About Underdog Flag Football

OVERVIEW

ABOUT

RULES

FAQ

 

 

OVERVIEW

Underdog Sports Leagues offers Co-ed and Gentlemen's Flag-Football in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer seasons. In order to accommodate a variety of schedules, there are leagues Sunday afternoons and evenings, as well as evenings during the week. With a variety of times and skill levels to choose from, there's no excuse not to get back out on the field for some games... or to give flag football a try for the first time! And after 'battling' on the grid-iron, you can relive that great catch with your teammates at one of the sponsor bars.
 
 
ABOUT
Flag Football seasons are generally 6 weeks long with an additional 1-2 weeks of playoffs for the top teams. Depending on your regular season record and tie-breakers, the bottom few seeds often do not qualify for the playoffs. Specific rules for 8 on 8 Co-ed and 7 on 7 Gentlemen's leagues are available once your team has registered. Our Flag Football is played rain, sleet and snow....there are no cancellations for weather. 
 
 

RULES

Underdog Flag Football is played on a normal football field divided into 1/3’rds and played sideline to sideline. Each game has 20 twenty minute halves which leads to a game length of approximately one hour with clock stoppages. All Underdog Flag football games have 2 refs which can be expanded to 3 refs in some situations. At its core, Underdog Flag Football is a no contact AND no blocking league. We enforce any kind of blocking anywhere on the field… blocking leads to contact, contact leads to crazy things like injuries and fights, and we don’t like either one. Our rules favor the offense, and we like high scoring games with lots of plays and lots of touchdowns. 
 
  • One foot in bounds for Reception
     
  • Two Twenty Minute Halves – Stop Clock 2 minutes 2nd Half
     
  • Must cross one orange cone for each 1st down
     
  • 6 point touchdowns (no bonus for female TD’s)
     
  • Choice of 1 or 2 extra points on PATs (3 paces for 1 pt., 10 paces for 2 pts)
     
  • Two point conversion attempts may be intercepted and returned for two points.
     
  • Dead ball on all fumbles | Laterals CAN be intercepted and returned (Live Ball)
     
  • No kickoffs – but there are punts
     
  • Quarterback can run with the ball at any time
     
  • Defense can not rush the QB until the line ref has started saying “GO” at the end of the “5-DOG” rush count 
     
  • Ties during regular season stay as ties
     
  • Every THIRD play must involve a female player. 
 
Gentleman’s League Modifications
  • No "yell rule"
     
  • 7 players on the field instead of 8
     
  • Faster “5 DOG” rush count
 
Full rule book provided once you have registered.
 
 

FAQ

 
I have played flag in college and some other city leagues. What is unique about Underdog Flag? 
The most defining characteristics of USL Flag football are probably the field size, the 5 Dog Rush Count, the specific penalties we have for safety (cutback screen, box rule) and the non-contact non-blocking format of the league. We emphasize high scoring games but we also emphasize safety first and all of our rules and staffing reflect that. If you are signing up because you love to lay a good block, “mix it up” on the line, or throw a Marshawn Lynch’esque stiff arm, then you are looking at the wrong league. 
 
How competitive are the Teams with Underdog ?
Underdog has several skill divisions of flag. Some teams do have playbooks and run plays, but many do not. You can always schedule practices and put fancy plays on your wristband, but that is never a pre-requisite to play football with us. Underdog does not provide field time for practice or schedule practices for teams. 
 
Are your refs any good?
Most Definitely
 
Gear and Equipment
 
What do I need to bring with me?
USL provides most of the main items you would need for a flag football game including Field Cones, Red and Blue Flag Belts, and field refs and staff.  
 
The only thing you might want to bring with you are cleats/turf shoes since almost all of our games are played on turf, and your own football (no tiny ones or nerf balls). Some teams also like to make their own shirts/jerseys which is fine, just please check with the USL office if you have these made so that we can schedule you based on the color of your jerseys [teams are either light or dark for every game.] Also, don't forget your ID for drinks after the games.
 
You should never need a mouthguard, pads, etc. Unnecessary use of eye-black is always encouraged. 
 
Do I have to buy cleats?
No.
 
Do I have to wear Shoes?
Yes – always.
 
So strict Goodell, What else?
Lose the jewelry, rings, and crazy studded belts before you step on the field. People are going to be grabbing at your belts and shorts for the flags. Dress appropriately and don’t wear and clothes or jewelry that could hurt someone else during a game.
 
What color jerseys/flags are we wearing?
If you're listed first on the schedule, your team should be light colored jerseys and red flags. If you're listed 2nd, you're dark jerseys and blue flags.  If your team has custom jerseys, you should email the office before the season starts so that we can schedule you according to your team color.
  
Hey why do some of the belts have a white buckle while some have an orange buckle?
You are a perceptive one… flag belts with a white buckle are 42 inch waist belts – Flags with an orange buckle are bigger belts with a 52 inch waist. If you are a scrawny Russel Brand look alike DON’T take a belt with an orange buckle, leave em for the rest of us. 
 
Sign-up and Registration
 
Ok I'm signing up, what if I need to change my roster?
Roster changes are allowed up until the 3rd week of any USL season. Football rosters should never be larger that 15 people. After the third week you can only modify your roster by applying for a special exemption due to injury or other weird/unfortunate occurrence. During registration, you will set up a log-in to the Captain's Lounge - a team admin panel that let's you update your roster, as well as do other cool stuff like emailing your teammates, tracking who owes you money with TeamPayer, and signing up for future seasons.
 
What about my skill level?
You should base your decision on a number of factors: Do you practice a lot during the week? Do you run a lot of set plays? Do you want your level of competition/season schedule to be easy or hard? Do you cry when you lose? All of these factors should go into deciding what skill league you belong in. Just keep in mind that you may sign up for one division, but USL always reserves the right to move you up or down in divisions, whether it be before the season starts, or before the playoffs start based on your regular season performance. If you have never played with USL before you should probably sign up for Softcore.