Coaches Meeting

San Carlos Flag, Winter 15 Meeting

Welcome to San Carlos Flag• Over 200+ players, Boys and

Girls• 3 Age Groups• 22 Teams• Thanks so much for your

support. Could not have done it without you

Expectations

• This is a recreation league, though we compete hard, this is primarily for fun and for the kids

• Good sportsmanship is expected at all times from players, coaches and parents

• Reward effort as well as achievement• Balance competitiveness with play time• Cheer great plays on both sides• Best words for parents to say– “I love to watch you play.”

Equipment

• All players must be wearing a mouthguard by 2nd game

• No player may wear metal cleats• No casts• Optional– Soft head protector (available for

purchase)– Gloves– Soft Knee Pads

Coaches on Playing Field

• Junior and Senior Coaches will be allowed on the playing field for the first 2 games on offense only

• Minis can stay on the field• On the 3rd game, coaches can signal in the play or

send in a player

Equipment

• Jerseys, Flags and Balls will be provided and should be here by second game (maybe by first)

• Veteran coaches, if you have flags, please bring them as we will need extras for the first game

• Please also bring:– Bag to hold balls & flags– scissors and masking tape and sharpies to

customize flags– pump with needles

Equipment (cont)

• Jerseys must not obscure flags – Either tuck jerseys in pants or wear flag belt over

jersey• Wrist Coaches allowed on players arm

Playing Field

Tight Schedule – Start Promptly

• There are 22 teams, 11 games, 3 Fields• Games must start on time• 5:30 Minis (2 Games)• 6:20 Junior Early Games (3 Games)• 7:10 Junior Late Games (2 Games)• 7:10 Senior Early Game (1 Game)• 8:00 Senior Late Games (3 Games)• Tight Parking

StartingCoin Toss

– Captains meet prior to play– Home Team wears dark jerseys– Visiting Team call– Winner has choice of offense or defense– Loser chooses direction it will defend

Possession– Offense takes possession at the 5-yard line

• Offense has 3 downs to make it to midfield• Once mid-field is crossed they have another 3 downs to score

– If the Offense fails to cross midfield or score, the ball changes possession, the other team takes over and starts at the 5-yard line

– All possession changes (except interceptions) begin on the offense 5-yard line

– Teams change end zones at the second half• Possession goes to the team that started on defense in the first half

Timing

• Games are 20 minutes each half• 2 minute half-time• One 30-second time-out per half• Officials may stop clock at their discretion• Injury will stop the clock• After the official spots the ball, the offense has 30

seconds to snap. • 1rst delay is a warning, subsequent delays will

result in a 5 yard penalty & loss of down

Scoring

• 6 pts for a touchdown• 1 pt PAT from the 5-yard line (must be a pass)• 2 pt PAT from the 12-yard line (pass or run)• NEW – If a 28 point difference is reached, the losing team

will be allowed a sixth player until the 28 point threshold is reached * San Carlos Specific

Passing• All passes begin behind the LOS and end

beyond it. (only one forward pass per play)• No laterals, pitches or screen plays are allowed• QB has 7 seconds to throw the ball or hand-off

– Refs will countdown aloud, if the ball is not thrown of handed-off, the play is dead and is spotted at the LOS

– Once ball is handed off, there is no 7 second rule– If QBs flag is pulled before 7 seconds, QB is down

where flag is pulled• Interceptions may be returned except during a

PAT

Receiving• All players are eligible to catch a pass

(including QB if a hand-off has been made)

• One player is allowed in motion at a time• One foot inbounds for a valid pass• Receiving/Running

– Once ball is advanced beyond LOS, the player in possession is the only one allowed to advance the ball

– Offensive players must “freeze” once ball is past LOS

– No screening, blocking or running next to ball carrier

Running

• QB may not run beyond LOS with ball– QB may hand-off then catch a pass

• Handoffs are allowed only behind the LOS– Teams are allowed as many handoffs

as they want but must be behind LOS• Player who receives handoff may

throw the ball as long they are behind LOS

Running (cont)

• Ball is spotted where the players feet are when flag is pulled (not where the ball is)

