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What happens when the pass clock runs out in flag football?

Loss of down. 7 seconds to pass or hand off.

Under IFAF rules the quarterback has 7 seconds after the snap to throw or hand off (5 seconds in beach flag). When time runs out, the ball is dead at the line of scrimmage and the offense loses the down.

The clock stops on a handoff, not on a fake. A pump fake doesn’t stop it either.

The rule

IFAF Flag Football Rules 2023, R 7-1-3-g

The call

Delay of pass: the ball is dead at the line of scrimmage and the down is lost (signal S21).

Referee signal S21: Delay of game, delay of pass
S21 Delay of game, delay of passFold the arms across the chest.
NFL FLAG

NFL FLAG also gives the quarterback 7 seconds to pass.

Watch this play in the free flag football rules quiz.

Nobody’s open and 7 seconds pass without a throw or handoff. Delay of pass: loss of down.

Your league plays it differently? Plenty do. Write your league’s version down with the free house rules builder so everyone plays the same rule.

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What happens when the pass clock runs out in flag football? Loss of down. 7 seconds to pass or hand off.

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