Coach's Guide to NFL FLAG 12U Flag Football 2026-27

In NFL FLAG a "punt" is a declaration: possession simply changes.

• Each possession starts at your own 5-yard line with 4 downs to cross midfield, then 3 downs to score.
• On a 4th down short of midfield, the referee asks the head coach to declare "punt" or "play". You must answer immediately or risk a delay of game penalty (-5 and loss of down).
• Punt: the other team starts a new possession from its own 5-yard line.
• Play: if you don't cross midfield, the other team takes over where the 4th down ended.
• You can use a timeout to change a "play" declaration any time before the play clock expires.
• After crossing midfield, if you don't score by 3rd down, the other team starts at its own 5-yard line.

Regular season: each team gets one 60-second timeout per half. Unused timeouts don't carry over. (Tournaments: three 30-second timeouts per game.) There are no timeouts in overtime.

Questioning a ruling: you can use a timeout to question an official's rule interpretation:

• If the official's ruling was correct, the timeout is charged.
• If the rule was applied incorrectly, the timeout isn't charged and the correct ruling is enforced.

Judgment calls can't be challenged this way. Only the team captain or head coach may ask the referee for rule clarifications.

In overtime each team gets one coach's challenge for the whole overtime session, and it must be about a misapplied rule, not a judgment call.

Changing a 1-point or 2-point try declaration, or a "play" declaration on 4th down, also requires a timeout.

For your defense

• Up to two designated rushers per play, each starting at least 7 yards from the line of scrimmage (the rush line) at the snap.
• Rushers must raise a hand before the snap and rush immediately after it; delayed rushes aren't allowed. You're never required to rush.
• Players not rushing can defend the line of scrimmage but can't cross it until the ball is handed off, pitched, lateraled or passed.
• After a handoff, pitch or lateral, any defender may cross the line.
• Rushers can try to block a pass, but non-incidental contact with the QB is roughing the passer (+5 and first down).
• If the offense draws a rusher across the 7-yard marker before the snap, that rusher can't legally rush on that play.
• Illegal rush and encroachment: +5 from the line of scrimmage and first down for the offense.

For your offense

• You can't impede a rusher's path to the quarterback. The path is set before the snap, straight from the rusher to the QB, and doesn't move when the QB moves. A moving offensive player in that path must avoid the rusher; a player who stays still after the snap must be avoided by the rusher.
• Impeding the rusher: -5 and loss of down.
• A QB whose flag is pulled behind the line is sacked; in the offense's own end zone, it's a safety.

• The offense must have at least one player (the center) and up to four players on the line of scrimmage. The quarterback must be off the line.
• The center snaps with a rapid, continuous motion between the legs to a player in the backfield, and the ball must fully leave the center's hands.
• Only one player may be in motion at the snap. That player must be off the line, and the motion must be parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage.
• Players may shift at any time, but everyone must reset for 1 second before the snap.
• Movement by a set player that simulates the snap is a false start.
• No player on either side may enter the neutral zone before the snap; it's an automatic dead-ball foul (officials may give a courtesy warning first).

Penalties: illegal motion (more than one player moving) and false start are each 5 yards and loss of down.

Passing

• One forward pass per play, released from behind the line of scrimmage, and it must cross the line of scrimmage (unless a defender touches it).
• Shovel passes are legal if thrown forward from behind the line and caught beyond it.
• Unlimited backward passes behind the line.
• No intentional grounding: the quarterback can throw the ball anywhere across the line to avoid a sack.
• 7-second pass clock: if the ball isn't thrown in 7 seconds, the play is dead, the down counts and the ball returns to the line of scrimmage (not a safety, even if the QB is in the end zone).
• Every player is an eligible receiver, including the QB after a handoff, pitch or lateral.

Running

• The quarterback can't run directly across the line.
• Handoffs, pitches and laterals are legal behind the line only; once the ball carrier crosses it, only that player may have the ball.
• No center sneak: the QB can't hand, pitch or lateral first to the center.
• Any player receiving a handoff or backward pass can throw from behind the line.
• After a handoff, pitch or lateral, the pass clock ends and all defenders may rush.
• No running plays in the no-run zones (5 yards before midfield and the goal line).

Every offensive penalty includes a loss of down. Spot fouls are enforced from where they happen, unsportsmanlike conduct from the dead-ball spot, and the rest from the line of scrimmage.

An offensive spot foul in the offense's own end zone is a safety.

Spot fouls are enforced from where they happen, unsportsmanlike conduct from the dead-ball spot, and the rest from the line of scrimmage. Every defensive penalty includes an automatic first down.

• A defensive spot foul in the end zone puts the ball on the 1-yard line, first down.
• If the yardage is more than half the distance to the goal, it's half the distance instead.
• A half or game can't end on a defensive penalty unless the offense declines it.
• Clear path: if a defensive foul prevents an obvious touchdown, the offense is awarded the touchdown.

• Unsportsmanlike conduct (confrontational or offensive behavior or language, physically or verbally abusing an opponent, coach or official): 10 yards from the dead-ball spot. Against the defense it's also an automatic first down; against the offense, a loss of down.
• Two unsportsmanlike penalties on the same player or coach in a game means disqualification, and possibly further discipline.
• Intentional physical play (intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking): the game is stopped and the player is ejected, at the officials' discretion. No appeals.
• Electronic communication with a player by a coach or team spectator: the team is disqualified immediately.
• Unfair acts such as the defense mimicking the offense's snap signals to confuse it, or not returning 5 eligible players to the field after halftime: an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the head coach.

Coaches are also responsible for the conduct of their fans and anyone in their team area.

Mercy rule: in regular-season play the game ends when one team leads by 35 points or more. The teams can agree to keep playing without changing the score. (Tournaments use 28 points.)

Forfeits are scored 35-0 (28-0 in tournaments).

Score sheet: the coaches, officials and scorekeeper must verify the score sheet. If a coach leaves the field without verifying it, the scorekeeper notes that on the sheet and the score is final.

For the 2026-27 NFL FLAG regional tournament circuit:

• Coaches must be at least 16 and pass an NSID background check. A team can have up to 2 coaches and 10 players, with no roster changes after the deadline.
• Players must be age-verified through NSID by the deadline (no onsite verification). Age division is based on age on August 1, 2026.
• Players must have played in the same NFL FLAG league in the past 12 months and attended at least 5 league games in that time, and may be on only one roster per regional.
• Teams must wear the NFL FLAG-issued jerseys and flag belts given at check-in, unaltered. Mouthguards are required and not provided; footballs are provided.
• Only the two coaches may be on the sideline, and they must stay there except to attend to an injured player.

Tournament games use two 12-minute halves, a 25-second play clock, three 30-second timeouts per game and a 28-point mercy rule. Equipment problems at game time use up the team's timeouts (up to 3) while players get compliant.

Follow the CDC HEADS UP steps for youth sports coaches:

1. Remove the player from play right away if they show any sign or symptom of a concussion after a bump, blow or jolt to the head or body. When in doubt, sit them out.
2. Check for danger signs and call 911 if you see any: seizures, not recognizing people or places, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion or agitation, loss of consciousness or trouble staying awake, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, a worsening headache, or unequal pupils.
3. Tell the parents and make sure the player is evaluated by a healthcare provider. Don't try to judge the severity yourself.
4. Keep the player out for the rest of that day and until a healthcare provider clears them to return.

Signs to watch for: appearing dazed or confused, trouble remembering plays, slower answers, clumsiness, vomiting and mood changes. Symptoms can appear hours or days later.

The CDC offers free online HEADS UP concussion training for youth sports coaches.