About
Welcome to the Original Utah Flag Football League! Based in Salt Lake, serving all of Utah. Originating in 1992, Utah Flag League is the Largest League in Utah with the most options available. Currently only running Adult Leagues.

Our Mission
Our mission is to promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy competition through flag football. We aim to create an inclusive environment where players of all skill levels can enjoy the game, develop their abilities, and build lasting friendships. By fostering a love for the sport, we strive to inspire our community to stay active and engaged. Join us in making flag football a fun and rewarding for everyone!
League Rules
Equipment Football
Each team is required to provide their own football for the games. The footballs must meet NCAA or NFL regulation size standards, with the exception of the COED divisions, where different specifications may apply. Please ensure that your equipment is compliant to maintain a fair enjoyable playing experience for all teams.
Equipment/Uniforms
Teams must wear matching shirts or jerseys. Pop Flag are allowed and two flags must be worn, one on each hip. Flags must be on the outside of the shirt and the entire flag belt must be visible/exposed. No uniforms or body parts may cover any part of the flag belt. If the belt is covered the referee’s may declare the player to be touch instead of flag pull to be down. Any players wearing a hat with a bill must have the bill facing backwards.
Team Captains
The team captain(s) will be the only player(s) who is/are allowed to address the
referees regarding a call. Players may ask a ref a question but if any player, including a captain, disrespectfully addresses a referee the team may be penalized and the player ejected. If the objected behavior continues the ref will call the game and the team will be given a loss regardless of score.
Players
A team consists must have 5 players minimum to play and can have a roster of up to 12 players. All players will need to be added to the team’s online roster, which is located on their
respective team page. Also, all players will need to fill out the online waiver at the beginning of each season. Subs can be added to the roster for each game up to 24 hours before game time. Subs must play 4 games to play during playoffs. A player may only play on one team per division during playoffs.
Scheduling
Forfeits will be given to teams who give less than 24 hours’ notice of not being able to
make their game, if I am unable to find a replacement opponent. If you forfeit, your team
will be fined ($30 for 5 on 5). You will also be given a loss for that game. Your team may
be removed from the schedule until the fine is paid. One of your remaining games may
be taken to pay for the fine, if the fine is not paid.
Length of the Game
Two 20 minute halves, with a 5 minute intermission. The clock stops in the last one minute of each half for all dead balls, out of bounds, change of possessions, and incomplete passes. Game clocks will start at game time, post coin toss.
Example: clock will start to run at game time, once it is at one minute in a point
will be awarded to the team who is ready to play.
There are no automatic run offs of time on any penalties. The clock will not stop for first
downs. If a team is ahead by more than 16 after the 1 minute warning in the second
half the game is over. If a team is ahead by more than 35 points at any time the game
is over. IF TIME PERMITS, refs may allow the teams to finish the final 1 minute on a
running clock ONLY if there have been ABSOLUTELY NO sportsmanship issues
throughout the game. IT IS NOT a legitimate argument to say that you "paid" for the
last minute. All the other teams paid as well, and we have a responsibility to keep the
league functioning for all teams. There are legitimate & obvious reasons for having a
mercy rule (for the sake of both teams), but more importantly, in the past, the police
have told us, in no uncertain terms, that if we did not completely eliminate serious
sportsmanship issues, they would not hesitate to shut our league down permanently.
When there have been sportsmanship issues during a game, it is usually at the end
where the frustration of losing, etc., have resulted in serious incidents. This is why we
are NOT going to allow 17+ point margin games to continue beyond the 1 minute mark
if there have been ANY sportsmanship issues WHAT-SO-EVER during the game. We will
also not hesitate to disqualify players or end games even earlier than the 1 minute mark
if serious sportsmanship issues warrant such an action, at the referee’s discretion.
Please keep yourselves and your teammates under control so that we don't have to
make tough decisions such as this and so that your league can continue to thrive.
Extended Playing Time
A period or half may be extended by an untimed down, only when during the last timed
down one of the following occurs:
1. A touchdown was scored and the try for point is attempted as a part of
the same half.
