Females In Flag 6v6 Rules Explained
Females In Flag Orange County uses custom 6v6 girls flag football rules connected to the Matt Leinart Flag Football network. Females In Flag is the girls league path; for the boys/coed league, see Matt Leinart Flag Football. This guide organizes the major rules parents, players, and coaches should know before game day, including the older-girls rushing and QB-run rules. Use the official league rules for exact wording.
Quick Summary
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | 6v6 |
| Program | Girls flag football league — Orange County |
| Field | Approximately 34 yards wide × 56 yards long, including 5-yard end zones |
| Team size | 8–10 players per roster |
| Game length | Four 10-minute running-clock quarters; 1-minute breaks between quarters; 3-minute halftime |
| Clock | Running clock; stops for timeouts and injuries, with limited final-two-minutes penalty clock rules |
| Timeouts | Two 30-second timeouts per half |
| Play clock | 30 seconds |
| Coin flip | Winner chooses possession or direction and may defer to the second half |
| Halftime | Teams switch sides at halftime |
| Downs | 3 plays to reach midfield, then a 4th-down choice to go for it or declare a punt; after midfield, 3 plays to score with no 4th down |
| Base QB sack clock | K–4th grade: 6 seconds | 5th–8th grade: 7 seconds |
| Older-girls note | 5th/6th and 7th/8th divisions include rushing rules and 1 QB run per 3 downs (see section below) |
| Fumbles | Dead at the spot; offense retains possession — but a lateral attempt can be intercepted |
| Overtime | Playoffs only; one-play format beginning at the 5-yard line, then 10-yard line if still tied |
| Scoring | TD 6 | PAT from 5 = 1 | PAT from 10 = 2 | Safety = 2 |
What Makes Females In Flag 6v6 Different
- 6v6 girls format — connected to the Matt Leinart Flag Football network; uses the same base 6v6 field and game structure.
- Grade-based QB sack clock — K–4th grade gets 6 seconds; 5th–8th grade gets a longer 7-second clock.
- Rushing added for older divisions — 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade divisions allow one declared rusher per play with specific starting-distance rules.
- QB run available for older divisions — one direct QB run per 3 downs for 5th/6th and 7th/8th; not available for K–4th.
- No-run zones — running plays are blocked in the final 5 yards before midfield and the final 5 yards before the goal line.
- Possessions always start at the 5-yard line — after a score, a half, or a turnover on downs.
Field & Game Setup
- Field dimensions: approximately 34 yards wide by 56 yards long, including 5-yard end zones at each end.
- Players: 6 players per side on the field; rosters of 8–10.
- Game length: four 10-minute running-clock quarters.
- Quarter breaks: 1-minute break between quarters; 3-minute halftime.
- Coin flip: the winner chooses possession or direction and may defer the choice to the second half.
- Side switch: teams switch sides at halftime.
- Play clock: 30 seconds from the ready-for-play signal.
- Timeouts: two 30-second timeouts per half per team.
- Offensive coaches on field: K–4th grade allows 2 offensive coaches on the field; 5th–8th grade allows 1. All must remain behind the QB at all times.
- Defensive coaches: must be off the field before the snap.
Timing & Clock Rules
- Running clock: the clock runs continuously through all four 10-minute quarters.
- Clock stops for: timeouts and injuries.
- Clock does not stop for: incomplete passes, out-of-bounds plays, change of possession, or a two-minute warning.
- Timeout after a touchdown: if a timeout is called after a touchdown, the clock starts on the snap of the conversion attempt.
- Final-two-minutes penalty clock: the official rules include a limited exception that can stop the clock for penalties in the final two minutes of the second and fourth quarters. Coaches should confirm with officials before close games how this will be administered.
Downs & Possession
- Drive start: every possession begins at the 5-yard line, regardless of how it starts.
- 3 downs plus a 4th-down choice to midfield: the offense has 3 plays to reach the midfield first-down marker. If it has not reached midfield after 3 plays, it may either go for the first down on 4th down or declare a punt. The 4th-down option applies only before midfield.
- After midfield: once the offense crosses midfield, it has 3 plays to score. There is no 4th-down try after midfield.
- Turnover on downs: if the offense fails to advance or score in the allotted downs, the opposing team takes possession at the 5-yard line.
- Interceptions: interceptions may be returned. After the play, the intercepting team’s next possession begins where the defender is flagged.
Running, Passing & Rushing
- Run play definition: a play counts as a run when the ball carrier crosses the line of scrimmage.
- QB runs (K–4th grade): not allowed. The QB may not directly run across the line of scrimmage.
