Rules & Player Guide

SPORTSKLUB FLAG FOOTBALL

Official Rules & Player Guide

Fall Season 2026

Welcome to SportsKlub.

SportsKlub isn't just another flag football league.

It's a community.

Our goal isn't simply to crown a Power Bowl Champion. Our goal is to create the best place in Orillia to hang out —where players of every age, ability and experience level feel welcomed, included and excited to come back next week.

Some players have competed their entire lives.

Others are throwing a football for the first time.

Every one of them belongs here.

If you're looking for a league where winning is everything, there are great competitive leagues available elsewhere.

If you're looking for a place where friendships come first, competition stays respectful, and everyone gets a chance to contribute...

Welcome to SportsKlub.

The SportsKlub Standard

Every player agrees to six simple principles.

1. Safety Comes First

No championship, touchdown or highlight is ever worth another player's safety.

If you have to choose between making the play and protecting another player...

Protect the player.

2. Include Everyone

Everyone deserves touches.

Everyone deserves encouragement.

Everyone deserves meaningful playing time.

Your greatest play of the season might be helping a teammate score their very first touchdown.

3. Play With Integrity

SportsKlub is proudly self-officiated.

Call your own penalties.

Be honest.

Accept your opponent's calls respectfully.

The game only works when everyone chooses integrity over winning.

4. Respect Every Player

Celebrate great plays.

Help new players.

Encourage beginners.

Leave the chirping somewhere else.

5. Remember Why We're Here

Football is the reason we gather.

Friendship is the reason we come back.

6. Leave the Field Better Than You Found It

Introduce yourself to someone new.

Shake hands.

Help clean up.

Make someone excited to return next week.

That's what SportsKlub is all about.

Field

Field dimensions: 65 yards x 30 yards
End zone extends from the yellow line to the concrete walkway along the fence.

Team Size

Games are played 5 vs. 5
Games may be played 4 vs. 4 only when attendance requires it.

Game Format

Games consist of:

Coin toss
Four quarters
Eight offensive possessions per team (two each quarter)
Two-minute halftime

The visiting captain calls the coin toss.

The winner chooses:

receive first, or
receive first possession of the second half.

The other captain chooses field direction.

Teams switch ends at halftime.

Quarterbacks

Each player may quarterback a maximum of four drives during each game.

A quarterback drive begins when that player receives the snap.

A quarterback drive ends when that offensive possession ends.

Quarterbacks may not change during a drive.

If trick plays or laterals occur, any quarterback who took a snap under centre or throws a ball forward owns the drive (multiple players can be attributed for a single drive).

Snaps & Laterals

Every play begins with a snap or legal handoff.

Laterals

Backward laterals are permitted at any time.

The offense may throw one forward pass per play.

Once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage:

no forward pass is permitted.

If the quarterback legally hands the ball off behind the line of scrimmage, defenders may immediately pursue the new ball carrier.

Starting a Drive

Every offensive possession begins at the team's own red dashed line (5 yards from the goal-line). On the first play of a new drive, the offense must confirm that the defense "is ready" before snapping the ball.

Downs

The offense has:

Three downs to reach midfield.

Upon reaching midfield:

a new set of three downs is awarded. If a first down cannot be reached after second down, the offense may: attempt third down

voluntarily surrender possession, with the opposing team staring its next drive from their own red dashed line (5 yards from the goal-line). If third down fails, the opposing team begins from where the previous play ended.

Running Rules

Inside the red dashed lines:

The offense must throw forward to score.

Inside the yellow dashed lines (5 yards from half):

The offense must throw forward to earn a first down.

Pass Rush

Only defenders counting aloud may rush.

The count is:

Steamboat One

Steamboat Two

Steamboat Three

Steamboat Four

Steamboat Five

No defender may cross the line of scrimmage before "Steamboat Five."

Flag Pulling and Downed Ball Carriers

A play ends immediately once a defender completely removes one flag, or when any part of the ball carriers body, other than their hands or feet, touches the ground.

Ball carriers may not:

stiff-arm
guard their flag
jump to avoid a pull
spin to avoid a pull
dive

If forward progress has clearly stopped and multiple defenders have surrounded the runner, players are encouraged to safely give themselves up rather than forcing unnecessary contact.

Blocking

SportsKlub football has no physical blocking.

Offensive players may position themselves but may not:

push
hold
extend their arms
initiate contact

Jump Balls

Both offensive and defensive players may compete for passes.

However, players may not:

run through another player
undercut another player
initiate dangerous body contact
recklessly collide while attacking the football

Winning a jump ball is never more important than protecting another player.

Interceptions

Interceptions are dead immediately.

The intercepting team begins its next possession where the interception occurred.

Interceptions are not returnable.

Fumbles

Fumbles are dead immediately.

The offense retains possession where the ball was last touched.

No fumble may be advanced.

Scoring

Touchdown

6 points

Convert

1 point from the red dashed line

2 points from the white line

Safety

If the offense is downed in its own end zone:

the defense is awarded 2 points
the offensive drive ends
the defending team begins its next possession from its own red dashed line

Overtime

Each team receives one offensive possession.

If still tied:

another overtime begins.

Repeat until a winner is determined.

Playing Time

Every player deserves meaningful playing time.

Captains are expected to ensure equal participation whenever possible.

Teams with ten players are encouraged to rotate one offensive unit and one defensive unit.

Substitutions occur between drives only.

Players may leave during a drive only because of:

injury
illness
genuine exhaustion

Strategic substitutions during drives are not permitted.

No player should ever be removed simply because another player gives the team a better chance to score.

Captains

Captains are leaders of the league — not just their own team.

They are responsible for:

welcoming new players
communicating with teammates
encouraging inclusion
ensuring fair playing time
helping explain rules
reinforcing SportsKlub values

The best captains make everyone feel like they belong.

Game Managers

SportsKlub does not use referees.

Each game has two Game Managers.

The Game Manager's responsibilities are to:

keep score
track downs
answer rule questions
monitor safety
help resolve respectful disagreements
make a final ruling only when players cannot reach agreement
Help film games

Game Managers are not there to referee every play.

Players are expected to continue self-officiating with honesty and respect.

Penalties

SportsKlub relies on honesty rather than whistles.

Offensive penalties

loss of down
offense loses five yards from previous line of scrimmage

Defensive penalties

replay down
offense gains five yards

Repeated dangerous or reckless behaviour may result in:

warning
removal for the remainder of the drive
removal from the game
further review by SportsKlub leadership

Playoffs

Each team plays:

12 regular season games
2 playoff games

Playoff format:

6th vs 5th
4th vs 1st
3rd vs 2nd

The winners of the 4th vs 1st and 3rd vs 2nd semifinal games advance to the Power Bowl Championship.

Players from the remaining teams participate in the SportsKlub Pro Bowl, an All-Star style exhibition before the championship game.

Bowl Games

The top two winning teams with the highest point differential from Round 1 of the In-Season Bowl Games will meet in the Bowl Game championship. The remaining teams will be reseeded for Round 2. In-Season Bowl Games count toward regular season standings.

Before Every Game

Remember:

✔ Compete safely.

✔ Celebrate often.

✔ Encourage constantly.

✔ Include everyone.

✔ Be honest.

✔ Protect each other.

Our Promise

SportsKlub isn't trying to create the best football players.

We're trying to create the best football community.

Years from now, we hope you remember the friendships, the laughs, the Bowl Games, the photos, the inside jokes, the heartbreaking losses, the thrilling victories, and the people who became lifelong friends.

The score will eventually be forgotten.

The memories won't.

Welcome to SportsKlub.

Now let's go have some fun. 🏈