2025 Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl 8v8 Flag Football Tournament (Saturday) – Trinity View Park

THE GAME

Flag football is an 8 on 8 non-contact league. All players must have SPORTSKIND provided shirts as their uniforms and will wear the provided flags around their waist. The objective is to score more points than your opponent in a format similar to college football overtime rules.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The first two randomly matched games will be used to determine placement in a single elimination tournament.  Ties are a possible outcome during the pool play portion of the tournament. After every team plays their first two games they will be placed in the single elimination tournament based on the following factors:

• Overall Record
• Point differential
• If any teams are still tied, seeding will be decided by a coin flip

Depending on the number of tournament teams some of the higher seeds may receive a bye. The Championship game will crown the champion team of the tournament.

START OF THE GAME

The referee will have the two captains play rock, paper, scissors or flip a coin. The winning captain can elect to start on either offense or defense, and teams will alternate possessions throughout the remainder of the game

GAME LENGTH

Each game will have a running clock of 35 min with no half time break. When game clock expires: 1) If the team which began the game on defense is in possession of the ball

1. a) and leading, the game will end immediately
2. b) and trailing by 10 or more points, the game will end immediately
3. c) and trailing by 9 or less points, the game will continue untimed through the completion of the current possession.

2) If the team which began the game on offense is in possession of the ball

1. a) and leading by 10 or more points (i.e. is leading by more than one "possession"), the game will end immediately
2. b) and is leading by 9 or less points, the game will continue untimed through the completion of the current possession

UNIFORM RESTRICTIONS

All players must wear their team’s SPORTSKIND league shirt. 1 point will be given to the opposing team for each player not in uniform upon checking into the game (Exception: If player is on the official roster and shirt was ripped during the league and a replacement shirt hasn’t been purchased and delivered. Teams are responsible for replacement of ripped or torn shirts within a week of a ripped or torn shirt). PLAYERS MAY NOT WEAR SHORTS WITH POCKETS, or jewelry of any kind. Please note that taping your pockets is not acceptable. Each player who wears shorts/pants with pockets will be penalized 1 point. Players may not alter the SPORTSKIND provided flags. SPORTSKIND will provide all field equipment, including footballs and flags. Each team is entitled to use their own football.

TIMEOUTS

Each team is allowed 2 (one-minute) timeouts in the game.  About two minutes before the game ends the referee will inform each team of playing time remaining in that half. If a touchdown has occurred after time has expired, the extra point conversion will be allowed. A game cannot end on a defensive penalty.

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE

The ball starts on the 30 yard line. Only one offensive player may be  “in motion”, be moving as the ball is snapped. The man in motion can move laterally or backwards at the snap but not forward. Except a man “in motion,” all players must be set before the ball is snapped.  Aside from the Center position, there is no minimum number of players required to line up on the line of scrimmage. After a play, the line of scrimmage is determined by the location of the players hips when the flags are pulled. If flags fall off a receiver before the flags are pulled, the ball is dead where the receiver catches the pass. If anything falls off a player (ie: hat, playsheet, gloves, etc), it is marked as if the player’s flag has been pulled.

ROUNDS / FIRST DOWNS

Each round consists of a two-possession series with each team getting one possession on offense and one on defense. The team on offense will always start at the designated 30-yard line (unless relocated by a penalty). The team on offense will have 4 downs to gain a first down by crossing the 20 yard line. Then they will have 4 downs to score a touchdown.  If a team fails to earn a first down or score a touchdown (completed pass or rushing past the designated line) in the required amount of plays, possession will go to the opposing team who will reset at the 30 yard line on offense. Teams will complete as many rounds as time allows, keeping the same order of offense first or defense first depending on what the winning captain chose at the start of the game.  With each change of possession there will be a 30 second reset.  Teams will have an equal number of attempts on offense at the end of the game (depending on final score when time is complete).

BLOCKING

“Blocking” with hands is not allowed. This includes downfield “blocking” during an offensive play. NO CONTACT is allowed at the line or downfield by any defensive player guarding a receiver. Players may block with their hands behind their back at the line of scrimmage, but may not do so 5 yards passed the line. Once a defender gets past a blocker, the blocker becomes an eligible receiver.

DEFENSE/RUSHING

All defensive players must play a yard off the line of scrimmage and can rush once the ball is hiked to the quarterback.

PASSING

A forward pass is completed when caught by any player of the passing team who has at least one foot in-bounds. If opposing teams catch the pass in-bounds simultaneously, the tie goes to the offense. If a player steps out-of-bounds and comes back in-bounds to be the first person to touch the ball, it will be ruled an incomplete pass. However, if a player steps out of bounds, they will be eligible to catch a deflected ball. After the immediate completion of a play, the referee will place a marker at the line of scrimmage. The offense has 25 seconds to put the ball in play after it is declared ready by the head judge (ie, when the marker is placed). No player shall put the ball in play until declared ready-for-play. The QB may run for positive yards at any time.  The QB need not be rushed (ie, defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage) in order to run for positive yards. A change of possession can only occur due to downs or an interception. A fumble where the ball hits the ground cannot result in a turnover (the ball is dead at the spot of the fumble) unless it is fourth down and the fumble occurs before gaining a first down.. A lateral caught by the defense will result in a turnover. On a change of possession, the ball will be reset at the 35 yard line for the opposing team to take over on offense.

