FLICKERBALL RULES

Florida State University does not provide accident insurance coverage for injuries received by Intramural participants. Each participant should make sure that he/she has coverage either through family policies or the student insurance plan. We cannot emphasize this point enough.

Florida State University PROHIBITS possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on University property. This includes the Intramural Sports Complex and Tully Gym. Violators will be asked to leave the area. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture of the ball game, suspension of individuals and/or teams, and appropriate action by the University Judicial Office.

---

I. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying FSU students, faculty members, and full-time staff. FAMU & TCC students and members of the community are not eligible. All areas of eligibility are covered in the Intramural By-Laws which are available through the Campus Recreation Office and online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.

2. In order to participate in an Intramural contest each player must present their validated FSUCard. Exceptions must be directed to the Intramural Sports Office for consideration by the IM staff during regular business hours (9:00am-6:00pm). Bring a photo ID and proof of payment to obtain a waiver from the IM staff. No such waiver will be granted at the game/match site.

3. All players must sign-in at the sign-in table or with a supervisor at the game site prior to each game to be eligible to participate.

II. TEAM COMPOSITION

1. Players can compete on only one (1) team, regardless of league classification.

2. Flickerball is 4-on-4. A minimum of three (3) players is required to start a game. A team's roster may include an unlimited number of players.

3. Unlimited substitutions are permitted. The referee must be notified before a substitution can occur. Substitutions may occur only on a team's own restart opportunity such as after an opponent's goal, or a violation, foul, incomplete pass, or out-of-bounds that will be awarded to the substituting team.

III. EQUIPMENT

1. All players must wear appropriate court shoes. Tennis shoes and soft-soled shoes are legal. Sandals, flip flops, and boots are not permitted. No metal, hard plastic, or polyurethane spikes or cleats or shoes with detachable cleats are allowed.

2. Balls will be provided by the Intramural Sports staff at the game site.

3. Wrist and hand jewelry is NOT allowed to be worn by any participant during intramural flickerball. This jewelry consists of any visible rings (including wedding bands), watches, bracelets, and any other such similar jewelry. Only medical alert bracelets are permitted. A player is subject to ejection for failure to remove any jewelry after first warning.

IV. GAME TIME & LENGTH

1. Game time is forfeit time. A team needs at least 3 legal players to begin the game.

2. A game will be divided into two (2) periods of fifteen (15) minutes each. Time runs continuously unless there is an injury or unexpected interruptions. At the conclusion of each half, the teams reverse ends. There shall be three (3) minutes between halves. Game time will be kept at the court by the referee.

3. Each team will receive one (1) time out per half. Unused second half timeouts carry over to overtime periods.

3. 20-at-5 Mercy Rule: If a team is ahead by twenty (20) or more points with five minutes or less remaining in the second half, the game will end.

4. Games that are tied at the end of regulation time will proceed into a 3-minute overtime period (and subsequent 3-minute overtime periods, if needed). A coin flip will determine who will receive initial possession in each overtime period.

V. GENERAL RULES

BEGINNING A HALF

1. A coin toss will determine who will receive the initial possession of the first half. The loser of the toss shall receive the initial possession of the second half.

2. To start a half, the team with initial possession shall throw in the ball from its own baseline.

PASSING

A team may legally advance the ball toward its own goal only by passing. There are no handoffs.

1. Incomplete passes: If offensive team attempts a pass which is incomplete through no interference on the part of a defensive player, the referee shall blow his/her whistle and possession of the ball will be given immediately to the nearest player of the defensive team who will put the ball in play (as soon as they are able to) from the spot on which they get control of the ball.

2. There will be no “free balls.” A ball will be ruled complete or incomplete. Every time the ball hits the ground, the opponent of the team last in possession will be awarded the ball at the spot of the incompletion.

VIOLATIONS

1. Traveling / Illegally Advancing the Ball Toward Own Goal
No one is permitted to advance toward his or her goal while the ball is in his control. Player with the ball in their control may move only in a lateral or backward direction.
a. If a player gains control of the ball while advancing toward the goal, they will be allowed a maximum of one and one-half steps in which to stop their advance, or to swerve to a lateral direction. (If a player receives the ball as they are on their right foot, they may advance, place their left foot, and will not be considered travelling until he again steps on their right foot.)

2. Lane Violation
No offensive player may touch the ball while in their own offensive lane area ("the paint").

3. 5-second Possession Violation
No player is allowed to retain possession of the ball more than 5 seconds. This rule applies at all times, whether or not the player in possession in being guarded by an opponent.

4. 10-second Backcourt Violation
A team must advance the ball beyond half-court (into the frontcourt) within 10 seconds from obtaining legal possesion inbounds in the backcourt.

5. Backcourt Violation
After the ball has advanced past the half court line into the front court area, the offensive team must continue to play ball in this area until a shot at the goal is attempted or until ball is lost to the defense. It is a violation for the offensive team to pass or carry the ball into backcourt area after ball has been advanced into front court area.

Following a Violation
If a player is called for violation, the referee will immediately blow his/her whistle. Offending player must place the ball on the ground in order that the nearest opponent can immediately put the ball into play.

OUT OF BOUNDS

1. In cases where receiver of pass is bound by rules to receive it within a certain area, they must gain definite control of the ball within that area. (i.e. if player received the ball while off the ground, both feet must land within that area/”in-bounds”)

2. When the ball goes out of bounds an opponent of the player who last POSSESSED the ball in bounds will be given possession at that point, out of bounds. Balls deflected out of bounds by the defense are awarded to the defense to put the ball into play.

