ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE ESU STUDENTS, FACULTY OR STAFF. PLAYERS MUST PRESENT THEIR ID CARDS TO THE OFFICIALS BEFORE EACH CONTEST IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY. GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME.

1. Before the game, one ID per team is required to check out team belts and flags. That person is in charge of all flags.
2. The activity will be governed in accordance with the rules that are set forth in the NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rule Book.
3. A Roster of (7) seven players or more must be provided to form a team. Seven players will play at a time. A team may play with less than seven players if they like.
4. Players must be on the permanent roster to play. Teams can add players until the end of the regular season. You must have competed in at least one game before the tournament begins to be eligible to play in the tournament.
5. Players may play on only one team.
6. The University Recreation Programs reserves the right to remove any team from the remaining schedule if the team forfeits two games.
7. The playing field shall by 80 yards long by 40 yards wide with normal ten yard end zones. The field shall be divided into two zones of ten yards and four zones of 20 yards each. There will be four downs per zone.
8. Substitutions may be made only when the ball is not in play and the official is aware that a substitution is being made. Sleeper plays will not be permitted.
9. Any player whose injury results in a time out (either team or official) must sit out until the ball is ready for play after the next scrimmage play.
10. The game will consist of two halves of 20 minutes each. The intermission between halves will be 5 minutes. The first 18 minutes of each half will be a running clock. The last 2 minutes of each half the clock will stop for time-outs, dead balls, and change of possessions.
11. One time-out per half will be allowed. The duration of the time-out will be one minute.
12. If after the regulation time the game is tied, the winner will be decided by the following means: A coin toss will determine who will have possession of the ball first. Each team will have four downs to score, starting from the 10 yard line. After both teams have had a possession, the team with the most points is declared the winner. If the teams are still tied after the first overtime possession, the teams will play until one is the victor. One time-out will be allowed for each team per overtime period.
13. Down field screen blocking on completed passes, intercepted passes, kickoffs, runs and laterals will be allowed.
14. Punts will not be rushed. The punter will stand five yards from the line of scrimmage to receive the snap and punt the ball. The receiving team may block for the returner. If the receiving team muffs the ball it is down when it makes contact with the ground. The kicking team may down the ball by touching it before the receiving team. The receiving team will always gain possession on punts and kickoffs.
15. Whenever the ball touches the ground it is dead. On a bad snap from center the ball is dead where it first touches the ground. If during a punt the punter muffs the ball he may pick up the ball and continue the punt.
16. The referee shall call unnecessary roughness when any played, whether on offense or defense, uses rough tactics considered by the official unnecessary in the accomplishment oh his legitimate purpose.
17. If a player commits intentional unnecessary roughness in the course of the game, that individual will be ineligible for competition for the remainder of the football season.
18. Any of the following may lead to ejection of a player from a game (officials judgment):
    1. Constant use of profane language.
    2. Using fists, kicking ect.
    3. Tackling the ball carrier.
    4. Unsportsmanlike conduct towards officials.
    5. Intentional unnecessary roughness.
    6. Any other deliberate or flagrant action.
19. There must be at least four offensive players on the line of scrimmage for each play. However, any and all players are eligible to go out for a pass.
20. There must be at least three players on the line of scrimmage, when receiving the punt.
21. The defensive team may not use their hands to avoid blockers.
22. The offensive team is only allowed to screen block. The fundamentals of screen blocking include:
    1. Screen blocking shall take place without contact.
    2. Screen blockers hands shall remain at their side or behind their back.
    3. Any use of hands, arms, elbows, legs, or body to initiate contact during an offensive player's screen block is illegal.
    4. A player must remain on their feet before, during, and after screen blocking.
23. There are no restrictions on the defensive team as to the formation except for three defenders must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.
24. The defense may dive in the attempt to de-flag the ball carrier. However, if the defensive dive results in excessive contact (i.e. ball carrier falling) it will result in an unnecessary roughness penalty being called.
25. A defensive rusher must make a legitimate attempt to de-flag the quarterback, if any contact is made with the quarterback (including their arm) it is considered roughing the passer.
26. Both Men's and Women's teams need to have five (5) players to start the game.
27. Failure to wear proper equipment can be a live ball or a dead ball foul, five (5) yards.
28. The start of each half will begin by placing the ball on the fifteen (15) yard line. There will no longer be any kickoffs.
29. The options are now to start on "offense" or "defense" rather than kick or receive.
30. By mutual agreement of the opposing captains and the referee, any remaining half may be shortened at any time or the game could be terminated.
31. Any player may hand the ball forward or backward at any time.
32. After a touchdown, a team may score a three (3) point conversion from the 20 yard line.
33. After a safety, the ball shall be snapped by the scoring team at their fifteen (15) yard line, unless moved by penalty.
34. Other rules include:
    1. No shielding of the flags.
    2. Shirts must be tucked in.
    3. Belts must be worn snugly around the waist.
    4. If a player without a flag belt receives the ball, the opposing team must touch the player with one hand between the shoulder and waist for the ball to be called dead.
    5. No on-side kicks.
    6. One forward pass per down.
    7. The ball is dead when it crosses out of bounds.
    8. Coin toss winner decides to receive or defend the goal for the first half, and the loser gets the choice for the second half.
    9. No stiff arming.
    10. No blocking below the waist.
35. Common penalties include the following:
    1. Unnecessary roughness 10 yards.
    2. Illegal blocking 10 yards.
    3. Illegal use of hands 10 yards.
    4. Offside 5 yards.
    5. Illegal backfield motion 5 yards.
    6. Illegal offensive line-up 5 yards.
    7. Forward pass violation 5 yards and loss of down.
    8. Defensive pass interference 10 yards and first down.
    9. Offensive pass interference 10 yards.
    10. Defensive holding 10 yards.
    11. Offensive holding 10 yards.
    12. Illegal defensive formation 5 yards.
    13. Roughing the passer 10 yards and first down.
    14. Flag guarding 10 yards from spot of ball.
36. The offensive team will be responsible for the ball. They may take the ball to the huddle, and bring the ball to the down spot when returning to the line of scrimmage.