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Meeting Summary — Monday, September 28, 2026

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Video Review

  • Breakaway Tackle
    Multiple views of this play. This is a long completed pass play down the field. The receiver gets behind the defense, makes the catch, and heads toward her goal line. Two defensive players pursue her down the field. They catch her and, instead of pulling her flag, knock her to the ground. The receiver was injured and had to be attended to by medical personnel. Does this fall under Rule 9-2-3a (a defensive player shall not initiate contact with an opponent), or is this more serious — Rule 9-4-3g (making any other contact with an opponent that is deemed unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness)? This is an illegal personal contact foul. The crew ruled that way and enforced a 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, with an automatic first down awarded.
  • Contact by Whom?
    Multiple views. The Team A ball carrier runs toward her goal line. Several defenders are moving toward her in an effort to pull her flag. The Team A ball carrier goes to the ground. What do you have here? Rule 9-2-3a states a defensive player shall not initiate contact with an opponent — it appears the offensive player ran right into the pursuing defenders and incidental contact occurred. This is a tough play to officiate: did the defense establish legal flag-pull position and should the offensive player have avoided the contact, or did the offensive player establish position without the defenders giving her enough room to avoid contact while pulling the flag? In our opinion, this is incidental contact and no foul should be called.
  • Contact – Illegal?
    Multiple views. Focus first on the Team A QB (in white). This starts as a pass play — the Team A screener (to the right of the QB) sets a good screen and the rusher goes around it. With no receivers open, the Team A QB starts to run right and is pursued by another rusher at about the 10-yard line. Seeing the rusher, the QB pitches the ball to her RB. Keep your eyes on the QB — the rusher does not stop her pursuit and runs right over the QB, knocking her to the ground. Team A scores. This is a straightforward call: the defensive rusher is flagged for illegal use of hands. The touchdown counts, and the scoring team has the option to enforce the penalty on the try or on the subsequent possession.
  • Contact – Illegal?
    Multiple views. Late flag from the wing official at the bottom of your screen. This is another example of multiple players converging with minimal contact occurring at the end of the run. In the zoomed-in view, a Team B defender #8 (white jersey) moves into the path of the receiver, and contact occurs where the ball is caught. A case could be made that the defender didn’t allow her space and that caused the contact, but in our opinion this should not have been flagged.
  • Contact – Illegal?
    Keep your eyes on the QB, left side of your screen. She throws a pass and, after the ball is away, is contacted by the rusher. In the zoomed-in view, you can see the defender is going for the flag, but the contact occurs after the ball is released. The play goes for a substantial gain, but that doesn’t matter — if you think the contact warrants the call, a foul for roughing the passer should be called. However, in our opinion there isn’t enough for a foul, given that the defender bumped the QB after the ball was released and the contact occurred because the rusher was going for the flags.
  • Illegal Contact or Flop?
    We’re starting to see this more and more. We have two plays where Team A players are “flopping” to draw a possible illegal contact foul. Watch the QB after she hands off the ball — she clearly falls to the ground of her own accord. She was not contacted by any player. No foul was called on the play, but this is also an opportunity for a preventative officiating “talk-to” by the officials.
  • Illegal Contact or Flop?
    Another example where a Team A player is “flopping” to draw a possible illegal contact foul. Watch the ball carrier after her flag is pulled — there is minimal contact on the flag pull by the defender, but the ball carrier dramatically goes to the ground and rolls as if she was violently hit. No foul was called, and another opportunity for a preventative officiating “talk-to” by the officials.
  • Line-to-Gain
    When a line-to-gain is challenged in a short-yardage situation, it’s a best mechanic practice for the side and field judge to move quickly to the LTG. This play is a 4th & 5. The ball carrier sweeps right and her flag is pulled at the 22-yard line. She is not holding the ball out, and the side judge has a good read on her forward progress being short of the LTG. However, he should be at the 20-yard line for a better angle to rule on the forward progress. In the zoomed-in view, you can see the ball is much closer to the LTG, but still short.
  • Scrimmage Kick
    Another trend we’re starting to see is the punter running up toward the neutral zone. On this punt play, the punter takes several steps before kicking the ball. Watch the zoomed-in view — the line of scrimmage is the 29, and watch where she kicks the ball. It’s extremely close to a violation of the neutral zone. Rule 6-1-1 clearly states the punt must be from behind the neutral zone. The penalty for an illegal kick is 10 yards. If this was ruled illegal, the receiving team would have the option of accepting the penalty (Team A would have to re-kick, 10 yards back from the previous spot) or declining the penalty and accepting the result of the play.

