Rules

General Rules

1. Choice of initial possession or goal to defend is the discretion of the team winning the coin-flip.
2. Kickoffs are from the team’s own 30-yard line. There are no returns. The kickoff is a dead play when the opposing team touches the ball, and that’s where the ball will be spotted for the offense. If the ball is kicked into or past the end zone, the ball will be placed at the 20-yard line. A penalty will be enforced if the ball is kicked out of bounds prior to the goal line. The ball will be placed on the 30-yard line. If the ball goes out of bounds prior to the 30-yard line, the ball will be spotted where it went out.
3. The team that kicked the ball off to start the game receives the kickoff in the second half. After each touchdown, the team that scores will kickoff.
4. You must have a jersey and flags to play. Flags must be at your sides, exposed and visible at all times. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Be advised that loose clothing may get pulled and torn. Pac West is not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen items.
5. One hour games (two 30 minute halves).
6. Excessive trash talking, arguing, tackling, harsh verbal language (ANY SWEAR WORDS AT ALL), or excessive whining about calls (towards other players or referees) is an unsportsmanlike penalty and will be enforced with a 15-yard penalty with no warnings. All calls are final. We play safe and watch out for each other. (play fair and clean)
7. A fumbled snap is a FUMBLE, this is a dead ball  loss of down. An offensive fumble behind the line of scrimmage is retained by the offense at the spot of the fumble. An offensive fumble beyond the line of scrimmage is awarded to the defense at the spot of the fumble. Defender is not allowed to swat at the ball while the offensive player has possession. Hold on to the ball and it won’t be an issue.
8. In the event of a safety, the ball is awarded to the defense at midfield. No points are awarded.
9. No blocking in the back or at the knees EVER.
10. On fourth down, the offense has the option to punt or go for it. If the team chooses to punt, there is no rush and the ball is spotted where it is caught or touched by a defensive player. There is no punt return and there are no blocks on punts.
11. In the event of a tie, sudden-death rules apply. Coin flip to decide kickoff. 8 minute quarter with 3 time outs to each team. First team to score wins. At the end of the 8 minutes, if the game is still tied, then it ends in a tie. Unless it is a playoff or championship game.
12. Ejection: If you have been ejected from the game, you will be escorted from the field of play by a referee or a league official. You are also to appear in front of the board before being able to return to play in the league (you may also be enforced game or games of suspensions). No fist-fighting or kicking. Any individuals engaged in such activity will be removed at once and ejected from the league without review. If you retaliate, even to a thrown punch or kick, with a thrown punch or kick of your own, you too will be banned from the league. Any player who cannot follow the rules on a continuing basis will be banned from the Pac West Flag Football League.
13. One flag pulled is a tackle. (see down by contact rule #14)
14. Down by contact: One hand touch = a tackle when a player has any 3 points of contact, (knee, feet, hands, etc.). If a player has 2 points of contact, he is still live if both flags are still attatched to the players belt. If the receiver knocks off his own flag, he is down at the spot of the catch. The same applies to a defender who has intercepted a pass with one flag. If the ball carrier knocks off his own flag, he is down at the spot of the flag.
15. Each team is granted 3 timeouts of 45 seconds a piece after the 5 minute warning of each half. Clock stops at the 2 minute warning of each half.
16. The game clock does not stop for kickoffs until the 5 minute warning of each half.
17. The official may stop the clock due to an injury.
18. All referee calls are final. Plays in question should be discussed by the referee staff. Teams must return to there huddle and await decision. (if you bother or hound the refs while in there huddle, you will be flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty of 15 yards).
19. Any player who misses 2 games (that are unexcused absences) in an entire season, will be removed from the team, (at the request of the captain and team) and a replacement player will be assigned to that team. Show up and be a dedicated team player and this won’t be a problem.
20. Always think safety and watch out for one another. We all need to work on Monday. Always keep your heads up and eyes open (heads on a swivel). Help us all avoid serious injury. All are encouraged to stretch before and after games.
21. In the event that a team fields less than 6 players, the game will be forfeited. Center is eligible when teams are playing with 6 players. When teams are playing with 7 players, the center now becomes an ineligible receiver, (passing to the center then is a loss of down). Rosters can hold a maximum of 10 players.
22. All players involved in a play that is tracked statistically are responsible for making contact with the stat person to make sure the stats are getting recorded accurately. It is up to the teams and the stat person to review the game just played. Once stats are reviewed and signed offby the commissioner and posted on the website, they will not be changed.
23. All players, family, and friends shall treat the Pac West gear and the fields we play on with the utmost respect.
24. The teams with the two best records in each division meet in a playoff game. The top two teams from the Mountain Division play each other and the two top teams from the River division play each other. The two winners of each game play in the Pac West Bowl.
25. There will be a Pro Bowl (Brotherhood Bowl) game consisting of the top stat leaders from each division. The top stat leader from each division in each category will be automatically awarded to be in the bowl game. In the event that one of the top stat leaders are already on the team, it goes down the list to the next player in their division. There will also be a league vote to award 3 players from each division to be voted in as players on the Pro Bowl rosters.
26. The MVP is to turn his cleats in at the end of the season to the league office for archiving, (a donation will be made to the player to purchase a new pair).
27. The league trophies are to be treated with respect and returned to the league office prior to the next season’s draft. You must have a working phone number and address to possess league trophies.
28. All referees involved in the field of play, must turn off all cell phones. (If it’s that important, please leave the field of play until you are done.)
29. All members of the Pac West Flag Football League play at their own risk and MUST SIGN A WAIVER BEFORE PLAYING OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY DRILLS.