2. There was an inadvertent whistle and the down is to be replayed as a
part of the half.
3. A penalty was committed by the defense at expiration of a half.
4. There was a fair catch interference and the offended team accepts an
awarded fair catch, the half may be extended and the ball put in play by
a snap.
5. If there was fair catch interference and the offended team accepts the
distance penalty, the half will be extended by a replay of down.
Size of the Field
The playing field is 30 yards wide and 50 yards in length, with two 8 yard end zones.
Total field size is 30 x 66 yards. One first down at midfield. The field dimensions may be
modified due to the space available. The field shall not be smaller than 25 yards wide
and 40 yards in length, with two 7 yard end zones.
Coin Toss
The winner of the coin toss shall have the choice of one of the following options: 1)
Receive 2) Designate a goal to defend 3) Defer choice to second half. The loser shall
make a choice from the remaining options. Before the start of the second half the
choosing of options will be reversed.
Possession
Starts at the 10 yard line. Team has: 4 attempts to make a first down at the 25 yard line (or
20 yard line if the field is modified), then 4 attempts to make a touchdown. After a
safety a team starts at the 15 yard line (or 10 yard line if the field is modified). Once a
team achieves a first down, they may not achieve the same first down again on the
same series due to loss of yards and then an automatic first down penalty. Clarification: If3
a team achieves a first down on a play and they also were flagged for a penalty that
occurred during the play, the penalty will be marked first and then once the ball has be
placed the referees will determine if it is a first down or not. This means if you reached
two yards past the first down on 3rd down, which would be 1st and 23 and a 2 ½ yard
penalty occurred during the play, which would bring the offense back, about 1 yard
from the first down, it will not be 1st and 26 it would be either 3rd and short or 4th and
short (depending on which penalty).
Kicking/Punting
No kickoffs or kicking field goals. Live punt returns are allowed. Muffed (dropped) punt
returns are dead at the spot. Receiving team must have three players within 5 yards of
line of scrimmage. Punting team is not required to snap the ball. Once the referee has
signaled the start of the play clock and the punting team has declared a punt, they may
punt the ball. Both teams may not move at the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.
Returning team players may attempt to jump and block the punt without crossing the
line of scrimmage. Game clock will start rolling once the ball makes contact with the
punter’s foot.
Time Outs
Each team will have 3 time outs (30 seconds in length) per half. Teams may call
consecutive time outs.
Play Clock
The offensive team shall have 25 seconds between plays to snap the ball. After any pre
snap penalty (false start, delay of game, etc.) the play clock is reset to 15 seconds. As a
courtesy the referees give a 10 second and 5 second warning.
Touchdown
When any part of the ball, legally in possession of a player inbounds,
breaks the plane of the opponent’s goal line, provided it is not a touchback. The plane of
the goal line extends outside of the field of play.
Formation
The offensive team must have 3 players on the line of scrimmage at the time of the
snap.
Running/ Passing
There will be no running plays. All plays must consist of a legal forward pass. A forward
pass does not have to cross the line of scrimmage. A forward pass that is caught behind
the line of scrimmage must be an overhand pass. A shovel pass must cross the line of
scrimmage or will be penalized as an illegal forward pass. Only one forward pass may be
thrown per down. You can lateral the ball as often as you like. NOTE: There must be
separation between the ball and quarterbacks hand before the receiver catches the ball.
Handoffs are not considered a legal forward pass. Forward handoffs can still be thrown
for a forward pass. Also, to be considered an illegal forward pass by crossing the line of
scrimmage the Passer’s entire body must cross the line before the ball is thrown.
Exception: if the line of scrimmage is close enough to the goal line that the quarterback
can reach the ball into the end zone and still have part of his body behind the line of
scrimmage, and does so, then the play will be immediately dead and a loss of down will
occur. No penalty yardage will be assessed.
