OFFICIAL GAMEPLAY FORMAT

5x5 Football Rules

Competitive full-field tournament flag football built for speed, strategy, and clean execution.

CCFL Boston / 5x5 Football Rulebook

5x5 Football is a fast-paced, full-length competitive tournament flag football format emphasizing spacing, quarterback decision-making, tactical rushing, controlled running, and continuous game flow.

Game Format

  • 5v5 full-field flag football.
  • Offense starts at its own 10-yard line.
  • 40-minute running clock.
  • Final 60 seconds uses stop-clock rules.

Offensive Zones

  • Zone 1: Own 10 to midfield — 4 downs.
  • Zone 2: Midfield to opponent’s 10 — 4 downs.
  • Zone 3: Opponent’s 10 to end zone — 3 downs.
  • Each zone allows one designed run play.

Protected No Run Zones

  • Final 5 yards before midfield.
  • Final 5 yards before opponent’s 10-yard line.
  • Final 5 yards before the goal line.
  • No designed runs or QB runs allowed in these areas.

Quarterback Runs

  • QB may only run if a defender crosses the line of scrimmage after the snap.
  • QB run counts as the team’s one run play for that zone.
  • QB may not run inside a Protected No Run Zone.

Passing

  • 5-second pass clock.
  • All forward passes must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.
  • Shovel passes are legal.
  • Illegal forward pass: 5 yards and loss of down.

Open Rush

  • Any defender may rush.
  • No declaration required.
  • Rushers must start 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
  • Once the ball is handed off or lateraled, all defenders may rush.

Contact Fouls

  • All contact fouls are 10-yard penalties.
  • Includes flag guarding, blocking, moving screens, charging, tackling, roughing the passer, and excessive contact.
  • Officials may eject players for dangerous or repeated conduct.

Screening

  • Stationary basketball-style positioning is allowed.
  • Players may not extend arms, initiate contact, move into defenders, or escort the ball carrier.
  • Moving screens are 10-yard penalties.

Scoring

  • Touchdown: 6 points.
  • Automatic PAT: 1 point.
  • 2-point conversion from the 10-yard line.
  • Safety: 2 points.
  • Defensive PAT return: 2 points.

Conversion Possession Attempt

  • One attempt per team per game.
  • Must trail by 8 points or fewer.
  • Must occur in the final minute.
  • Team must have a timeout.
  • Successful attempt awards possession at midfield.

Overtime

  • Regular season games may end in a tie.
  • Playoff overtime starts from the 20-yard line.
  • Each team gets 4 downs to score.
  • No first downs in overtime.
  • 3rd overtime requires a 2-point conversion attempt after touchdowns.

Sportsmanship

  • No verbal abuse of officials or opponents.
  • No fighting, cheap shots, or dangerous conduct.
  • Captains are responsible for team behavior.
  • League may suspend players or teams for conduct detrimental to CCFL / 5x5 Football.

Penalty Reference

Offside 5 yards
False Start 5 yards
Illegal Rush 5 yards / replay down
Delay of Game 5 yards
Illegal Forward Pass 5 yards + loss of down
Intentional Grounding 5 yards + loss of down
Flag Guarding 10 yards + loss of down
Blocking / Moving Screen 10 yards
Charging / Tackling 10 yards
Roughing the Passer 10 yards
Excessive Contact 10 yards
Unsportsmanlike Conduct 10 yards
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