Offensive Rules

1. Touchdowns are one point.
2. No extra points.
3. One rushing play per set of downs.
4. First down = two completions for a total of 10 yards, unless yardage has been gained via a running play. To be a completion, the pass must be a catch for positive yards.
5. A forward pass behind the line of scrimmage is considered a legal pass. But, if you do not advance the ball past the line of scrimmage, it does not count towards the two completions for a first down. If tackled behind the line of scrimmage, the ball is spotted where the flag is pulled. You must advance the ball past the line of scrimmage for it to count for one of your two completions for a first down.
6. A pitch backwards behind the line of scrimmage is a running play.
7. Once beyond the line of scrimmage, you can only lateral the ball backwards.
8. The ball carrier is allowed to stiff-arm or slap hands away, but cannot grab or hold on to a defenders hands or arms, (NO STIFF-ARMS TO THE FACE). The ball carrier may not hold on to the flag or flag belt if being pursued or engaged by a defensive player.
9. No blocking with the elbows. Palms out and at chest level. No hands to the face or throat.
10. If the offense attempts to run twice in a set of downs, the ball is placed at the previous spot and there is a loss of down.
11. A forward shovel pass is considered an illegal forward pass. This is a penalty and is a loss of down.
12. Offensive holding = 5 yard penalty.
13. Offensive pass interference = 10 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and loss of down.
14. A forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage = 5 yard penalty from the line or scrimmage and loss of down.
15. Two forward passes on the same play = 5 yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage and loss of down.
16. Offensive false start = blow play dead, a 5 yard penalty and repeat down.
17. Intentional grounding = 5 yard penalty and loss of down. The ball has to be thrown beyond the line of scrimmage and the ball has to be thrown within 10 yards of an eligible receiver (at the discretion of the referees).
18. More than two players in motion at any single time = 5 yard penalty.

Defensive Rules

1. A defensive player may NOT swat at the ball at any time during a play. The defender may only swat at the ball when it is in the air. Defensive hacking at the ball of ANY OFFENSIVE PLAYER is expressly forbidden.
2. The rush count must be said in a steady cadence. “One-Pac-West-Two-Pac-West-Three-Pac-West-GO”. The rush count is to only be said by one member of the defense. The counter does not have to be the same person for every down. Also, in the event that two players count at the same time, the offense has the choice of the play standing or a 5 yard penalty. The counter does not have to be the rusher.
3. One blitz per set of downs. Blitz must be shouted out so that the referees can hear it.
4. If the defense blitzes twice in a set of downs, the offense will have the choice of the play standing or a 5 yard penalty and repeat down.
5. A defender, when being engaged by a ball carrier, is not to take on the ball carrier in a “WRAP UP” type of tackle. The defender needs to take the angle on the closest flag to him to avoid serious collisions and injuries.
6. Bump and run coverage is allowed, however there is to be no contact after 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
7. The defensive player must make a play on the flag, not the ball, unless the ball is in the air (no hammering or hacking).
8. The ball carrier is live until his flag is pulled, unless down by contact.
9. In the event that a defender intercepts the ball and then fumbles it, the ball will be awarded to the offense at the spot of the fumble.
10. If any defensive penalty occurs in the end zone, it will be first and goal at the one yard line.
11. Defensive holding = 5 yard penalty and repeat down.
12. Defensive tackling = 15 yard penalty and an automatic first down to the offense.
13. Defensive pass interference = The offense has the choice of the play standing or the spot of the infraction. Also the defender has to be looking for the ball, or making a play on the ball, not the receiver (no face guarding).
14. Offsides = 5 yard penalty and repeat down.