- QB runs (5th–8th grade): one direct QB run is available per 3 downs. If the QB begins a run but pitches or throws the ball before crossing the line, it does not count as the QB run.
- Center handoffs from QB: not allowed.
- Pass after handoff: a player who takes a handoff from the QB may still throw a forward pass. This is treated as a pass play and does not trigger no-run zone penalties.
- Shovel passes: allowed.
- No leaping: not allowed. If a player dives or leaps, the ball is spotted where the runner’s feet left the ground.
- Blocking / tackling: not allowed.
- Runs: allowed on any play except in no-run zones.
- No-run zones: the final 5 yards before midfield and the final 5 yards before the goal line.
- One player in motion: only one offensive player may be in motion at a time before the snap.
- Snaps: the snap may go between the center’s legs or to the side, but must be one continuous motion.
- Fumbled snap: a fumbled snap is dead at the spot. Exception: Kinder and 1st/2nd grade divisions replay the down on a fumbled snap.
- Eligible receivers: all players on the field are eligible to catch a pass.
- Catch requirement: one foot in bounds for a completed catch.
- Ball spotting: the ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled.
- Defense crossing the line: defense may cross the line of scrimmage only after a handoff, backward pass, or thrown ball, unless the older-girls rusher rules below apply.
Dead Ball, Fumbles & Lost Flags
- Play is dead when the ball carrier’s flag is pulled.
- Play is dead when the runner’s knee touches the ground.
- Play is dead when the runner steps out of bounds.
- If a player loses a flag during the play (not by being pulled), the defense must touch the player down to end the play.
- A fumbled or stripped ball is dead at the spot where it hits the ground; the offense retains possession.
- If a player attempts a lateral, the defense may intercept it and take possession.
- Games cannot end on a defensive penalty — the offense gets one additional untimed play.
- If the offense commits a penalty on the game’s final possession, the game is over.
Sacks & Safeties
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Sack | Ball is moved 5 yards back from the previous spot |
| Sack inside the 5-yard line | Can result in a safety if the QB is flagged in the end zone |
| Sack from the 5-yard line | Ball is placed at the 1-foot line instead of resulting in a safety |
| K–2nd grade | No-safety division — dropped balls, flag pulls, and sacks inside the 5 are placed at the 1-foot line, not called as safeties |
Girls 5th/6th and 7th/8th Rushing Rules
These rules apply to 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade divisions only. K–4th grade divisions do not allow direct rushing at the snap.
- QB sack clock: 7 seconds for both 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade.
- QB run: one direct QB run is available per 3 downs. If the QB starts a run but pitches or throws before crossing the line, it does not count as the QB run.
- Other runs: unlimited except in no-run zones.
- Rusher: one rusher per play is allowed. The defense may not send more than one rusher.
- Rusher starting distance: officials mark the spot. 5th/6th grade — rusher starts 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage; 7th/8th grade — rusher starts 7 yards back.
- Rusher declaration: the rusher must declare before the snap by raising her hand and must keep her hand raised until the ball is snapped. Delayed rushing is not allowed and is a 5-yard penalty.
- Rusher leaves early: if the rusher moves before the snap, the defense loses the right to rush that down. Officials call “No Rush” and play continues normally without the rushing threat.
- Rusher path: the rusher has a straight-line path to the QB. If the rusher breaks or deviates from that path, the impeding rule is off for that play.
- Impeding the rusher: if an offensive player runs into the rusher while she is maintaining her straight-line path, the defense may accept the 5-yard impeding penalty and replay the down, or decline the penalty and take the play result.
- Rusher objective: the rusher may go for flags only. No physical contact with the QB is allowed.
- Hands-up contact: even hands-up or incidental contact with the QB triggers the QB/rusher contact enforcement escalation below.
What is impeding the rusher?
Impeding is called when an offensive player steps into or obstructs the declared rusher’s straight-line path to the QB. The rule is only active while the rusher maintains that straight-line path. If the rusher deviates from her declared path, impeding cannot be called for that play. The defense may choose to accept the 5-yard penalty and replay the down, or decline and take the result of the play.
Scoring
| Play | Points |
|---|---|
| Touchdown | 6 |
| PAT from the 5-yard line | 1 |
| PAT from the 10-yard line | 2 |
| Safety | 2 (not available for K–2nd grade) |
Equipment & Uniforms
- Provided by ML Flag: jersey, shorts, and flags.
- Mouthguard: confirm mouthguard policy for your division with the league.
- Jewelry: not allowed.
