2017 & 2018 NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rules Book & Officials' Manual

NIRSA, the leader in collegiate recreation—with its membership serving over 8 million students—provides the latest rule changes in flag and touch football with its 18th edition of a classic in the field.

The 2017 & 2018 NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rules Book & Officials’ Manual also offers updated information for the Flag & Touch Football Officials’ Manual as well as instruction on proper mechanics for three-person and four-person crews.

This new edition highlights the rule changes in the book, making it easy for you to pick out what’s new or changed. And the pocket size of the book makes it easy to consult at games, whether you’re a coach, instructor, official, player, or fan of flag and touch football.

The 2017 & 2018 NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rules Book & Officials’ Manual, developed by the NIRSA Flag Football Editorial Board, offers a section on the changes for 2017 and 2018 and explains the following rules:

Rule 1. The Game, Field, Players, and Equipment

Rule 2. Definitions of Playing Terms

Rule 3. Periods, Time Factors, and Substitutions

Rule 4. Ball in Play, Dead Ball, and Out of Bounds

Rule 5. Series of Downs, Number of Down, and Team Possession After Penalty

Rule 6. Kicking the Ball

Rule 7. Snapping, Handing, and Passing the Ball

Rule 8. Scoring Plays and Touchback

Rule 9. Conduct of Players and Others

Rule 10. Enforcement of Penalties

The book also offers summaries on these topics:

• Fouls and penalties

• Co-rec football rules

• Youth football rules

• 4 on 4 football rules

• 10 commandments for clinicians and observers

The NIRSA Football Officials’ Manual is then presented in seven sections:

Part I. Officiating Basics

Part II. Game Administration

Part III. Officiating Responsibilities

Part IV. Communication

Part V. 3-Person Mechanics

Part VI. 4-Person Mechanics

Part VII. Code of Official Football Signals

This easy-to-read rule book and officials’ manual reflects NIRSA’s continuing commitment to the development of flag and touch football and the organization’s efforts to keep training and officials’ manuals current and relevant. As such, this book is an essential resource for officials, coaches, and players connected to flag and touch football in various settings, from youth levels through collegiate levels.