YFFLYOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE
YFFL • LEAGUE STANDARD

OFFICIAL
LEAGUE RULES.

YFFL rules are designed to create a safe, competitive, organized, and positive youth flag football environment for players, coaches, officials, and families.

YFFL Shield
EligibilityRosters Game FormatScoring OffenseDefense PenaltiesSportsmanship PlayoffsSafety
01

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

  • Players must meet the age requirement for their division by the official league cutoff date, including the High School Division.
  • Proof of age may be required before the first regular-season game.
  • A player may only be rostered on one team within the same division unless approved by YFFL.
  • Players may not compete in a younger division than their eligible age group.
  • Players may play up one division only with parent/guardian and league approval.
02

TEAM ROSTERS & COACHES

  • Teams must submit an official roster before the league roster deadline.
  • Recommended roster size is 8–12 players; final limits will be announced before registration.
  • Roster additions after the deadline require league approval.
  • Every team must have an approved adult head coach.
  • Coaches must comply with YFFL conduct, safety, and background-check requirements.
  • Only approved coaches and credentialed team personnel may occupy the team sideline.
03

GAME FORMAT

  • Games are played in a non-contact flag football format.
  • YFFL plans to use 5-on-5 play unless a division is designated otherwise.
  • Teams must have the league-established minimum number of players to start a game.
  • Games will use two timed halves and a short halftime; final clock length will be published before the season.
  • A running clock will be used except during designated situations.
  • Each team will receive a limited number of timeouts per game.
  • There are no kickoffs unless specifically announced for a special event format.
04

SCORING

6Touchdown
1Short PAT
2Long PAT
2Safety
  • A touchdown is scored when a player legally possesses the ball across the opponent's goal line.
  • Extra-point attempts are taken from league-designated distances.
  • Interceptions on conversion attempts may be returned when permitted by division rules.
05

OFFENSIVE RULES

  • Each play begins with a legal snap from the center.
  • The quarterback may pass, hand off, or pitch the ball within division rules.
  • All players are eligible receivers unless otherwise specified.
  • Blocking, contact screening, stiff-arming, lowering the shoulder, and initiating contact are prohibited.
  • Ball carriers may not intentionally guard their flags with the hand, arm, ball, or body.
  • Jumping or diving to avoid a flag pull may be restricted when it creates unsafe contact.
  • A play is dead when a flag is legally removed, the runner steps out, a score occurs, or the ball becomes dead by rule.
06

DEFENSIVE RULES

  • Defenders must pull the flag without tackling, wrapping, pushing, or holding.
  • Intentional contact with the head, neck, or upper body is prohibited.
  • Defenders may not hold, obstruct, or illegally contact eligible receivers.
  • Rushers must comply with league-designated rushing-distance rules.
  • Defensive players may intercept passes and return them unless the play is dead by division rule.
  • Stripping or intentionally knocking the ball from a runner's possession is prohibited.
07

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

OFFENSIVE

False start, illegal motion, flag guarding, illegal contact, delay of game, unsportsmanlike conduct.

DEFENSIVE

Offside, illegal rush, holding, pass interference, tackling/contact, unsportsmanlike conduct.

  • Officials may enforce yardage, loss of down, automatic first down, replay of down, or other league-approved penalties.
  • Repeated or intentional safety violations may result in removal from the game.
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in a warning, penalty, ejection, suspension, or additional discipline.
  • Official judgment calls are final.
08

SPORTSMANSHIP & SIDELINE CONDUCT

  • Players, coaches, parents, and spectators must treat officials and opponents with respect.
  • Profanity, threats, fighting, taunting, discriminatory language, intimidation, and harassment are prohibited.
  • Only the designated head coach may communicate with officials regarding rule clarification during a game.
  • Parents and spectators may not enter the field or team sideline without permission.
  • YFFL may remove or suspend any participant or spectator whose conduct threatens safety or the league environment.
09

STANDINGS, PLAYOFFS & TIEBREAKERS

  • Regular-season standings will be based on league win-loss records.
  • Postseason qualification will be determined by division size and season format.
  • Tiebreakers may include head-to-head result, capped point differential, points allowed, and coin toss/random draw.
  • Playoff and championship games must produce a winner and will use the league overtime format.
10

PLAYER SAFETY & EQUIPMENT

  • Players must wear league-approved flag belts and appropriate athletic footwear.
  • Mouthguards are strongly recommended and may be required by final league policy.
  • Metal cleats are prohibited.
  • Hard casts, exposed jewelry, or equipment judged unsafe by officials may not be worn.
  • Players showing signs of possible concussion or significant injury must leave play until appropriately cleared.
  • Weather, lightning, heat, air-quality, and field-condition decisions will prioritize player safety.
11

LEAGUE AUTHORITY

YFFL administration reserves the right to interpret, clarify, modify, or enforce league rules when necessary to protect safety, fairness, competitive balance, and the overall league experience. Final season-specific rules will be communicated before official competition begins.

RULE QUESTIONSYFFLVEGAS@outlook.com