Legal Catch
One foot inbounds with possession of the ball. If a player goes out of bounds on their
own and comes back in, they may not be the first player to touch/catch the ball. If so,
the play will be declared incomplete pass, no further penalty. If a defender pushes/forces
a player out of bounds, they may come back in bounds make a legal catch/be first to
touch the ball.4
Flag Falls Off
If a player's flag falls off without the aid of a defender, that player must simply be
touched.
Ball Spotting/ Flag Pulling
The ball is marked at the spot where the ball is at the time the flag is pulled (clip on belt
comes apart). If a player bobbles the ball and the flag is pulled after the ball is first
touched, but before the player ultimately gains possession, the ball will be marked down
at the spot where the flag was first pulled (it would be an unfair advantage to the player
with possession if they can bobble it on purpose to avoid a flag pull). If a player pulls
another player's flag before the ball is touched by that player the player will not be
considered down until they are touched (as if the flags fell off). If a player
intentionally pulls another player's flag away from the ball it is a penalty of 2
1/2 yards from the end of the play. Receiver can advance the ball if he falls down
and is not touched or flags pulled. A player must simply be touched if they are on the
ground or a knee is on the ground.
Flag Guarding, etc.
Ball carriers shall not protect their flags by guarding them with their hands, arms or ball,
cannot straight arm, and cannot lower their head or shoulder while running into a
defender. The offensive player must avoid contact (no lower shoulders or upper body
and attempting to run through defenders). Spinning is allowed, but the ball carrier
cannot intentionally jump or dive to advance the ball. They are permitted to jump or
dive to avoid injury/contact. That will be determined at the referee’s discretion.
Illegal Contact
Defensive players may not hold, grasp, push, or tackle the ball carrier. If a defender
grabs clothing, they must let go immediately.
Fumbles
Most fumbles are dead at the spot the ball hits the ground. Exception: Muffed snaps
behind the line of scrimmage are live until the Quarterback or other player has gained
possession. Then normal fumble rule applies.
Motion
One offensive player is allowed to be in motion, horizontally, at the time of the snap.
They may not turn up field before the snap. All other offensive players must be set for
one second before the snap.
Pushing out of Bounds/ Stripping
There will be NO pushing out of bounds and no stripping the ball while in a player's
possession. Also, there is no pushing a receiver out of bounds while they attempt to
make a reception. NFL rule permits this, we are a flag football league and you must play
the ball or the flags. A catch will be awarded if the official determines a legal catch
would have been made without the push.
Pass Rush
Defensive rushers must start 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. If the offensive
team throws a lateral (a pass or pitch behind the QB) the 5 yard rule is nullified and
anyone can rush regardless of where they started. But no defensive player, who did not
start 5 yards from the line of scrimmage, may cross the line of scrimmage until the
lateral is thrown or handoff takes place. If the rusher starts early they can reset and
start again 5 yards back without penalty unless they cross the line of scrimmage before
the snap. The offense must avoid running into the rusher. Offensive player must be
running a route (no shielding, mirroring, screening or blocking). Rushers must also avoid
interfering with the center's or other receiver’s route.
If a Quarterbacks arm/hand comes in contact with a defending players bodyunintentionally (defending player not attempting to block the pass, but reaching for
flags) it will be ruled as incidental contact. Judgment will be Referee’s discretion.
*NEW RULE: if at any point one team has a 17 point or greater lead, it will nullify the 5
yard rushing rule for the team whom is losing by 17 points or more. Once the lead is 16
points or less, the 5 yard rush rule will be back in effect.*
Blocking/Contact Downfield
Absolutely no blocking or setting picks down field. Receivers must be running routes.
Defensive backs are permitted ONE bump within five yards of the line of scrimmage. That contact must be between the waist and shoulders. All other contact will be penalized as illegal bump.
Extra Point Attempts
You are awarded 1 point from the 5 yard line and 2 points from the 10 yard line. A
turnover on an extra point may be returned for two points by the defensive team.
