Adult 5v5 Flag Football Rules

Supported Formats

United Sports adult rule divisions

United Sports uses only the following adult 5v5 formats:

• 5v5 Non-Contact Men & Women
• 5v5 Non-Contact Coed
• 5v5 Olympic
• 5v5 Air-It-Out Men & Women
• 5v5 Air-It-Out Coed

Other adult formats are not part of the United Sports adult rules program unless specifically announced for an event.

General Adult Rules

Rules that apply across our 5v5 formats

Teams play with no more than five players on the field. Players must wear legal flag belts with flags fully exposed and positioned on the hips. Shorts or pants may not have open pockets, exposed belt loops, or exposed drawstrings, and jerseys may not cover the flag belt.

Closed toe athletic shoes are required and exposed metal cleats are prohibited. Players may not tackle, shove, trip, bear hug, fight, or use unnecessary force. Officials have final authority over judgment calls, safety, game administration, and enforcement.

The offense uses a 25 second play clock. Standard adult flags must be legal adult size and may not be altered, tied, shortened, hidden, or obstructed.

5v5 NC Men & Women

5v5 Non-Contact

The standard field is approximately 60 yards long and 25 yards wide with 7 yard end zones, subject to facility adjustments. A team may start with at least three eligible players.

Possessions begin at the offense's 5 yard line. The offense has three plays to cross midfield and, after gaining midfield, three plays to score. Blocking and intentional contact are not allowed.

Games use two 12 minute halves with a one minute halftime. Each team receives two 30 second timeouts per game. The first half uses a running clock. The second half runs through the first 11 minutes, with stop clock procedures after the one minute warning when the score difference is eight points or fewer.

The quarterback may not immediately run after receiving the snap, but may become eligible after the ball is handed, pitched, or thrown backward and returned. Unlimited backward laterals are permitted. No run zones begin five yards before midfield and five yards before the end zone. A defender rushing the quarterback must begin at least seven yards from the line of scrimmage.

Touchdowns are worth 6 points. A 1 point conversion is attempted from the 5 yard line and a 2 point conversion from the 12 yard line. A safety is worth 2 points.

5v5 NC Coed

5v5 Non-Contact Coed

Non-Contact Coed follows the 5v5 Non-Contact rules with additional coed participation requirements.

Two female players must be on the field at the same time. Teams may use more than two female players. A female player must be used as an operative player within every three consecutive offensive downs.

A female operative player may be the intended receiver, the primary runner who crosses the line of scrimmage, or the quarterback who attempts a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage. Female participation can affect touchdown and conversion point values under the coed scoring structure.

Women and coed teams may use either a regulation or intermediate size football. The second half enters stop clock procedures at the one minute warning when the score difference is 12 points or fewer.

5v5 Olympic

5v5 Olympic

Olympic format uses the 5v5 Non-Contact rules as its base, with several important changes.

The offense has four plays to earn a first down and four plays to score after the first down is achieved. Once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage, offensive laterals and handoffs are not permitted.

Teams receive three timeouts per game. The center's snap does not have to travel through the legs. Jumping to advance the football is not allowed.

A defender who wants a protected rushing lane must declare the rush by raising one hand before the snap. Up to two rushers may declare and receive protected right of way on the rush.

5v5 Air-It-Out Men & Women

5v5 Air-It-Out

Air-It-Out uses the 5v5 Non-Contact rules as its base but is built around the passing game.

The offense has four plays to earn a first down and four plays to score after achieving the first down. The quarterback may not run or cross the line of scrimmage.

Every offensive play must include a forward pass that advances the ball. The forward pass may be completed behind the line of scrimmage and then advanced.

Laterals and handoffs are not permitted on offense or defense. Teams receive three timeouts per game.

5v5 Air-It-Out Coed

5v5 Air-It-Out Coed

Air-It-Out Coed follows the Air-It-Out rules with a specialized coed lineup.

The standard lineup uses four female players and one male player. On offense, a participating male player may be used only as the quarterback and must be the first player to receive the snap. On defense, a participating male player may be used as the rusher.

A male defensive rusher may defend a pass while behind the line of scrimmage, but if he intercepts the ball he is down at the spot of the catch. A female rusher has no such restriction.

Teams may play with all female players. Standard scoring applies and no operative player requirement is used. Teams receive three timeouts per game. Women and coed teams may use a regulation or intermediate size football.

League & Tournament Administration

Event-specific adjustments

United Sports may publish league, playoff, tournament, venue, or schedule specific adjustments when needed. Any clearly published event rule takes priority for that competition.

Only team captains or designated coaches should request procedural rule clarification from officials. Judgment calls are not subject to replay or extended argument.