• “Center Sneak” plays– Ball must completely leave

center hands– Center must step back and be

completely behind LOS before getting a handoff

No Run Zone

• No Run Zones are 5 yards in front of midfield and 5 yards in front of goal line

• If the play starts in the No Run Zone, Offense must use a pass to get a first down or a touchdown

Rushing the Passer• Ref will mark off 7 yards from LOS• Rushers will start 7 yards from LOS

– If rusher leaves 7 yard mark prior to snap, they may reset

• Defenders not rushing may defend LOS but cannot cross it unless there is a handoff

• Rusher must have clear path to the QB– Any interference by offense will be

considered screening• Players rushing QB may attempt to block

pass but must not touch QB’s arm• If offensive players hold position until rush

has crossed LOS, rusher must go around• Path to QB is set pre-snap

Impeding Rusher

Flag Pulling

• A defensive player may not pull flag of a player who does not have full possession of the ball

• Defenders may dive to pull flags, but may not tackle, run through player, push down or knock out of bounds the ball carrier

• No stripping the ball

Snapping Ball• Ball must be snapped between centers

legs– Spend time on this, have 2 kids who can do

this• Team must have a minimum of 4 player

otherwise it is a forfeit– In the event of a forfeit, the losing team may

“borrow” players from other teams to play the game for the benefit of players who showed up

• Ball is spotted where carriers feet are• There are no fumbles. In case of drops,

ball is dead where it hits ground.

Dead Ball

• Ball Ruled Dead when:– Carriers flag is pulled– Ball carrier steps out of bounds– Ball hits the ground– Ball carriers knee or arm touches ground• Hands can be used to keep balance

– Offensive player only has one or zero flags• i.e. Can catch pass with one flag, but is down on

possession

Penalties• All Penalties are called only by officials• Referees will determine incidental contact from

result of play• Only coaches can ask about rule clarifications• All penalties will be assessed from LOS except spot

fouls• Loss of down means it is consumed• If penalty is on offense on 3rd down, it is a turnover• Games can’t end on defensive penalty unless

declined by offense• If distance to goal is distance is shorter than penalty

yardage, then penalty is ½ the distance to the goal

Defensive Spot Fouls

Pass Interference Automatic First Down

Holding +5 Yards, Automatic Fist Down

Stripping +10 Yards, First Down

Unnecessary Roughness +10 Yards, First Down

Offensive Spot Fouls

Screening or running with ball carrier -10 and loss of down

Charging -10 and loss of down

Flag Guarding -10 and loss of down

Offensive unnecessary roughness -10 and loss of down

Defensive Penalties

Offside +5 from LOS and 1rst Down

Illegal Rush (starting closer than 7 yards) +5 from LOS and 1rst Down

Roughing Passer +5 from LOS and 1rst Down

Taunting +5 from LOS and 1rst Down

Unsportsman-like conduct +10 from LOS and 1rst Down

Offensive Penalties

Offside -5 Yards from LOS and Loss of Down

Illegal Forward Pass -5 Yards from LOS and Loss of Down

Offensive Pass Interference -5 Yards from LOS and Loss of Down

Illegal Motion -5 Yards from LOS and Loss of Down

Delay of game -5 Yards from LOS and Loss of Down

Impeding Rusher -5 Yards from LOS and Loss of Down

Unsportsman-like conduct +10 from LOS and 1rst Down

Inadvertent Whistle/Challenges

• In the event of an inadvertent whistle the offense has two choices:– Keep play where play was blown

dead and down consumed– Reset down and play at original LOS

• Teams may use a timeout to challenge a call. If call is reversed, no time out will be charged

Overtime/Playoffs• During regular season, there is no overtime. It’s OK to end in a tie• All teams will make playoffs

– Offense has choice of 1 pt or 2 pt conversion on 5 or 12 yard line– Each team will have 1 play– Repeat until score is not tied at end of both teams turns at offense

• During Playoffs Overtime a coin toss will determine who has offense first

• Tie-breaking for Seeding will be determined by:– Win Loss Record– Win Loss against each other– Win Loss against common opponents– Coin Toss

• There is no reward for running up a score