Flag Clinic

9 Nov 2013

Plan of day

• Rules

• Mechanics

LUNCH

• Game time – with review

Sources of information

• Rules– http://www.ifaf.org/pdf/flag/ifaf-flag-rules.pdf (new rules)– http://www.eurobowl.info/download/IFAF_Flag_Rules_2011.pdf

• Mechanics– http://www.ifaf.org/pdf/flag/flag_mechs_manual.pdf– http://www.ifaf.org/pdf/flag/flag_mechanics_quickstart.pdf

Mandatory PlayerEquipment

• Jerseys of same colour, cut & style– Not taped or tied– Tucked into pants

• Pants of same colour, cut & style– Without pockets, press studs or clips

• Flag Belt– Tightly fitted with sockets & 2 pop flags– Flag on each hip– Different colour from pants

• Mouthpiece– Visible colour– Does not stick out more that 0.5 inch (1.25cm)

Basic DefinitionsWhat do you think?

• Offense & Defense

• Snapper

• Quarterback

• Passer

• Runner

• Blitzer

Basic Definitionsanswers

• ARTICLE 1. Offense and Defense– The Offense is the team which puts the ball in play by a snap,

the Defense is the opposing team.

• ARTICLE 2. Snapper– The snapper is the offensive player who snaps the ball.

• ARTICLE 3. Quarterback– The quarterback is the offensive player who first gets possession

of the ball after the snap.

• ARTICLE 4. Passer– The passer is the offensive player who throws a legal pass.

• ARTICLE 5. Runner– The runner is a player in possession of a live ball.

Basic Definitionsanswers

• ARTICLE 6. Blitzer– The blitzer is a defensive player who crosses the

scrimmage line while the ball is live and before the quarterback has released the ball.

– Blitzers can get the right of way, if they raise one hand clearly above the head at least during the last second before the snap. The rush has to be immediately after the snap, quick and straight near to the point where the quarterback receives the snap.

– If a blitzer is giving an invalid signal, rushing slow, aiming another spot or changing the direction during the rush, he loses the right of way.

Basic Definitions

• Forward Pass Play– A legal forward pass play is the interval between the

snap and when a legal forward pass beyond the scrimmage line is completed or intercepted.

– Also any forward pass from behind the scrimmage line becoming incomplete or touched by the defense is considered as forward pass play.

• Running Play– A running play is any live ball action other than that

during a legal forward pass play.– Passes completed behind the line of scrimmage are

legal and are running plays.

Basic Definitions

• Scrimmage Line (LOS)– When has player crossed the LOS?

• Flag– If one part of his body has been beyond his

scrimmage line

• Tackle - different– If entire body has been beyond his scrimmage

line

Basic DefinitionsWhat do you think?

• Holding• Blocking• Contact• Flag Pull• Flag Guarding

Basic Definitions• Holding

– Holding is grasping an opponent or his equipment and not releasing it immediately.

• Blocking– Blocking is obstructing an opponent without contact by moving into his way. An

offense player moving in the line between a defense player and the runner or in the way of a blitzer is blocking. A player standing still (with the right of place) is not blocking, even if he is in between the runner and the opponent or in the way of a blitzer.

• Contact– Contact is touching an opponent with impact. Touching without an effect is no

contact.• Flag Pull

– Flag pull is taking away one or more flags of an opponent with hand(s).• Flag Guarding

– Flag guarding is an attempt of the runner to avoid a flag pull by covering the flag with any part of the body (hand, elbow or leg) or with the ball.

– Flag guarding is also leaning the upper body forward (diving) or stretching out a hand, with or without the ball, towards the opponent to make it more difficult for the defender to reach the flag.

Key rule

• Right of place– Right of place is given to a standing player and

opponents have to avoid contact. Standing means to remain at the spot and not moving in any direction, to make a move or jump for throwing or catching a pass at this spot does not give up the right of place.

• Right of way– Right of way is given to a moving player and

opponents have to avoid contact.– The right of place is more worth than the right of way.

Getting the game going

• Coin Toss– Winner - puts the ball in play at 5yd line– Loser – designates goal to defend

• Clock– 20 mins

• First 18 mins, only stops for charged team timeout, injury timeout or referee discretion

• Last 2 mins, clock same as normal tackle– 2 mins half time

• Timeouts– 2 per team in each half– Unused timeouts do not carry forward

Interference

• Pass interference rules apply only during a down in which a legal forward pass crosses the scrimmage line. Physical contact is required to establish interference.

• Pass interference is contact that interferes with an opponent player when the ball is in the air. It is the responsibility of the defensive players to avoid the opponents.

• It is not pass interference when 2 or more eligible players are making a simultaneous and bona fide attempt to touch, bat or catch the pass. Eligible players of either team have equal rights to the ball.

Easy?

ScoringA few points

• On PAT attempts– If penalties require a repeat try, points are the same

as original decision• Might result in 1pt try from 15yd line

• Touchback– A defense player intercepts a pass between his 5yd

line and the goal line and the original momentum carries him into the endzone.

• Interception outside the 5yd line - safety• Change from 2011 IFAF Flag rules• Tackle – would be 1st down at point of interception

MechanicsWhat do you think?

• Point of Attack– Run

– Pass

Mechanics

• Key concept

• Point of Attack– Run

• area in advance of runner

– Pass• area in vicinity of passer• Player attempting to reach passer

R

FJ7yds

Basic 2 man positions

L

FJ7yds

R

Basic 3 man positions

L

FJ7yds

R

BJ7yds

Basic 4 man positions

Basic positions

• Referee– 2 man crew

• LOS on visiting team sideline & Downbox

– 3 or 4 man crew• Throwing arm side of QB• 5yd deeper than deepest back

– No closer than 10yds to LOS

• Exception – near Team A goal line– On goal line & side line opposite Linesman

Basic positions

• Field Judge– 2 man crew

• 7yds from LOS – sideline opposite Referee

– 3 or 4 man crew• 7yds from LOS – sideline opposite Linesman

• Linesman– 3 or 4 man crew

• LOS on visiting team sideline & Downbox

• Field Judge– 3 or 4 man crew

• 7yds from LOS – sideline of Linesman

Initial actionbefore, at & after snap

item Ref FJ L BJCount team A 2/3/4 31/4

Count team B 2/3/4 4

LOS infractions 2/3/42 3/4

Blitzer >7yds 2/3/4 4

Blitzer path 2/3/4

Game clock 2/3 4

Play clock 2/3/4

QB 7 secs 2/3/4

1some conflicting information in manual2on 3/4 man crews, should not call offside or illegal motion