SCORING

Touchdowns are six points. After scoring a touchdown, teams may elect to go for either one, two, or three extra points: 1 point – attempted from the 3 yard-line 2 points – attempted from the 10 yard-line 3 points – attempted from the 20 yard-line Converted extra point attempts are worth the same regardless of whether they are converted via run or pass. An intercepted extra point will result in a change of possession.

FOOTBALL PENALTIES

Penalties committed by the offense result in loss of down. Moving penalties can be accepted or declined by the defense. If declined, the play stands as ruled. If accepted, the penalty is yardage and the down is re-played. Penalties committed by the defense vary by infraction:

LOSS OF FIVE YARD PENALTIES

• Offsides
• Encroachment
• False Start (loss of down)
• Delay of Game (loss of down)
• Illegal Formation/Procedure/Snap/Shift/Motion:
  • Excepting the Center, there is no minimum number of players required to line up on the line of scrimmage.
  • Any player receiving a snap directly from the Center must be at least 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
  • Offensive players must assume a set position and come to an absolute stop (except one man in motion). The player in motion may only move laterally or backwards.

• Illegal Forward Pass (loss of down)
  • An offensive player cannot cross the line of scrimmage and then throw a forward pass.
  • The offensive team cannot throw more than one forward pass per down.
• Intentional Grounding (loss of down).
• No Diving (spot foul) – No player may dive in order to gain positive yards, including crossing the goal line.

LOSS OF TEN YARD PENALTIES

• Defensive Pass Interference/Illegal Use of Hands/Illegal Contact (automatic first down)
• Offensive Pass Interference (loss of down)
• Roughing the passer (automatic first down)
• Flag Guarding/Stiff Arming/Any Intentional Contact (loss of down)
• Illegal Blocking (loss of down) – No player may use his hands to block an opponent. Offensive players may not run down field past 5 yards from the line of scrimmage in front of or parallel to the ball carrier, whether you intended to block or not. They may run behind to receive a lateral.
• Illegal Flag Removal
• Illegal Participation
• Stripping the Ball/Attempting to Strip the Ball
• Hurdling a Player/Attempting to Hurdle a Player
• Illegal equipment (loss of down); including but not limited to:

• Tying, modifying or in any way changing the intended use of flags to make it more difficult for the defense to pull.

• Unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive or insulting language, or gesture to another player or referee, and taunting are not permissible under any circumstances. The player may be disqualified for above actions if judged by the referee to be flagrant and will be suspended for the remainder of the game and possibly the remainder of the tournament.. In a severe case of unsportsmanlike conduct, the player will be suspended from playing any SPORTSKIND event indefinitely.

OVERTIME RULES (Elimination games only)

In elimination games, rock/paper/scissors is played by the captains with the winning team deciding on first or second possession. Teams will attempt to score in the same end zone. Each team will then have four downs to score from the 20 yard line. If a team scores, they will have the opportunity to go for one, two, or three extra points.  If a tie occurs after the first round, then teams will repeat using the same format. However, the team that defended first is now on offense first. If a third round is needed, then the teams must go for two or three extra points. The game will be decided when one team scores more points in the round. No first downs will be awarded except in the case of a penalty.

CONCLUSION

We enforce a “Zero Tolerance Policy” in regards to behavior of players, captains, and fans. Taunting, trash talking, or abusive language will not be tolerated.  Referees and tournament staff will have the right to reprimand or eject players, managers, or fans depending on the severity of the situation. Abusive behavior toward the referee will not be tolerated. In extreme cases, the player will be asked to leave the premises without refund. The severity of the punishment will be based on the discretion of the referee and tournament staff. Only captains of the respective teams are allowed to approach the referee with questions or concerns in a respective manner. Teams charging the field of play to question or complain a call will be subject to automatic forfeit for that game. Alcohol and smoking is not allowed on playing fields. Any rules not covered or protests will be handled by the Referee. Flag Football is played in the rain if at all possible unless the Referee or Facility Representative decide it is necessary to postpone due to dangerous field conditions or lightning.  If lightning occurs, all attempts will be made to resume play 30 minutes after the last lightning flash is viewed and the official deems it safe to resume play. The games will resume as scheduled if at all possible, or shortened if necessary.. FIGHTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  ANY INSTANCES OF FIGHTING MAY RESULT IN A TEAM FORFEIT OF THE TOURNAMENT WITHOUT REFUND AND POSSIBLE EXPULSIONS FROM FUTURE LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS. ALL DECISIONS OF THE TOURNAMENT STAFF ARE FINAL.  THE TOURNAMENT STAFF SHALL ALSO HAVE THE FINAL AUTHORITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE GAME SCHEDULES, GAME DURATION, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE RULES OR OF THE TOURNAMENT.