Official Rules

Flag In The Sand Rulebook

A fast-paced, 5-on-5, non-contact beach flag football event. All play follows standard International Flag guidelines with beach tournament-specific modifications. Tournament Directors and Head Officials have final authority regarding all rule interpretations and game administration.

At A Glance

Core Rules

Format

5-on-5 non-contact beach flag football

Downs

Four downs to score · No first downs

Field

40 yd long × 30 yd wide · Two 5-yd end zones

Drive Start

Every possession begins at the offense's 5-yard line

Halves

(2) 16-min running-clock halves · 2-min halftime

Timeouts

One 60-second timeout per half

Play Clock

25 seconds to snap

QB Pass Clock

5 seconds when there is no legal rush

Rush Line

7 yards behind the line of scrimmage

No Run Zone

Final 5 yards before the goal line. Must pass.

Contact

No blocking · No intentional contact

Interceptions

Dead immediately · Cannot be returned · 2 points + possession

Footwear

Bare feet or approved sand socks only

Mouthpiece

Required for every player

How It Works

Game Format, Field & Equipment

Game Format

Players on Field

5 per team

Minimum to Start

4 players

Maximum on Field

5 players per team at one time

Substitutions

Unlimited during dead-ball situations

Forfeits

Game time is forfeit time, unless otherwise approved by a FITS Director

Equipment

Provided by Tournament

Official game footballs

Provided by Teams

Matching team jerseys · Legal flag belts

Required

Mouthpiece

Optional

Soft-shell headgear · Gloves · Hats & sunglasses permitted

Flags

Must be securely fastened before every play

Footwear

No shoes or cleats. Barefoot, or approved soft-padded sand socks or ankle braces only.

Tournament officials may prohibit any equipment considered unsafe.

Timing

Game Clock & Start of Game

Game Length

(2) 16-minute running-clock halves · 2-minute halftime

Play Clock

25 seconds to snap after the previous play is ready. Delay of Game is a 5-yard penalty.

Timeouts

One 60-second timeout per team, per half. Unused timeouts do not carry over.

Running Clock

Runs continuously through both halves regardless of score. Stops only for team timeouts, official injury timeouts, and extended officiating or administrative delays.

Coin Toss

Winner chooses Offense, Defense, Direction, or to Defer. The other team receives the choice to begin the second half. Teams switch direction at halftime.

With The Ball

Offensive Rules

Running

The quarterback may not run unless the ball has first been legally handed off, pitched, or thrown back.
Unlimited handoffs are permitted behind the line of scrimmage.
Unlimited laterals and backward passes are permitted, and remain legal anywhere on the field.
A forward pass does not have to cross the line of scrimmage.
When the football is placed on a player's back, that player must continue to advance the ball and may not hand it back to the quarterback.
The football is spotted where it is located when the runner's flag is legally removed.
The football must break the plane of the goal line to score.
Downfield blocking is prohibited.

No Run Zone

The final 5 yards before the goal line is a No Run Zone.
When the line of scrimmage is inside the No Run Zone, running plays are prohibited. The offense must score by a forward pass.

Passing

The quarterback has 5 seconds to throw the football when there is no legal rush.
Once a handoff or backward pitch occurs, the 5-second count ends.
If a legal rusher crosses the rush line, the 5-second count no longer applies.
There is no "arm in motion". If the quarterback still has possession when the flag is pulled, the play is ruled a sack.
Any part of the passer's body behind the line of scrimmage makes the forward pass legal.

Receiving

Every player is eligible to catch a pass.
The quarterback becomes an eligible receiver after a legal handoff or backward pitch.
Receivers must have at least 1 foot in bounds to complete a catch.

On Defense

Defensive Rules & Ball Status

Rushing the Quarterback

Rushers must begin at least 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Officials will identify the rush line before each play.
Players inside the 7-yard rush line may not enter the backfield before a legal rush.
A rusher who establishes a legal lane has the right to that lane. The offense may not intentionally impede a legal rusher.

Pass Coverage

Contact with receivers is prohibited. Incidental contact while both players are making a legitimate play on the football is not a foul.
Face guarding without significant contact is legal.
Defensive pass interference in the end zone places the football at the 1-yard line.
Blocking a receiver before the football arrives is offensive pass interference.

Fumbles

A fumble is dead immediately. The football is spotted where possession was lost. Loose balls may not be advanced.
A snap that contacts the ground is immediately dead.

