Section 1 - NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Article 1: The game is to be played by two teams with eight players on each side.  Each team may have as many players as they want on their team roster.  For tournament play, only the players listed on that roster, at time of registration, may play in the game.  In other words, a team may not add to the roster after the tournament begins.  This is specifically designed to prevent teams still in a tournament from adding players from the teams that have been eliminated. 

Article 2: A team with less than eight players available to play at the start of a game shall be deemed unable to compete, and will be required to forfeit - after the seven (7) minute grace period.  The forfeit score will be thirteen (13) to zero (0).

Article 3: Should a team begin a play with less than eight players - through an oversight - there is no penalty, and play continues.  Should a team begin a play with more than eight players, the play will continue, but a penalty flag will be thrown, and following the completion of the play, the other team will have the option of taking the play or the penalty of five yards, for illegal participation, from the previous spot, i.e., the spot where the original play began.

Article 4:  If a team, after having started the game with a full complement of players, is unable to complete the game with eight players, regardless of reason, the game will be forfeited.

Section 2 - CAPTAINS

Article 1: Each team will designate two team captains, one on offense, one on defense.  The captain on the field will be the only one allowed to confer with the officials, except for calling time out.  If that designated captain is out of the game, the team’s head coach must designate another player to fill in, and will notify the referee of the change in captains.  If this notification is not given to the referee, there is no penalty; however, there will be no representative to discuss situations, and that may adversely affect the play of the team without a captain. 

Article 2: In the judgment of the referee, should a player, other than the captain, discuss or argue penalties, plays or decisions made on the field, that player may be flagged and penalized fifteen (15) yards for conduct detrimental to the game.  Should the discussion continue after the flag, that player may be ejected from the game.  An ejected player must leave the playing field, and bench area, for the remainder of the game.  Failure to leave may, in the judgment of the governing body, after consultation with the referee, result in that player being disbarred from the tournament.

Section 3 - ELIGIBILITY

Article 1: Players are eligible to participate in games and tournaments if they are on the team roster and are members, in good standing, of the Women’s American Flag Football Federation or WAFFF. 

Article 2: During the course of a game or tournament, players may be declared ineligible under the following conditions:

1.         An injury to a player that requires a time out means that injured player will be ineligible for one (1) play, after the injury.

2.         Any player that is bleeding or shows any blood will be ineligible to participate until the bleeding stops and the wound is covered by a bandage.

3.         Any player that has been ejected from the game will be ineligible for the remainder of the game.

4.         Any player that has been disqualified from the tournament will be ineligible for the remainder of the tournament.

The referee will be the sole judge as to when or if any player is eligible to reenter a game. 

Section 4 - SUBSTITUTES

Article 1: Players may be freely substituted between plays; however, should the players positions require pinnies be worn then that substitute must also wear the same equipment or the substitution will be illegal.  There is no need to notify the official that a substitution is being made.  All substitutions must be made before the ball is snapped, and all substitutes must go to the center of the field (where the ball is located) at the line of scrimmage before taking their positions.

Article 2: Should the offensive team be in formation to snap the ball and all players are set, then a substitution by the offensive team will be illegal, unless a time out is requested. 

Article 3: Failure, on the part of the substitute, to go to the center of the field at the line of scrimmage will be an illegal substitution. 

Article 4:  Any substitution that appears to be made to confuse or deceive the opposition may be declared illegal by the referee.  Penalty for illegal substitution will be five (5) yards with the offended team being given the option of taking the result of the play or the penalty from the previous spot.

Article 5:  Quick snaps will not be permitted if they prevent the defensive team from getting their substitutes on or off the field in punting situations.  In non-punting situations, quick snaps may be used; however, all players must be set in their positions for at least one (1) second.  Should a quick snap tactic be used in a punting situation, the play will be blown dead, and will be replayed from the same spot.  However, the referee will notify the coach of the offending team that this tactic is not permitted, and should it re-occur, the bench will be assessed a fifteen (15) yard penalty for conduct detrimental to the game.