The NGFFL Rule book

The NGFFL Rule Book governs the annual Gay Bowl tournament.
The most recent update: September 2023. 

To propose a rule change, please email our Director of Officials, Lance Burage at officials@ngffl.org. A brief summary is adequate, and if approved, the Director will write up the rule in the format necessary to fit the rule book.

Rule change proposals/suggestions are taken from member cities once per year, due around July 1 to the Director of Officials.

Rule changes must be voted on and approved by a majority vote of the NGFFL board, and then shall be considered by member cities. If a majority of member cities approve, the rule change becomes effective with the next Gay Bowl.

Updated rules, which highlight changes year-to-year, are provided to all member cities and posted here every year.

Some rules are identical to college football rules such as:

• QB is across the line of scrimmage (and therefore cannot make a legal forward pass) if either of his feet are across the line.

• Receiver needs to get one foot in bounds with possession of ball for a legal catch.

• Downfield blocking is allowed after a receiver makes a catch or during a running play.

Other rules that are unique to flag football such as:

• Only one down per series allowed that advances beyond the line of scrimmage and does not include a legal forward pass.

• There is no penalty for intentional grounding by the QB.

• No flag guarding is allowed.

• Receivers cannot contact the defenders when coming off the line of scrimmage. Once offensive receivers pass or occupy the same yard line as a defender, that defender cannot obstruct the receiver’s opportunity to move freely about the field. 

• When rushing as a defender, you must be beyond the neutral zone—5 yards off the line of scrimmage. Other players may not cross the line of scrimmage until said designated rusher has crossed the line of scrimmage first.

2023 Rule Book Update Summary

• Changed length of each half to 25 minutes.

• Teams are allowed to wear custom-designed flags, as long as the flags are the same side as Triple Threat brand flags and contrast with the player’s shorts or pants.

• Changed the definition of a forward pass to match NCAA rule that states that the pass is forward if it touches anything (player, officials, ground) beyond the spot of where the ball was released.

For more details, view the Summary document here.