Meeting Summary — Tuesday, September 8, 2026

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  • AOS Timing Rules & Procedures
    Flag Football VP Kevin Lindell used a fun and interactive game to learn timing rules. Click the link above to play the AOS Timing Jeopardy Game.

Video Review

  • Illegal Block
    Two views of this play. Watch the back next to the player receiving the snap — she definitely steps into the path of the defender, and contact is made. This should have been a foul for illegal blocking, Rule 9-3-2.
  • Defensive Contact
    Two views of this play. Watch the defensive rusher (in green) extend her arm and hand to make contact with the offensive player who is legally screening. Even though the contact is minimal, there should have been a foul for illegal use of hands or arms, Rule 9-3.
  • Snap Infraction
    Two views of this play. The ball is set, and after the ready-for-play, watch the snapper turn the ball 180° (completely around). Rule 7-1-2 states the snapper may lift the ball for lateral rotation but may not rotate end-for-end or change the location of the ball — this is a foul for a snap infraction. Note: the snapper did not do this on every play, but it occurred multiple times. The crew could have corrected it on the first occurrence with a “talk-to” in an effort to eliminate the foul; however, it was not called during any of the occurrences.
  • QB Sack
    Multiple views of this play. The defensive rusher clearly pulls the flag prior to the passer releasing the ball. This should have been down at the spot; instead, the play was ruled an incomplete pass. Referees should be reminded to keep their focus on the passer until well after the ball has been released.

Meeting Summary — Monday, August 31, 2026

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Video Review

  • Defensive Contact?
    Watch the charging defender in the middle of the play — she clearly makes contact on a Team A player who had established a legal position. Rule 9-2-3a states a defensive player shall not initiate contact with an opponent. No call was made here; it should have been illegal use of hands or arms on the defense (10 yards from the previous spot, replay of the down).
  • Offensive or Defensive Contact?
    Same game as the previous clip, same defender, harder contact — she actually knocks the Team A player to the ground. Again, the Team A player has established a legal position. However, in this case the Team A (offensive) player was called for the foul. Rule 9-2-3a states a defensive player shall not initiate contact with an opponent — it should have been on the defense.
  • Pass Ruling — Forward or Backward?
    You make the call. Was the pass forward or backward? The QB is at the 31-yard line. Rule 2-27-4 states a backward pass is a pass thrown with its initial direction parallel with or toward the runner’s end line. Was this forward, or did it meet the criteria of the rule? It was ruled a forward incomplete pass.
  • Penalty Administration
    There is a foul on the play but no flag. We must always have a flag down for any foul, and it needs to be clearly communicated to both teams. The offended team must be presented its options for penalty administration, and there is no reason to hold the ball in the air while walking off the penalty. No flags and no foul reporting here.

Meeting Summary — Monday, August 24, 2026

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Video Review

  • Double Pass
    There are two forward passes thrown by Team A on the same play. It was fourth down. No flag was thrown and no penalty called. There should have been a foul for an illegal forward pass. The offended team could have accepted the penalty, and since there is no right to replay the down, the next series would have started after the 10-yard penalty yardage.
  • Forward Pass / Flag Guarding
    Note the yard line where the scrimmage play begins. In your view, was the passer behind the neutral zone when she released the pass? Was it a forward or backward pass? Secondly, watch the receiver’s arms — is she guilty of flag guarding? Was there contact?
  • No Ball Set
    Interesting fact: in this state, the referee does not set the ball. Between plays, the snapper obtains the ball and then moves to the line of scrimmage for the next play. In several plays by either team in this game, the snapper did not place the ball on the ground. Also note the referee is setting pucks to mark the spot and a two-yard defense restriction — we do not do this in Illinois. The ball is marked and set by the referee, and the snapper comes to the line of scrimmage and sets her hand on the ball, which is on the ground.
  • Poor Spot
    The Side Judge does not get in good position to mark forward progress. Notice the flag pull at the 42-yard line — you can clearly see the runner momentarily stop and the flag hit the ground. The Team B coach (in red on the sideline) is pointing to where the flag was pulled. The Line Judge marks forward progress at the 39-yard line, which is three yards beyond where the spot should have been.