Field Goal
If a team has crossed midfield you can declare field goal on any of your 4 downs
and you will get one play from half the current distance for 3 points. If you miss
the defense takes over from the original location. If you are successful a normal
change of possession occurs. It is run like a normal play, not like an extra point or onside
kick. Clock will run, normal play clock, defense can return it for 6 points
(touchdown), and penalties will be slightly different. Spot foul penalties by the
defense will be marked at half the distance and replay the field goal. Once teams
have tried the field goal, they may not change to going for a touchdown after a
penalty has been marked.
Onside Kick
After a touchdown is scored and immediately after the extra point is played a team may
declare to go for an onside kick (this must be declared before the referees mark the
change of possession). An onside kick will be one play (untimed down) following an extra
point. It will be from the offenses 20 yard line (5 yards from midfield). If a team scores
successfully they will maintain possession of the ball and start on their own 20 yard line.
If they are unsuccessful the defending team will take possession of the ball on the
defenses 20 yard line (5 yards from midfield, 1st down achievable). If defending team
intercepts the ball and returns it for a score it is worth 2 points, otherwise the onside
kick is no longer worth any points. A team may only go for an onside kick if they are
losing and it is 5 minutes or less left in the game.
Rule Clarification/Challenge
At any point during the game a designated Team Captain can request clarification of rule
application or challenge a ruling on the field by calling a Timeout. Once the Timeout is
granted, it is the responsibility of the designated Team Captain to identify to the Referee
his/her discrepancy with the ruling and how it was applied in disfavor of them. The
Referee will then report the matter to the Field Supervisor or League Director for final
ruling (also may be decided by referring to a rule book). If the decision is reversed the
challenging Team will not be charged a timeout. In the event a call is upheld, the
challenging team will be charged one of its three timeouts.
If the challenging team has no timeouts remaining it will be assessed a delay of game
penalty of 7 ½ yards and a loss of 10 seconds if under two minutes of either half. Teams
are permitted one (1) challenge per half. Judgment calls are NOT for challenge.
Overtime
A coin toss shall determine which team gets the ball first. Each team will decide to go for
1 point (5 yard line) or 2 points (10 yard line). Each team will have up to 3 attempts to
score during regular season play, before ending in a tie. After both teams have had try if
either team is a head that will end the game. Also, teams alternate who goes first a t the
start of each round. Ex. Team who went first in the first round will go second in the 5
second round and first in the third round. During the playoffs the overtime process6
will continue until there is a winner. Interceptions may be returned for a touchdown
resulting in victory.
Alternate - Each team will be given a series of 4 downs from the 20 yard line to score.
If a team scores they will be given an extra point attempt. During the regular season
the game will end in a tie if both teams are still tied after each team has had one
possession. During the playoffs the overtime process will continue until there is a
winner. A turnover ends the series of downs. Interceptions may be returned for a
touchdown resulting in victory.
Sportsmanship Policy
If a single player is responsible for two unsportsmanlike penalties in a single game they
will automatically be ejected for the game. Fighting with other players or touching,
belittling or demoralizing referees will result in ejection from the game. The entire team
may also be ejected from the game at the discretion of referees. All ejections will be
reviewed by the board and commissioners and further action may be taken (fines or
ejection for multiple games or the season). Excessive taunting or "trash talking" could
also result in disqualification from a game. If a team is disqualified/ejected from the
league their entrance fee will be forfeited. There will be an additional penalty called an
unsportsmanlike minor. Things that constitute this penalty include excessive
complaining, belittling or degrading refs, inappropriate language or behavior, etc. The
enforcement will be 10 yards and it will be marked off as a dead ball penalty. Multiple
unsportsmanlike minor penalties may lead to ejections.
Penalty Enforcement
There is no auto run off of time at any point during the game from a penalty.