FOULS

1. Personal Foul
Personal fouls occur when any player causes personal contact with their opponent. Player committing personal foul must leave game and cannot return to the field of play until either team scores any field goal. Player must remain in the penalty box on sidelines until such time as they return to play. They may not be substituted for while in the penalty box.
a. For personal foul – offended team will be given possession of the ball on the spot of the infraction and will put the ball in play as soon as offending player leaves the field. Apply out of bounds rule.
b. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting an attempted goal shot, a personal foul will be charged to the offending player. The goal shot will be counted as it scores, and the shooting player will be given a free throw at the goal (from the center jump circle).
c. Five personal fouls disqualify a player.

2. Technical Foul
The following are technical fouls:
a. Intentionally kicking a ball.
b. Any foul construed by the official to be flagrant, or any act of unsportsmanlike conduct.
c. Fouled player gets a free shot at the goal from center jump circle. In case of unsportsmanlike conduct, any member of offended team may attempt the free throw. Ball is dead and after the shot, successful or otherwise, fouled team is given possession of the ball out of bounds at the centerline. Thrower may not cross free throw line until after ball is dead.
d. Technical fouls also count towards a player's personal foul total. Two technical fouls by the same offending player in a game results in disqualification from the game.

RESTART PROCEDURE

The restart procedure shall be followed after each incomplete pass, violation, foul, and score.

1. A ball whistled dead on the field of play remains dead until a player entitled to put it in play picks it up. Opponents must be three feet away from the player putting the ball in play until moment ball is actually picked up off the ground by the player.

2. Any intentional handling of the ball (stalling) by the offensive player after the whistle and before the ball is put into play by the defensive, is a technical foul.

3. For a restart in the frontcourt or from an out-of-bounds spot in the team's frontcourt, the player must throw the ball to a teammate with a lateral pass or a backward pass.

4. For a restart in the backcourt or from an out-of-bounds spot in the team's backcourt, the player may throw the ball to a teammate anywhere in the backcourt.

5. For any restart, the player must pass to a teammate prior to an attempt to score.

6. When a team is given possession of the ball out of bounds, it will be given 5 seconds in which to put the ball in play.

7. The penalty for violation of any part of the restart procedure is loss of the ball at the point of the infraction.

SCORING

1. All attempted shots for score must be thrown with one hand overhead forward pass. (Scoring shots must be attempted in a similar motion to a quarterback throwing the ball down field). Push shot, jump shot, set shot, lay-up, dunk, etc. will not count as a goal. Defensive team awarded ball at the approximate spot nearest to the violation.

2. A goal is scored by firing the ball through the basket, or striking the face of the backboard. A goal shot that enters the basket from above is awarded 5 points. A goal shot which hits the face of the backboard inside the square is awarded 3 points (lines are considered part of the box. A goal shot which hits the face of the backboard outside the square is awarded 1 point. A ball that strikes both inside and outside the box will be awarded 1 point only. Free throw attempt score points under this same structure.

3. The rim is in play. Only if the ball passes through the rim are points scored for striking it. A ball may strike the rim then any part of the backboard that will result in either 1 or 3 points. There are NO points scored when the ball hits only the rim and bounces away without hitting the backboard or without going through the basket from above.

BLOCKING SHOTS

1. An attempted shot, which is blocked by a defensive player and remains on the field of play is ruled dead and defensive team is awarded possession of the ball at the spot where the ball hit the ground. Since any shot that can be blocked is considered a poor shot, the intent of this rule is to reward the defense with possession of the ball.

2. An attempted shot, which is blocked, by a defensive player and rolls out of bounds is ruled dead and defensive team is awarded possession out of bounds at the approximate spot that the ball went out. Since any shot that can be blocked is considered a poor shot, the intent of this rule is to penalize the shooter with the loss of the ball.

3. Any attempt on the part of a defensive player to goal tend in the dead ball area, (i.e. deliberately bat out attempted goal) shall result in award of 5-point goal to shooting team.

VI. SPORTSMANSHIP

1. The mission of Intramural Sports is to provide a recreational environment for the University community which is safe and enjoyable. While the game atmosphere is often competitive, ensuring participant safety, providing a fun, social atmosphere, and promoting sportsmanlike behavior among participants, spectators, and team followers are our primary concerns. The game atmosphere should remain good-natured at all times. Participants shall maintain good sportsmanship throughout their participation in all facets of the intramural program.

2. The Sportsmanship Rating System is intended to be an objective scale by which teams' attitude and behavior can be assessed throughout the intramural sports league and playoff seasons. Behavior before, during, and after an intramural sports contest is included in the rating. The team captain is responsible for educating and informing all players and spectators affiliated with his/her team about the system.

3. A team is responsible for the actions of the individual team members and spectators related to it. Additionally, FSU Intramural Sports does not recognize the use of coaches. Only the team captain shall speak to the officials regarding administrative matters (protests, ejections, disqualifications, etc). Furthermore, the team captain's efforts in assisting officials/staff to calm difficult situations and to restrain troubled teammates are key to controlling team conduct.

4. Sportsmanship is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during games, officials, administrative personnel, and supervisors shall make decisions on whether to warn, penalize or eject players or teams for poor sportsmanship. These decisions are final. The Intramural Sports administrative staff will rule on further penalties as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct.

5. Each participant should choose his or her team members carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action taken by the Intramural Sports staff against that team for violation of the intramural rules and sportsmanship guidelines. Protests or appeals of sportsmanship ratings will not be recognized. The Intramural Sports administrative staff reserves the right to review any rating given to a team.

6. Additional information regarding team and participant sportsmanship including the rating method, factors, and scale is available in the Sportsmanship section of the Intramural Sports Handbook, available online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.