.
Male Restrictions End > When the ball has been legally possessed beyond the line of scrimmage by any player.
Restricted Play > Once a male runner has carried the ball across the line of scrimmage illegally, it is an Illegal Male Advancement foul, regardless of future gain or loss of yardage on the play.
PENALTY > The penalty for Illegal Male Advancement is 5 yards from the previous line of scrimmage AND loss of down.
Pass Plays / Open and Closed Status / Illegal Male Pass Reception
Announcement > Prior to each play, the game referee will announce both the down and either "open" or "closed" status for the upcoming play.
Open Status > The term "open" means any player can complete a legal forward pass to any other player anywhere on the field (male to male forward passes are permitted).
Closed Status > The term “closed” means a male player may not complete a legal forward pass to any other male player anywhere on the field. The next legal forward pass completion must involve either a female throwing the pass or receiving the pass (male to male forward passes are NOT permitted).
Open to Closed > The status changes from “open” to “closed” on any legal male to male forward pass completion, regardless of a gain or loss of yardage on the play.
Closed to Open > The status changes from “closed” to “open” on any legal male to female, female to male, or female to female forward pass completion, that results in positive yardage gain.
Restricted Play > Any male to male forward pass completion during a “closed” play is considered an Illegal Male Pass Reception foul.
PENALTY > The penalty for an Illegal Male Pass Reception foul is 5 yards from the previous line of scrimmage AND loss of down.
Open and Closed Status - Specifics
Initial Series Starts Open > Following any change of possession or at the start of a half, the first play for an offense's series shall be open.
Laterals and Backwards Passes > There are no restrictions on any lateral or backward pass.
Only First Forward Pass Matters > Open and closed plays are determined by the action of a legal forward pass and catch. Therefore, throughout a play there may be multiple possessions by males or females but the status of the next play is determined by the initial pass and catch.
Positive Yardage Gain > The spot where the ball becomes dead by rule (before penalty enforcement) must be beyond the Team A scrimmage line.
Run Plays Have No Effect > Any run play or play that does not involve a legal forward pass has no effect on open/closed status.
Penalties Have No Effect > The enforcement of a penalty has no affect on open/closed status.
PAT Attempts > Open/closed status for a PAT attempt is determined by the previous play (that scored the TD) just like a normal down.
All the Rules
For a more detailed explanation of the FSU IM flag football rules, visit the Flag Football Rules page. FSU IM flag football is played by the NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rules. The complete rulebook is available for review in the IM Sports Office in 1035 Tully Gym.
Call the Intramural Sports Staff at 850.644.2430 or email us for more information.