World Cup Flag Football• 21st and 22nd of September 2007 in Lelystad,

The Netherlands

Holland Germany

Finland Spain

Austria Italy

United States Japan

To recall• Non contact

– Instead of tackling ribbons attached to a waist belt (flags) have to be removed

• Team– Mixed teams of maximum 10 players. 5 On the field and 5

substitudes• Time

– 2 X 20 minutes running clock– Last 2 minutes of each half “Official Timing” (comparable to

NCAA rules)• Field

– Length between 60 yards (including endzone)– Witdh between 20 yards

• Scoring– 4 attempts to get 1st down halfway the field (15yards)– 4 attempts to score from halfway the the field (20 yards)

Officials• Netherlands

– Sebastiaan de Gruyter– Jan van Straalen

• Germany– Uwe Praß – Uwe Schiffer-Lux

• Finland– Kari Ketonen

• Austria– Helmut Nigg

• Spain– Diego Escudero

• Supervisors– Peter Springwald– Ralph Lenoire

Mechanics• Group games

– 3-men mechanics

– Referee, Linesman and Line Judge (7 yard mark)

• In half time and between

games– Little get together

to review games

with supervisor

• Finals– 4-men mechanics

– Referee, Linesman, Line judge and Back judge (7 yard mark)

Final Games• 7th place

– Finland (20) – Spain (18)• Sebastiaan de Gruyter, Uwe Praß, Jan van Straalen

• 5th place– Holland (58) – Italy (30)

• Uwe Schiffer-Lux, Diego Escudero, Helmut Nigg• Bronce Medal

– Austria (40) – Germany (39)• Sebastiaan de Gruyter, Diego Escudero, Kari

Ketonen, Jan van Straalen• Gold Medal

– United States (46) – Japan (40)• Uwe Schiffer-Lux, Uwe Praß, Kari Ketonen, Helmut

Nigg

Organization• Housing was in a holiday park, two cabins reserved for the

officials, including breakfast package• Fields marked perfect, inlcuding officials zone and coaching

zone • On field time devices with good operators• Catering was OK

• Thanks to Organization!!

Proposed rule changes• Field size

– Current ruling: At international IFAF/EFAF competitions the field size will always be 20-30 x 60-80 yards, including end zones.

– Proposed ruling: At international IFAF/EFAF competitions the field size will always be 30 x 80 yards, including end zones.

– Rational: Small field as used during this tournament take the tactical challenge away as it is only a short way for a 1st down or score.

• Timing– Current ruling: The time is running time except the last two

minutes of each half will be “official timing”. The clock will stop: 1. If the ball carrier is out of bounds, 2. If a pass is incomplete, 3. If a first down or touchdown is achieved, 4. At change of possession

– Proposed ruling: The clock will stop: 1. If the ball carrier is out of bounds, 2. If a pass is incomplete, 3. If a first down or touchdown is achieved, 4. At change of possession, 5. In case of a penalty

– Rational: A team can gain unfair advantage by commiting fouls

Proposed rule changes• Spinning and Diving

– Current ruling: Spinning is allowed, but the ball carrier cannot dive forward or jump to avoid a defensive player or gain yardage (no diving).

– Proposed ruling: Spinning is allowed, but the ball carrier cannot dive forward or jump to avoid a defensive player or gain yardage (no diving). No defensive player can dive or jump (two feet off the ground) towards a offensive player to grab a flag

– Rational: Diving or jumping in a non contact sport is deemed to be dangerous.

• Dead ball spot– Current ruling: The ball is spotted where the ball carrier's feet

are placed when the flag is pulled not where the ball is.– Proposed ruling: The ball is spotted where the ball carrier's

feet are placed when the flag is pulled not where the ball is. Exception, when the ball breaks the plane of the goal line before a flag is pulled the score is good.

– Rational: To clarify when a score is awarded.

Proposed rule changes• Dead ball

– Current ruling: There are no fumbles. The ball will be spotted where the ball left the ball carrier’s hand(s). If the ball is fumbled during the snap, the ball will be placed at the line of scrimmage

– Proposed ruling: There are no fumbles, muffs or incomplete backward passes. The ball will be spotted where the ball left the ball carrier’s hand(s). If the ball is fumbled during the snap, the ball will be placed at the line of scrimmage

– Rational: There can be no loose ball in flag football.

• The tournament has been executed using these rule additions and came up during the Officials meeting and the technical meeting with coaches.

• These proposed rule changes will be given to the board for a final ruling