How do downs, midfield and the No Run Zone work?

• The offence takes possession at its own 5-yard line and has 3 plays to cross midfield. After crossing midfield it has 3 plays to score a touchdown. If it fails, possession changes and the other team starts from its own 5-yard line.
• A play starts with the centre snapping the ball to the quarterback, who may stand close to the centre or in shotgun formation.
• Defenders cannot line up in or enter the 1-yard neutral zone before the snap.
• Players who rush the passer must be 7 yards (5v5) or 5 yards (7v7) from the line of scrimmage after the snap, and any number of players may rush. Contact with the quarterback's upper body or throwing arm while the quarterback is attempting to throw is an illegal contact penalty.
• The No Run Zone is the 5 yards in front of each end zone. When a play starts in the No Run Zone nearest the opponent's end zone, the result must be a forward pass caught beyond the line of scrimmage. A run in the No Run Zone is a loss of down.
• Once the ball carrier has crossed the line of scrimmage or a forward pass has occurred, the ball cannot be handed off, tossed, pitched or passed forward.

Source: Canadian Amateur Rule Book for Flag Football 2026, Rule 5 (Article 2), Rule 12 and Rule 23.