Knoxville Flag Football League

League Format and Rules Updates

Please be sure to read each of these carefully, arthritis as they may affect the division you choose to play in as well as how you build your roster.

Also, page we have added and updated a couple new rules beginning in Spring 2015. Please note those updates marked with an asterisk (*) and bolded below.

Divisions

The league will now be split into three divisions: Pro Division, salve Semi-Pro Division and Recreation League. The goal of having separate divisions is to create distinct levels for everyone to have a place to play in and compete to the degree that teams are most comfortable. With new player participation and schedule rules, the new division format should provide the most even competition fields we have had. The new division format will break down as follows:

 

Pro Division

This division will be most similar to what the A division (and to an extent the B division as well) has been in the past. It will be the highest competition level and will have the highest prize value. Registration for the Pro division will be $430 per team (a $100 discount from the Semi-Pro or Recreation Divisions) The Pro Division will be awarded premium championship shirts as well as a cash prize. The amount of the cash prize will be determined by the number of teams registered in the division. There is also the potential for additional championship prizes to be awarded by our sponsors.

The Pro division tournament will be single elimination format but will now be re-seeded after each round. During each round in the winners and losers bracket, the highest remaining seed will play the lowest remaining seed, and so on.

 

Semi-pro Division

The Semi-pro division is the next level of competition and will resemble what the B and C divisions have been.

The main difference this season will be how this division will be scheduled. The Semi-Pro schedule will be divided into two 4-week sessions. After week 4, we will split the division into two – Semi-pro A and Semi-pro B, based on record as well as competiveness to that point. This split division will play their own individual post-season tournaments as well. The goal is to have teams playing within the same range of competition, giving everyone as fair a chance as possible to win their division tournament.

Registration for the Semi-pro division will be $530 per team. Each Semi-pro champion will receive a KFFL Championship t-shirt, but there will be no cash prize awarded to either champion.

The Semi-pro Division postseason tournament will not re-seed after each round and will be single elimination format.

 

Recreation Division

The Recreation division format will be the same as it has been, but teams will now allowed to be one upper division player on the roster. This designated upper division player may not change once they have been added to the roster for any reason, including injury. The goal of the Recreation division remains to allow a competition level for teams that do not yet feel suited for the Pro or Semi-pro divisions.

Registration for the Recreation division will still be $530 per team. The Recreation division champion will receive a KFFL Championship t-shirt.

The Recreation Division postseason tournament will not re-seed after each round and will be single elimination format.

 

Rosters

ALL rosters must be turned in at registration. Your team will not be entered until we have a completed roster, with any stated upper division players, turned in. You will still be able to add to your roster, however, the deadline to add to your roster is after week 3 of the season. No roster edits can be made once week 4 games begin.

 

Upper Division Players/Playing in multiple leagues

Players may play in multiple divisions as in the past with some new restrictions for this season. No player may ever play on multiple teams within the same division, even for one game. Rules for upper division players on your roster are:

  • Pro Division: not applicable
  • Semi-pro Division: may have up to 2 Pro Division players but no one can play in both Semi-pro divisions at any time.
  • Recreation Division: may have 1 upper division player only.

Teams found in any violation of these restrictions will be subject to forfeit all games that illegal players participated in.

 

Uniforms

All teams will be required at registration to choose their team name, color, player numbers. Teams MUST order their jerseys through the KFFL at registration. The cost of the standard uniform is included in your team fee. If you choose to have a different shirt style or any other upgrade, our uniform vendor will be present at registration to take those special orders and you will be given a credit in the amout of the standard jersey cost towards your total uniform purchase. If you have a specific shirt you wish to provide, they must be provided at registration, approved by the league and will have at least the back of the jersey printed with the KFFL template. No exceptions.

The league will not allow any potentially offensive team names.

 


 

Rules

In order to make all of the games more competitive and to allow for new gameplay strategy, we haves edited the following rules and are introducing new ones. The goal is to reduce “dead time” and to allow teams to have more scoring options.

* The following rules are all new for 2015. Please read them all carefully. *

 

Intentional Offsides

Any team that has a player deemed intentionally to jump offsides in an attempt to delay the game, draw an offsides penalty, or for any other reason will be given 2 warnings. On the 3rd offense, that team will be charged with a personal foul and the clock will stop until the next offensive snap. If the penalized team is on defense, the offense will get an automatic first down. If the penalized team is on offense, they will also be charged with a loss of down.

 

Overtime

Overtime is decided by advancement. Each team will have four plays to advance the ball as far as they can with the first team starting at the forty-yard line. The team who advances the furthest wins. Team A advances the ball but does not score Team B Will take over from the end of the dead ball play back towards the 40 yard line. If they cross the 40 they will win the game.
If Team A scores, Team B will take possession on the 40 yard line as well with 4 downs to attempt to score. All extra point rules apply to all scores.
If an interception occurs, the intercepting team will be declared the winner if the ball is downed.

 


 

The following rules were introduced in 2014. Please note these as they may affect game play and strategy.

Punts

Teams will not punt the ball. If the offense elects to punt, they will have the option to either go for it, or give the opposing team the ball with a 30 yard walkoff. If the offense is closer than 30 yards to the goal line, the walk off will be half the distance to the goal.

 

Kickoffs

There will be no more kickoffs at the beginning of each half. The team receiving the ball first at the beginning of each half will take the ball starting on their own 10 yard line. All other possessions will still begin on the 15 yard line.

 

New “On the Clock” Rule

After scoring the scoring team can elect to give the opposing team the ball at the plus 20-yard line (1st and goal) in order to keep the opponent from using up the clock. Once this is done the scoring team must give their opponent the ball at the 20-yard line until the end of the game. There are no opportunities to remove this tactic once it has been enforced.

 

Field Goals

The offensive team will now have an opportunity to go for a 3-point “field goal” once you have crossed the 40-yard line. Once the offense elects to attempt a field goal, you must use a time-out in order to change this option.  All penalty rules apply on the field goal attempt.

A field goal attempt is one down to score from either the 10 yard line or one down to score from the 5 yard line, depending on the line of scrimmage. To be clear, this is a normal play – not an actual kick.

  • When the offensive line of scrimmage is beyond the 40-yard line, but behind the 20-yard line, a field goal attempt will from the 10-yard line.
  • When the offensive line of scrimmage is beyond the 20-yard line, but behind the goal line, a field goal attempt will from the 5-yard line.

On field goal attempts, the ball markers will be placed at the original line of scrimmage in the case of a “missed attempt”. A missed attempt will result in the opposition gaining possession at the original line of scrimmage. A made attempt will result in the opposition gaining possession at the 15-yard line as with every other score.