National Campus Championship Series

2007 & 2008 Flag Football Case Book

RULE 5. SERIES OF DOWNS, NUMBER OF DOWN AND TEAM POSSESSION AFTER PENALTY

PENALTY RESULTING IN A FIRST DOWN

5.2.1 SITUATION: Fourth and 5 from Team A’s 15 yard line.  A1 throws an illegal forward pass beyond the Team A scrimmage line at (a) A’s 23 yard line and the ball hits the ground; or (b) A’s 26 yard line and the ball hits the ground.  RULING: In (a) Team B’s ball on Team A’s 18 yard line, first and goal.  Since the 5 yard penalty put Team A 2 yards short of the zone line-to-gain on fourth down, the loss of down awards the ball to Team B.  In (b), A is penalized 5 yards and loss of down which puts the ball on the 21 yard line - first down and 19.  Even though an illegal forward pass carries a loss of down, since the 5 yard penalty enforcement places the ball beyond the 20 yard line, it is first down for Team A. 

FOUL AFTER CHANGE OF POSSESSION

5.2.3 SITUATION: B4 intercepts a pass by A1 and returns it to the Team A 25 yard line.  During the run by B4, B2 makes illegal contact with A6 at the Team A 29 yard line.  RULING: B is penalized 10 yards utilizing the All-But-One Principle from the Team A 29 yard line - the spot of the foul.  It’s B’s ball, first down and 19.  Team B obtained the ball with “clean hands.”