Basic Terms Of Flag Football

Live Ball
A live ball is a ball in play.

Loose Ball

A loose ball is a live ball not in player possession, ex. Any punt, pass, or fumble.

Dead Ball

A dead ball is a ball that is not or no longer in play.

Dead Ball Becomes Live

A dead ball, after having been declared ready to play, becomes a live ball when it is snapped legally.

Ball Declared Dead

A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound the whistle or declare it dead when it goes out of bounds, the ball itself touches the ground while not possessed, or any part of the runner other than a hand or foot touches the ground.

Line

A solid, finite boundary, ex. Sideline marking out of bounds.

Plane

A line that extends both horizontally and vertically from its mark that can be 'broken,' ex. The goal line or line to gain.

Possession

A player is in possession of a live ball when they are holding or controlling the ball. A team is in possession: a) when one of its players is in possession; b) while a punt is being attempted; c) while a forward pass thrown by one of its players is in flight; d) when it was last in possession during a loose ball.

Passer

The player who has thrown a legal forward pass. They remain the passer while the ball is in flight or until they move to participate in the play.

Runner

A player in possession of a live ball or simulating possession of a live ball.

Screen Blocking

The legal obstruction of an opponent without initiating contact.

Neutral Zone

The area between the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage marked by the pucks set by the offical.

Stripping

The ilegal attempt to remove the ball from an opposing player's possession. The ball is considered a part of the player's body, therefore any contact with it is illegal.

Loss of a Down

Loss of the right to repeat the down

Deception

Any act that goes against the nature of the game in an attempt to decieve the opposing team or the officials, ex. 'Phantom Receiver'.

Foul

An infraction of a rule for which a penalty is issued.

Fumble

The loss of player possession resulting in a dead ball.

Hurdling

An offensive player's attempt to jump over a defender.

Illegal Formation

The offense does not have the required amount of players, three, on the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap.

Illegal Snap

A snap that is neither off the ground nor recieved at least 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage, ex. The center snaps the ball off the field puck.

Offsides

An offensive player is lined up in the neutral zone.

Scrimmage Line

The scrimmage line for Team A is at the yard line and its vertical plane passes through the forward point of the ball. The scrimmage line for Team B is the yard line and vertical plane one yard from the scrimmage line of Team A.

Tagging

The downing of an offensive player, by touching between the shoulders and knees, in the event that the offensive player’s flag has become unattached.

Encroachment

A player illegally in the neutral zone. An entering substitute is not considered to be a player for encroachment restrictions until he/she is on his/her team’s side of the neutral zone.

False Start

An offensive player simulating the start of the snap by moving suddenly.

Additional Information

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