NOTE: This is a general outline. Our department may use a different version of the game based upon these rules.
Rules and Description:
1. Object of the Game
The ball may be advanced
toward the goal only by passing. The player in control of the ball may not advance toward his/her goal, but may move laterally
or backward. With refinement, the game is an extremely fluid sport in which lightning
passes, sudden starts and stops and rather close man to man play predominates. All
players have countless opportunities to pass and receive the football.
One of the novel features
of Flickerball is that an attempted goal results in loss of possession of the ball since the goals are situated out of bounds. Any shot, successful or unsuccessful, results in loss of the ball for the shooting
team. Thus, the offensive team is forced to eliminate wild or haphazard shooting
and work for better scoring opportunities. After a goal attempted, the defensive
team puts the ball into play by throwing in bounds from behind its own end line.
Another interesting feature
is that a loose ball that remains on the playing field is a free ball and may be played by any player. This provision promotes fluidity of action and places a premium on quick reaction and alertness. Running and physical stamina is an important consideration in any team’s success in Flickerball.
A regulation game is played
in 20 minute halves with one team timeout per half. A coin toss determines which side of the field a team will be on. Teams
switch sides at half. The clock stops only for team timeouts, injuries, and at
the referee’s discretion. Continuous time on clock.
5. Teams
A game is played between two teams. Six players on each team are allowed on the field at the same
time. Unlimited substitution is allowed. Substitutes may enter the game at any
time through their own substitution area as long as the players they are replacing have left the court.
6. General Rules of Play
A. Advancement of Ball- Most ball movement is accomplished by passing either
forward or laterally. The ball may be thrown with any motion (overhand, underhand,
etc.) Hand offs are not allowed. A
player may not throw to him/herself.
B. Traveling- players are not permitted to advance forward while in possession
of
The
ball. A player in control of the ball may move only in a backward or lateral
direction. A player moving forward when gaining possession of the ball will be
allowed two steps in which to stop forward momentum.
(Penalty: Ball is awarded to nearest opponent who will put the ball in play when the official
whistles the ball ready for play)
C. “Closely Guarded”- If one or more defenders are within 6 feet
of a player in possession of the ball, that player is considered to be “closely guarded”. A player may not maintain possession for more than 10 seconds while being closely guarded.
(Penalty: Ball awarded to opposing team at spot of infraction)
D. Incomplete Passes- (1) An incomplete pass, either forward or lateral,
that goes untouched by either team will result in the ball being put in play by the defense at the spot from which the pass
was thrown. This also applies to untouched passes that go out of bound. (2) If a pass touches a receive and falls incomplete, that ball will be put in play by
the defense at the spot where the ball hit the ground; (3) If a pass or shot is incomplete because a defensive player deflects
the ball and the ball remains in play, it remains in the filed of play and may be handled by either team. (4) If a pass is deflected out of bounds, the team that did not last touch the ball will be awarded possession
at the spot where the ball went out of bounds.
E. Intentionally kicking the ball is not allowed. (Penalty: Ball awarded to opposing
Team
at spot of infraction)
F. A player cannot pass the ball to him/herself.
G. Jump Balls- A jump ball will begin each half and any other overtime period.
(1) A Jump ball consists of the ball being tosses up between tow centers
facing their respective goals. A Jumper may contact the ball only once in the
circle, and may not again handle the ball until a non-jumper has touched it. All
non-jumpers must remain outside a 10-foot diameter circle until the ball is touched by one of the jumpers. (2) A loose ball that becomes tied up between teams will result
in a jump ball at the site of the infraction.
H. Sideline- A ball which goes
out of bounds over a sideline will be awarded to the team which did not last touch the ball at the point the ball went out
of bounds. If an untouched pass goes out of bounds, the ball will be awarded
to the defending team at the spot of the pass.
I.
End line: If
a pass or loose ball (but not a shot) or player in control of the ball goes out of bounds over the end line the ball will
be: (1) awarded to the defensive team behind the end line if last touched by the offense, or (2) awarded to the offensive
team at the nearest corner of the field if last touched by the defense.
J. Shots on Goal: a shot on
goal will become dead as it crosses the end line. All shots crossing the end
line, successful or unsuccessful, deflected or not deflected, will be awarded to the defensive team behind it own end line. It is solely the judgment of the official in determining pass or shot.
K. Continuation of Play After Dead Ball: When a
team has been awarded the ball after an infraction, foul, or attempt on goal, the following guidelines govern continuation
of play: (1) the player putting the ball in play must hold the ball to the ground
until the official whistles the ball ready for play. Player putting the ball
in play may establish a pivot foot, but may not otherwise move with the ball before passing it into play; (2) player putting
the ball in play will have five (5) seconds to do so; (3) if the ball is in the front court, the initial pass must be in a
lateral direction with regard to the team’s goal. A forward pass is not
allowed;
(4)
If the ball is in the back court or behind the end line, the player must throw the ball so that a player gains possession
in the back court area. The pass may be in any direction. Back court possession is determined by both feet being inside the area bound by the end line and midfield
line.
(Penalty: Violation of any of the above restrictions will result in the ball being awarded to
the opposing team at the spot of the violation)
L. Substitutions- Unlimited number of substitutions may be made at any time.
(Similar
to hockey- sub on the fly).
7. Scoring
A. Ball through Goal= 3 points (4 points for a female in co-rec play)
B. Ball hits face of Goal= 1 point (2 points for a female in co-rec play)
C. Goaltending is illegal. Any
attempt by a defensive player to deliberately bat out an attempted goal behind the end line shall result in an award of the
goal. Goaltending includes instances in which the defender jumps from the field
of play and attempts to bat away a shot, and lands behind the end line. All goal
tending violations will result in 3 points for the shooting team.
D. Any player attempting a shot must remain in bounds following the shot. Any points will be disallowed if the shooter crosses the end line before the ball
hits or goes through the goal, or if the shooter lands out of bounds after shooting the shot while airborne.
8.
Fouls
A. Personal Fouls include:
1. Knocking
the ball out of an opponent’s hand
2. Tying up a player in possession of the ball
3. Diving on a loose ball
4. Making contact with an opponent
5. Throwing an uncatchable pass for the purpose of delaying the game
Enforcement
of Personal Fouls
1. Player
committing the personal foul must leave the game and not return to the field until a goal has been scored by either team.
2. The offended team will be given possession of the ball at the spot of
the infraction.
3. If the
foul is committed against a player attempting a shot, 4 points (5 on a females’ shot) will be awarded, and the player
committing the foul will remain in the game.
4. Four personal fouls disqualify a player from the contest. A substitute
may enter the game after either team scores.
B. Technical Fouls include:
1. Disrespect
toward an official
2. Profane
or inappropriate language, or obscene gestures
3. Intentional
personal fouls
4. Personal fouls while the ball is dead.
Enforcement
of Technical Fouls
1. One point
and possession of the ball at midfield shall be awarded to the opponents of the team not committing the foul. Any player receiving two unsportsmanlike technical fouls during the course of a game will be automatically
ejected. If a team receives four unsportsmanlike technical during the course
of game, the contest will be immediately forfeited by that team.
Flagrant
fouls will not be allowed and player will be automatically ejected for the duration of the game. A substitute may enter for this player.