- Optional: arm sleeves, headbands, or beanie-style caps.
- Hats with brims: not allowed.
- Cold weather: players may wear sweats or long pants, but ML Flag shorts must be worn over them and must cover pockets.
- Cleats / shoes: no metal cleats. Confirm any additional footwear restrictions with the league.
- Football size: confirm the required size for your player’s grade division with the league.
Overtime
Overtime applies in playoffs only. Both teams go the same direction in each overtime period. Teams alternate who holds first possession each period.
| Period | Rule |
|---|---|
| Coin flip | Determines first or second possession before overtime begins |
| 1st OT | Each team gets one play from the 5-yard line — if an interception is returned for a touchdown on the first possession, the game ends immediately |
| 2nd OT (if tied) | Each team gets one play from the 10-yard line |
| 3rd OT (if still tied) | Each team gets one play from the 5-yard line, going out — the team that gains the most yards wins |
Mercy Rules
When mercy rules are in effect, timeouts are not allowed for the leading team. All other game rules remain in place unless overridden below.
| Margin | Rule |
|---|---|
| 25+ | Leading team cannot advance an interception — takes over at their own 5-yard line |
| 25+ | Leading team has only 2 downs to reach a first down |
| 25+ | Trailing team gets unlimited runs (except in the goal-line no-run zone) |
| 30+ | Trailing team gets 4 downs to gain a first down |
| 33+ | Leading team does not receive an offensive possession — trailing team keeps possession and resets to the 5 if it fails to gain a first down |
| 33+ (2nd half playoff) | Game may end — trailing team is allowed one possession to start the second half if scoring would reduce the margin below 33 |
Penalties Parents and Coaches Should Know
Defensive Penalties
| Penalty | Enforcement | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive pass interference | 10 yds + auto 1st down | Defender makes illegal contact with the receiver before or during the catch attempt |
| Illegal contact / holding / jams | 5 yds + auto 1st down | Defender grabs, holds, or jams a receiver to impede their route before or after the snap |
| Illegal flag pull before ball is caught | 5 yds + auto 1st down | Defender pulls the receiver’s flag before the player possesses the ball |
| Offside | 5 yds + replay down | Defender has any part of their body across the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped |
| Illegal rush before handoff / backward pass / throw | 5 yds + auto 1st down | Applies to K–4th grade: defender crosses the line before a handoff, backward pass, or throw |
| Inadvertent tackle | 5 yds + auto 1st down | Unintentional contact that takes the ball carrier to the ground |
| Inadvertent tackle from behind with clear path | Automatic touchdown | Ball carrier is tackled from behind and had a clear path to the end zone |
| Clear-path unsportsmanlike tackle | Automatic touchdown | Offensive team is awarded a touchdown when a defender commits a clear-path unsportsmanlike tackle |
| Palpably unfair act | TD or referee-determined | An obvious act of misconduct that prevents a score; referee determines enforcement |
| Unsportsmanlike conduct | 15 yds + auto 1st down; possible ejection | Taunting, abusive language, flagrant contact, or disrespectful behavior toward officials, opponents, or spectators |
Older-Girls Rusher Penalties (5th/6th and 7th/8th only)
| Penalty | Enforcement | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Impeding the rusher (offense) | 5 yds; defense may accept or decline | Offensive player steps into the rusher’s straight-line path; only active while rusher maintains that path; defense chooses penalty + replay or takes the play result |
| Delayed rush | 5 yds | Rusher moves toward the line before the snap without declaring with a raised hand |
| Rusher leaves before snap | Defense loses rush; “No Rush” called; play continues | Rusher moves across the line of scrimmage before the snap; defense loses their rushing right for that down |
| Contact with QB by rusher | See escalation table | Any contact with the QB, including hands-up or incidental contact, triggers the escalation below |
QB / Rusher Contact Enforcement Escalation
- 1st offense: 5-yard roughing the passer penalty; repeat down.
- 2nd offense: 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty; automatic first down.
- 3rd offense: player ejection; possible suspension.
- Officials may adjust enforcement order or severity based on the nature of the contact.