Meeting Summary — Monday, August 17, 2026

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Video Review

  • Flag Guarding
    Offensive player runs around the right side and as she cuts up field, watch her arms. The video features two views: the first at regular speed, then a slow-motion replay. The referee throws a flag for flag guarding. In the replay, you can see her arms moving in more than just a normal running movement.
  • Two Minute Warning
    Rule 3-4-3k: The game clock shall start with the snap if the game clock was stopped because the two-minute warning has occurred. The referee correctly gives the two-minute warning to both benches, but then starts the clock immediately. Since the game is in the first half, there is no provision for the score differential and/or running clock. The clock, in this case, should have started with the snap.
  • TD Flag Pull
    Rule 8-2-1c: Following a touchdown, a teammate of the scoring player must remove the scorer’s flag in view of the official. In this play, the player who scores the touchdown immediately pulls her own flags. This could be ruled unsportsmanlike conduct since the teammate did not pull the flags. Was there deception? Or is it just a kid who is excited by the scoring of a TD? How would you handle it?
  • Pitch Pass
    This is a try after a touchdown. Team A comes out in a spread formation, then all of the players on the line shift into a tight formation. Prior to the snap, watch the player on the right side of the line — she takes a step to the side and then curls back to take a pitch from the QB, then attempts a pass. Did the player who goes in motion on the right meet the criteria of Rule 7-2-5? Only one A player may be in motion at the snap, and then only if such motion is not toward the opponent’s goal line. Also watch the opposite side of the line — that player also moves. There should have been a flag down for illegal procedure or illegal motion.
  • Illegal Block
    Watch the Team A player who goes in motion. As she comes to the line, she and another Team A player (#3) are setting a screen for the runner. However, #3 makes definite contact with the rusher in violation of Rule 9-3-3: after assuming a legal position, a screen blocker may move to maintain legal position by moving in the same direction or path as the opponent. Screen blocking shall take place without initiating contact during the process of the block. A screen blocker shall not extend the arms, or use hands, arms, elbows, or legs to initiate contact. Good call for illegal block.

Meeting Summary — Monday, August 10, 2026

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Video Review

  • Flag FB QB Contact
    Multiple views of this play. Two rushers coming with two screeners protecting the QB. One defender attempts to pull the QB’s flag, while the second defender is attempting to block the pass. The ball is knocked out of the QB’s hand. Is this a violation of Rule 9-4-4?
  • Roughing QB 2
    Defender clearly contacts the arm of the QB as she releases the ball. Meets the criteria for roughing. Pass is complete. What is your penalty administration? 10 yards from the end of the play (tack on), automatic first down.
  • Roughing QB 1
    QB is pressured and the defender pulls the flag about the same time as the QB attempts the pass. You make the call? Did this play meet the roughing criteria in Rule 9-4-4? It appears the flag may have been pulled prior to the pass. Roughing was called.
  • Punt Pass
    Team K punts the ball. While in position to catch the punt, the Team R player misses the ball. First, we have to rule if there was any touching. If the Team R player touched the ball, it would be dead at the spot. However, no touching was ruled, and after attempting to run back the punt, the Team R player throws a forward pass. There is a foul for an illegal forward pass, 10 yards from the spot of the foul, 1st down for Team R.
  • Snap Infraction
    A small flinch by the center in position to snap the ball. It did not draw the defense into the neutral zone. However, this is a snap infraction, Rule 7-1-3a.
  • Shorts Grab
    Defender grabs the shorts of the receiver after she caught the ball. No flag pull, and the receiver scores. It’s a holding penalty against the defense. What are the offended team’s options? Team A may choose to enforce the penalty on the try or the subsequent starting spot. Rule 8-2-2, Casebook 8.2.2 Sit A.