Flag Football Officials Training Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for intramural flag football officials covering rules, scoring, officiating positions, penalty enforcement, Co-Rec rules, and official hand signals.

Touchdown

A 6-point score occurring when the nose of the ball crosses the Goal Line in player possession, or when a receiver catches the ball in the end zone touching at least 1 foot in bounds first.

Safety

A 2-point score resulting when a runner carries the ball into their own end zone and it becomes dead in their possession, or when a player punts, passes, fumbles, snaps, muffs, or bats a loose ball into their own end zone.

Mercy Rule

Rule that ends or concludes the game early when there is a 30-point differential in the last 10 minutes of the 2nd half, or an 18-point differential at 2 minutes or under in the 2nd half.

Open Play

A Co-Rec play state at the start of every series in which any player can be involved; if a male player passes to another male player, the next play becomes Closed.

Closed Play

A Co-Rec play state requiring a female player to be involved in the play. To reopen play, a female must be involved in a legal forward pass that gains positive yards.

Flag Guarding

An illegal act by the runner using contact (such as swinging arms, using the ball, stiff-arming, or lowering elbows) to prevent a defensive player from grabbing their flag belt.

Screen Blocking

Legal blocking executed without using hands or arms to gain advantage, adhering to non-collision principles where time and space determine contact responsibility.

First Touching

An illegal touch of a punt by the kicking team after crossing the Line of Scrimmage before the receiving team touches it, marked with a blue bean bag and giving the receiving team the spot option.

Referee (R)

The lead official positioned 7 yards back and 7 yards outside the deepest offensive back at a $45^\circ$ angle, responsible for the 25-second play clock, passer protection, and announcing downs.

Line Judge (LJ)

Official positioned straddling the Neutral Zone opposite the Referee, responsible for marking the Line of Scrimmage, checking pre-snap alignments, and ruling on forward progress or goal line plays.

Back Judge (BJ)

Deep official positioned 20 yards beyond the Line of Scrimmage behind the deepest defender, responsible for pass coverage, timing, and Co-Rec Open/Closed signaling.

Field Judge (FJ)

Deep sideline official in a 4-person crew positioned 10 yards downfield from the Line of Scrimmage at a $45^\circ$ angle, responsible for zone line-to-gain coverage on 3rd/4th downs and deep receivers.

All But One Principle

Penalty enforcement principle stating that any foul committed by the offense behind the basic spot of enforcement is administered from the spot of the foul.

Loose Ball Play

Action occurring during the flight of the ball prior to a catch (including snaps, legal passes, or punts), where the basic spot for penalty enforcement is the previous spot.

Running Play

Action occurring during a player's run or after a catch, where the basic spot for penalty enforcement is the spot of the foul for offensive fouls or the end of the run for defensive fouls.

Dead Ball Penalty

A foul signaled with a 'throw and blow' mechanism (whistle blown immediately), resulting in a 5-yard assessment (except 10 yards for a second consecutive Encroachment).

Simultaneous with the Snap Penalty

A live ball foul occurring at the snap (e.g., Illegal Motion, Illegal Shift, Illegal Formation) signaled with 'throw and go' without a whistle, enforced as 5 yards (or 10 yards for Illegal Participation).

Illegal Advancement

A Co-Rec foul penalized 5 yards from the previous spot when a male offensive player holding the ball crosses the Line of Scrimmage before a legal forward pass or before the ball crosses the line.

Illegal Male Reception

A Co-Rec foul penalized 5 yards from the previous spot plus loss of down when a male-to-male pass completion occurs in two consecutive plays during a Closed play situation.

Sportsmanship Rating

A post-game evaluation score ranging from 1 to 4 given to teams based on conduct and rule adherence, requiring a minimum average of 2.5 to qualify for playoffs.

Touchdown Official Signal

Referee signal performed by extending both arms vertically straight above the head.

Safety Official Signal

Referee signal performed by bringing palms together directly over the head.

Delay of Game Official Signal

Official signal performed by crossing both arms horizontally in front of the chest.

Encroachment Official Signal

Official signal performed by placing both hands on the hips.

Flag Guarding Official Signal

Official signal performed by sweeping one arm downward across the waist/hip line.

Incomplete Pass Official Signal

Official signal performed by sweeping both arms horizontally back and forth in front of the body.

Loss of Down Official Signal

Official signal performed by placing both hands behind the head.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct Official Signal

Official signal performed by extending both arms straight out laterally to the sides.

Illegal Contact / Personal Foul Official Signal

Official signal performed by striking one wrist/forearm with a clenched fist.

Ejection Official Signal

Official signal performed by jerking the thumb over the shoulder.