Offensive Penalties
| Penalty | Enforcement | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive pass interference | 10 yds + loss of down | Receiver makes illegal contact with a defender to create separation before or during the catch |
| Illegal motion | 5 yds + replay down | More than one player in motion at a time, or an ineligible player moves before the snap |
| Illegal lateral / forward pass beyond LOS | 5 yds + loss of down | A pass thrown forward from beyond the line of scrimmage, or an illegal lateral attempt |
| False start | 5 yds + replay down | An offensive player moves after setting and before the ball is snapped |
| Illegal forward pass | 5 yds + loss of down | QB throws a forward pass after crossing the line of scrimmage |
| Running in a no-run zone | 5 yds + loss of down | Ball carrier runs in the 5-yard zone before midfield or the 5-yard zone before the goal line |
| Blocking | Dead at spot; 5 yds + loss of down | Any offensive player uses their body to screen or block a defender |
| Leaping | Dead at spot; loss of down | Ball carrier or receiver leaves their feet to gain yards or avoid a flag pull; ball spotted where feet left the ground |
| Flag guarding, including stiff arms | Dead ball; 5 yds + loss of down | Ball carrier uses an arm, hand, stiff arm, or body to prevent a defender from pulling their flag |
| Unsportsmanlike conduct | 15 yds + loss of down; possible ejection | Taunting, abusive language, flagrant contact, or disrespectful behavior |
| Delay of game | 5 yds + replay down (clock stopped if losing team has possession) | Offense fails to snap the ball before the 30-second play clock expires |
| Intentional grounding | — | The Females In Flag rules do not list an intentional grounding penalty; the QB sack clock governs pass timing |
Ejection Policy
Any coach or player ejected from a game is suspended for the following game. A second ejection can be grounds for expulsion from the league.
What Parents Should Confirm
- Your player’s grade division and which QB sack clock applies (6s for K–4th; 7s for 5th–8th)
- Whether your division has rushing rules (5th/6th and 7th/8th) or not (K–4th)
- Mouthguard policy for your player’s division
- Game format, field location, and parking details
- Game day arrival time and check-in process
- Football size required for your player’s division
- Any additional footwear restrictions at the venue
- Sideline and spectator rules specific to the facility
- Current season schedule and rainout or reschedule policy
What Coaches Should Confirm
- Coach count limits: 2 offensive coaches on field for K–4th; 1 for 5th–8th — all must stay behind the QB
- Defensive coaches must be off the field before the snap
- Grade division for each player and whether rusher rules apply (5th/6th and 7th/8th only)
- Rusher starting distances for your specific division (10 yards for 5th/6th; 7 yards for 7th/8th)
- No-run zone markers at your specific field and how officials will signal them
- How officials will administer the final-two-minutes penalty clock exception
- Overtime and mercy rule procedures for your division and game type (regular season vs. playoffs)
- QB/rusher contact enforcement escalation steps
- Roster requirements and eligibility documentation
Official Source
Females In Flag posts its official rules at the link below. Use this page when exact wording matters.
Females In Flag — Official League Rules
females-in-flag-oc.sportngin.com/leaguerules
Common Questions
Is Females In Flag 6v6?
Yes. Females In Flag Orange County uses a custom 6v6 format connected to the Matt Leinart Flag Football network. It is not standard NFL FLAG 5v5 or USA Football 7v7.
How many downs do teams get in Females In Flag?
Teams have 3 plays to reach midfield. If they do not reach midfield after 3 plays, they can use a 4th down to go for the first down or declare a punt. After crossing midfield, teams have 3 plays to score and do not get a 4th down.
Can the quarterback run in Females In Flag?
For K–4th grade, QB runs are not allowed. For 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade, one direct QB run is available per 3 downs. If the QB starts a run but pitches or throws before crossing the line, it does not count as the QB run.
Can the defense rush the quarterback in Females In Flag?
For 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade divisions, one declared rusher per play is allowed. The rusher must start 10 yards back (5th/6th) or 7 yards back (7th/8th), raise her hand before the snap, and maintain a straight-line path to the QB. K–4th grade divisions do not allow direct rushing at the snap.
What is impeding the rusher?
Impeding is called when an offensive player steps into or obstructs the declared rusher's straight-line path to the QB. The rule is only active while the rusher maintains that path. If the rusher breaks her declared path, impeding cannot be called for that play. The defense may accept the 5-yard penalty and replay the down, or decline and take the result of the play.
What happens if the rusher contacts the quarterback?
1st offense: 5-yard roughing the passer penalty; repeat down. 2nd offense: 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty; automatic first down. 3rd offense: player ejection; possible suspension. Officials may adjust enforcement based on the nature of the contact.
What are the Females In Flag mercy rules?
When a team leads by 25 or more, the leading team cannot advance an interception and has only 2 downs for a first down. The trailing team gets unlimited runs except in the goal-line no-run zone. At a 30-point lead, the trailing team gets 4 downs. At a 33-point lead, the leading team does not receive an offensive possession.