Delay of Game - 2½ yards
False Start - 2½ yards
Illegal Motion (2 or more in motion at time of snap) - 2½ yards + replay down
Illegal Formation (less than 3 on the line of scrimmage at snap) - 2½ yards +
replay down
Illegal Rush - 2½ yards + replay down
Offensive Pick Play – 2 ½ yards + replay down
Stripping - 2½ yards at the end of the play
Running into Rusher/Center - 2½ yards + replay down
Pulling a player's flag away from the ball - 2½ yards at end of the play
Holding on to ball carrier and/or ball carrier's clothes - 2½ yards at end of run
Not going for flags and pushing ball carrier (when it doesn’t constitute
unnecessary roughness) – 2 ½ yards at end of run
Holding on to QB’s clothes – 2 ½ yards + replay down
Illegal Participation (player runs out of bounds and is 1st to touch ball) - Loss of
Down
Flag Guarding, Stiff Arming - 2½ yards from spot + down counts (on 4th
down/extra points its 5 yards from original line of scrimmage & replay the down.
NOTE: the reason for this is because it is often a questionable call.)
Jumping into and making contact with an opposing player or Diving to advance
the ball - 2½ yards from spot + down counts
Defensive Holding (DB holding a receiver before ball is thrown) - 2½ yards +
automatic first down
Illegal Bump/Contact down field by Defender - 2½ yards + automatic first down
Illegal forward pass/Second forward pass - 2½ yards + loss of down
Illegal play (running play/no pass) - 2½ yards + loss of down
Flag Tying (enforced from original line of scrimmage) – 7 ½ yards + possible7
ejection
Blocking, Illegal Pick - 5 yards
Tackling - 5 yards from end of play
Contact with center before they stand up - 5 yards + replay down
Offensive pass interference - 5 yards from original line of scrimmage + loss of
down
Roughing the passer - 7½ yards added to the end of the play + automatic first
down
Defensive pass interference (face guarding is no longer a penalty) - Spot of the
infraction
Unsportsmanlike Minor - 10 yards [Dead Ball Penalty]
Unsportsmanlike Conduct - 14 yards
Personal Foul (unnecessary roughness, etc.) - 14 yards
Taunting, "Trash Talking" - 14 yards + possible ejection
Fighting – Ejection + possible disqualification, police action. Mandatory 1 game
suspension for throwing a punch (even if it does not connect).
Touching, belittling, and demoralizing referees - Ejection + possible
disqualification and police action.
Begging the Call - "The team captain(s) will be the only player(s) who
is/are allowed to address the referees and the captain addressing the
referees should be done so in a respectful manner and really should just be
in the form of a question, rather than complaining. If any player, including
a captain, disrespectfully addresses a referee the team may be penalized
and the player ejected. Referees have the authority to call a "begging the
call" penalty that increases in enforcement.
If a player is disrespectful, or 'begs for a call', or excessively complains,
a "begging the call" penalty may be called progressively (for the team,
not a particular player) starting with a warning on the first infraction,
to 5 yards on the 2nd infraction (by the team), to 10 yards for the 3rd
infraction (by the team), and then any additional infractions would be
15 yards. Once the referee gets to the 15 yard penalties individual
players will be instructed to sit out for a designated period of time
during the game. Any subsequent infractions will be subject to a
player sitting out the remainder of the game. These penalties would be
dead ball penalties marked off after the end of the play. If a particular
player is responsible for repeated infractions of this penalty they may
be asked to sit out for a certain number of plays, series, a half, or even
ejected from the game."
Modified Multiple Team Policy:
There are some players who have played on multiple
teams and since some of these teams have moved up divisions, some of these players
are playing on multiple teams within the same division. As long as they play on both
teams all season (minimum of six games on each team), we don't have a problem with
that, but we don't want to see players switching teams or playing on multiple teams only
at the end of the season. When it comes time for playoffs the policy will be that the
players need to pick one team if their multiple teams are in the same division. However,
if (before the game) your playoff opponent agrees to let you play on a 2nd team then
it's ok, but again, ONLY if you've played on both teams all season. This is the fairest
compromise that we could come up with.
Playoff Policy:
To participate with a team in the playoffs you need to be listed on the
official online roster and have played at least four regular season games. Also refer to
the Modified Multiple Team Policy above. Changes/additions may be made through
UFL Officials, ahead of time.
Division Policy
Players can play in both A and B division or B and C division. A players can not play in C division.