Lost Flag

If a player's flag unintentionally falls off before or during a play, the player remains live until legally touched with one hand between the shoulders and knees.

Scoring

Point Values

Touchdown

Extra Pt (3yd)

2-Pt (10yd)

Interception

Safety

Point After

Offensive captain must declare a 1-point (3-yd) or 2-point (10-yd) attempt before the try

Interceptions

Dead immediately and may not be returned under any circumstances. Awards 2 points and the football to the defense at its own 5-yard line.

Safety

2 points. Defensive team begins its next possession at its own 5-yard line.

Overtime

Extra Point Shootout

Article 1. A coin toss determines first possession. Each team receives one 30-second timeout per overtime period.
Article 2. If more than one overtime period is required, teams alternate the order of possession each overtime period.
Article 3. During each overtime period, teams may elect to attempt either a 1-point conversion from the 3-yard line, or a 2-point conversion from the 10-yard line. Teams must go for 2 in the 3rd overtime and beyond.
Article 4. The winner is determined once the value of one team's successful extra point attempt exceeds the opposing team's attempt, after both teams have had an equal opportunity to attempt their conversion.

Playoffs

Tiebreaker Rules

Pool play ties resolved in order. Bracket play is single elimination.

Win-Loss Record
Head-to-Head Result
Point Differential
Total Points For
Total Points Against
Coin Toss

Penalties

Penalty Enforcement

Unless otherwise specified, penalties are enforced from the previous spot. Because Flag In the Sand does not use first downs, penalties are administered using yardage, replay of down, or loss of down.

Foul	Penalty
False Start	5 yards, replay the down
Delay of Game	5 yards, replay the down
Offside	5 yards, replay the down
Encroachment	5 yards, replay the down
Illegal Motion	5 yards, loss of down
Illegal Shift	5 yards, loss of down
Illegal Forward Pass	5 yards, loss of down
Illegal Advancement	5 yards, loss of down
Flag Guarding	5 yards, loss of down
Illegal Blocking	5 yards, loss of down
Offensive Pass Interference	5 yards, loss of down
Defensive Pass Interference	Spot foul or 10 yards from the previous spot (offense's choice), replay the down. In the end zone, the ball is placed at the 1-yard line.
Holding (Defense)	5 yards from the spot of the foul, replay the down
Holding (Offense)	5 yards from the spot of the foul, loss of down
Illegal Contact (Defense)	5 yards from the previous spot or spot of the foul, replay the down
Illegal Contact (Offense)	5 yards, loss of down
Early Flag Pull	5 yards, replay the down
Stripping / Attempted Stripping	5 yards from the spot of the foul, replay the down
Roughing the Passer	10 yards, replay the down
Personal Foul / Unnecessary Roughness	15 yards. Defensive foul: replay the down. Offensive foul: loss of down.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct	15 yards. Defensive foul: replay the down. Offensive foul: loss of down.
Charging	5 yards from the spot of the foul, loss of down
Impeding the Rusher	5 yards, loss of down
Illegal Participation	Offensive: 5 yards, loss of down. Defensive: 5 yards, replay the down.
Last Man Rule	15 yards from the spot of the foul. If the foul occurs inside the opponent's 5-yard line and prevents an apparent touchdown, the referee may award a touchdown.

Conduct

Sportsmanship & Officials

Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to demonstrate respect for officials, opponents, teammates, volunteers, and tournament staff. Unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, taunting, abusive language, or dangerous play may result in penalties, player ejection, or removal from the tournament. Spectators may also be removed from the event for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Tournament officials may assess additional penalties, player disqualification, or ejection for flagrant, repeated, or unsportsmanlike conduct. The Tournament Director and Head Officials reserve the right to make rulings in the interest of player safety, sportsmanship, fair play, and tournament administration. All decisions are final.

Who Can Play

Rosters & Eligibility

Format

Games are 5v5. Teams must have a minimum of 5 players on the roster. Roster maximum is up to each team's discretion.

Official Roster

Only players listed on the official FITS waiver/roster form may play.

Waivers

Players under 18 require a parent/guardian signature. Players 18+ may sign for themselves.

Playing Up/Down

Playing up is allowed. Playing down is not. A team found playing with an ineligible player forfeits all contests and is removed from the tournament with no refund.

Multiple Teams

A player may play on 2 teams, provided the teams are in different divisions.

Ready to Compete?

$430 + Processing Fee Per Team · 3 Games Guaranteed · Multi-Team Discounts Available