The NGFFL Rule book

The NGFFL Rule Book governs the annual Gay Bowl tournament.
The most recent update: August 9, 2024.

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 high school 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.

• The ball becomes dead upon possession by the defense during overtime periods.

Some rules are identical to college football rules such as:

• 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.

2024-2025 Rule Book Update Summary

• Adds a definition for hate speech and requires that when contest officials witness hate speech or acts of harassment that the alleged offender is penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, including an immediate ejection from the current game.

• The 10-second runoff for applicable fouls has been adjusted to apply any time after the two-minute warning in either half.

For more details, view the Summary document here.