7v7 Women's Flag Football Rulebook
Updated March 2025

RULE 1. OVERVIEW

SECTION 1. THE FIELD

Article 1. 60 yards from goal line to goal line with two end zones of 10 yards each.

Article 2. Field shall be divided into 2 zones of 30 yards each.

Article 3. Field shall be a minimum of 30 yards wide and a maximum of 53 1/3 yards wide.

Article 4. Marking the five (5) yard line and twelve (12) yard line are optional for use during the PAT. These may be marked as hash marks in the center of the field no more than five (5) yards in width

Article 5. Lines should be clearly marked and use of cones or yard line markers along the sideline to signify zone lines are strongly recommended for use during championship play.

SECTION 2. THE GAME

Article 1. The game shall be played between two teams of no more than seven (7) players each, on a rectangular field with a properly shaped, sized and inflated ball.

Article 2. A team may legally play with no fewer than six (6) players.

Article 3. To start the game, half, or after a touchdown, the offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 10 yard line and has four plays to advance to the midfield.

Article 4. If a team fails to secure a first down, the defense will take control of the ball at their own 10 yard line.

SECTION 3. GAME CLOCK FORMAT

Article 1. Tournament clock is 40 minutes long. Two 20 minute halves and a 2-minute halftime.

Article 2. The play clock is 25 second and starts once the official marks the ball ready for play. (Delay of Game penalty if exceed 25 seconds)

Article 3. Each team shall have two (2) time outs per half.

Article 4. After a team time-out, the game clock will start at the snap of the ball.

Article 5. Because the game clock is a continuous click, it does not stop during P.A.T. attempts or on change of possessions.

Article 6. The game clock will stop for team time-outs, official time-outs, and at the discretion of the official to retrieve long incomplete passes.

Article 7. The on-field captain or quarterback may request the amount of time left in the game from the officials at any time. Officials will be expected to give the correct time.

Article 8. A “stop-clock” will be in effect in the last two minutes of the first and second half.

SECTION 4. MERCY RULE

Article 1. At the two minute warning of the second half, if the score difference is 9 points or more, a pro clock will not be initiated and will continue with a running clock. Same applies if a team scores during the 2 minutes to create a 9 or more point lead. If a team scores to create a one possession game within 2 minutes of the second half, a pro clock will then be initiated.

Article 2. During bracket play, if a team is ahead by 28 points or more at any point in the game or 19 points at 2 minutes, the game will be over. This does not apply during pool play.

RULE 2. OFFENSE

SECTION 1. GENERAL

Article 1. Any number of players may be on the offensive or defensive L.O.S. at the snap. Defense line must be one (1) yard off the ball at the snap.

Article 2. There will be free substitution as long as players being substituted for are off the field prior to the next snap OR player is out of the area of play and is departing the field in haste. “Sleepers” on substitutions will not be allowed on any play. No player may line up closer than 5 yards from the sideline unless they came out of the huddle or unless they were on the field of play during the previous play and did not leave the field of play.

Article 3. Two or more offensive players may be shifting their position at the same time prior to the snap. Their movement may be in any direction but they must become set for one full count before the ball is snapped or before another player can go in motion prior to the snap.

Article 4. Only one player is allowed to be in motion at the snap and their movement must be parallel or away from the L.O.S. and must be continuous.

Article 5. Any stance is permitted. Any number of players may be on the offensive or defensive L.O.S. at the snap. Defense line must be one (1) yard off the ball at the snap. No defensive player may be within 4 yards of the ball if lined up directly in front of the center or within one yard of the ball if lined up to the side of the center at the snap.

SECTION 2. BLOCKING

Article 1. CONTACT IS ALLOWED: Open hand contact allowed between shoulder and waist. Blocking in the back is not allowed. Contact is only allowed on the line of scrimmage and within 5 yards.

Article 2. Players may not block down field past 5 yards.

Article 3. Crackback Blocking and Blindside blocking is NOT allowed. Crack-back block is a blind-side block on a player by an opponent who starts downfield and then cuts back toward their own goal line to make contact. A blind-side block is engaging an opponent other than the runner who does not see the blocker approaching.

SECTION 2. PASSING

Article 1. There can be only one forward pass per play.

Article 2. The quarterback may not run unless the ball has been thrown back, handed or pitched to him or her in the backfield.

Article 3. The quarterback has 5 seconds to pass the ball if there is no rush. If the ball is not thrown, then the play is dead. After the ball is ruled dead it is returned to the line of scrimmage.

SECTION 3. RECEIVING

Article 1. All players are eligible to receive a pass, including the quarterback, if the ball has been pitched or handed off in the backfield.

SECTION 4. RUNNING

Article 1. Teams may handoff (unlimited), pitch, or throw back in the backfield. UNLIMITED laterals or throwbacks behind the LOS are allowed for the player to remain eligible to pass.

Article 2. Pitching (backwards/laterally) is allowed downfield (unlimited). Handoffs are allowed in front or behind. A handoff DOES NOT count as a lateral/throwback.

Article 3. A forward pass DOES NOT have to cross the LOS to be a legal play.

Article 4. Players may NOT block down field in any form.

RULE 3. DEFENSE

SECTION 1. RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK

Article 1. A rusher must be five yards off the line of scrimmage and one yard outside of the center (not head up) in order to rush.

Article 2.The defensive may rush as many players as it wishes.

Article 3. The Center is protected when he snaps the ball. The Center cannot be touched until he/she picks up their head and takes one step towards his/her pattern or assumes a blocking position.

Article 4. Pass rushing occurs when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage to disrupt a passing play or attempt to deflag the quarterback.

Article 5. A pass rusher must not charge directly into an opposing player.

Article 6. If a pass rusher encounters a blocker, they must either:
(a) Stop before making contact, or
(b) Clearly change direction to avoid the blocker.

Article 7. If the pass rusher attempts to avoid the blocker, but the blocker moves into their path, no charging penalty will be called.

Article 8. The pass rusher is allowed to engage with the blocker but must do so within the rules of legal blocking and rushing.

SECTION 2. PUNTS / Kick Off

Article 1. There is no punting or Kickoff. If a turnover on downs occurs, the defense takes possession of the ball at their own (Twelve) 12 yard line.

RULE 4. SCORING

SECTION 1. POINTS