These rules govern all Houston United Girls Flag Football League games. Houston United plays under the official NFL Flag 5v5 tournament rules. Where these rules are silent or unclear, the most recent NFL Flag rulebook controls. The league reserves the right to modify rules with notice to teams.
Format
• Game length: 25 minutes per game, played as two 12-minute halves with a 1-minute halftime
• Game format: 5v5 (NFL Flag rules)
• Field: Turf fields at Community Fieldhouse, Spring, TX
• Doubleheader: Each team plays two games every Saturday
• Roster: Maximum 12 players per team
Eligibility
• Age cutoff: August 1, 2026
• Divisions: 9U (ages 7-9, developmental), 10U, 12U, 14U, High School
• Players may only play in one division per season
• Free agents must complete the placement process to be eligible. Details can be found here.
9U Developmental Division
The 9U division is designed for girls ages 7 to 9 who are relatively new to flag football. It functions as an introduction to the sport in a semi-competitive setting. 9U games follow standard NFL Flag rules and are officiated by professional referees.
• Coaches in the 9U division are expected to emphasize instruction, fundamentals, and equal playing time over competitive outcomes
• Standings are kept for scheduling purposes but the 9U division emphasizes participation and development
• The 9U division does not field an All-Star team. 9U-age players are technically eligible for All-Star selection, but selection is unlikely given the developmental purpose of the division
Division Placement and Play-Up Policy
Each team registers and plays in one division per season. Teams have flexibility in choosing their division, subject to the rules below.
Team Options
When registering, a team may choose to play in one of the following:
• Their own age division, determined by the oldest eligible player on the roster (default option)
• One older division — for example, a 10U team may choose to register and play in the 12U division (subject to space availability in that older division)
A team can only play in one division per season. Teams cannot register for both their own division and an older division simultaneously.
Playing Up
Any team may choose to play up one division for competitive, developmental, or scheduling reasons, subject to the following rules:
• Teams may play up only one division above their own age division. For example, a 10U team may play in 12U, but not in 14U.
• Play-up registration is subject to space availability in the older division. If the older division reaches capacity, teams that registered in their own age division have priority over teams playing up.
• Players on a team playing up must still meet the age cutoff (August 1) for their own age division. Younger players are permitted at the older level under the play-up rule, but older players may not play down on a younger team without League Director approval.
• Teams choosing to play up are competing against older, often more experienced players, and parents should consider this when making the decision.
• There is no additional fee for playing up. Teams playing up pay the standard $150-per-athlete registration fee.
• All-Star eligibility is based on a player's age division, not the division in which her team played. A 10U-age player whose team plays up in 12U is eligible only for the 10U All-Star team, not the 12U All-Star team. This keeps All-Star competition age-appropriate at the national tournament level.
Playing Down (Older Team in Younger Division)
Playing down — registering a team in a younger division than the team's natural age — is not permitted without prior written approval from the League Director. Requests to play down should be submitted in writing at least 14 days before the registration deadline and include:
• The specific reasons for the request (e.g., a team with predominantly younger players, a developmental need, etc.)
• The age and birth date of every player on the roster
• Acknowledgment that the team will compete against younger players if approved
The League Director may approve, deny, or place conditions on play-down requests at the league's sole discretion.
Insufficient Teams in a Division
If a division does not have enough team registrations to form a viable league, teams registered in that division will have two options: receive a full refund, or play up in the next-older division (subject to space availability) at no additional cost. See the Refund Policy for full details.
Equipment
• Teams provide their own jerseys
• Players must wear approved cleats or athletic footwear; metal cleats are not permitted on the turf fields
• Mouthguards are required for all players during all league activities
• Headgear is required: either a soft shell helmet or a protective headband. Players will not be permitted to take the field without approved headgear
• League provides flags, balls, and field markings
• No jewelry permitted during play
Game Rules
Houston United plays under the official NFL Flag 5v5 tournament rules. The complete rulebook is published by NFL Flag can be found here.
Coaches and referees should familiarize themselves with the current NFL Flag rulebook prior to the season.
Officiating
• All games are officiated by professional referees contracted by the league
• Referee decisions are final
• Coaches may respectfully request rule clarifications between plays; arguing calls is grounds for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
Rule Disputes During Games
• Referee decisions on the field are final
• Coaches may respectfully request a rule clarification between plays
• Coaches may not argue calls or attempt to influence officiating decisions
• Post-game disputes about rule interpretation may be submitted in writing to the League Director within 48 hours of the game
• The League Director's rulings on rule interpretation are final and do not affect the outcome of the game in question
Roster Lock and Replacement Players
Roster Lock
Final team rosters must be submitted by the roster lock deadline. After roster lock, teams may not add new players except under the Replacement Player Policy described below.
• Roster lock deadline: Friday, August 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (the Friday before Week 2 games)
• Rosters are finalized for the remainder of the season as of this deadline
• Coach changes after roster lock require league approval and a completed background check
Replacement Player Policy
If a player withdraws from her team after the roster lock deadline, the team may add a replacement player subject to the following rules:
• Notify the league: The team notifies the League Director in writing that a player has withdrawn and identifies the proposed replacement player
• The team finds its own replacement: Replacement players may come from any source outside the active Houston United rosters. This may include friends or siblings of current players, players from outside the league, or any other source the team identifies
• Replacement player completes registration: The replacement must submit parent contact information, medical information, and acknowledgments of the Terms of Participation and Code of Conduct. The replacement must meet age and eligibility requirements for the team's division
• Replacement fee: A flat $75 fee, regardless of when in the season the replacement joins. The fee is paid by the team or by the replacement player's family, by agreement between them
• Replacement deadline: No replacements are permitted after the end of Week 4 of the regular season. After Week 4, the team plays out the remainder of the season with its existing roster
• All-Star eligibility: Replacement players are not eligible for All-Star selection in their first season
• No-Poaching: Replacement players may not be recruited from other active Houston United teams. This preserves the integrity of the No-Poaching and Roster Stability Policy. A player who withdraws from one Houston United team is not eligible to join another Houston United team as a replacement during the same season
Emergency exceptions: If a team has multiple withdrawals and cannot field a 5-player team (the minimum to play a 5v5 game), the League Director has discretion to approve emergency additions even after Week 4, or to allow the team to play short. Such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
Standings and Playoffs
• Regular season: 6 weeks of doubleheader play
• Standings determined by win-loss record; tiebreakers: head-to-head, point differential, points allowed, coin flip
• Playoffs: 2 weeks, with top 4 teams from each division participating
• Playoff format: Single-elimination semifinals followed by championship and third-place games
• Division champions receive championship rings
All-Star Team
• Houston United selects an All-Star team for each age division (10U and older) at the end of the regular season
• All-Star selection is based on a player's age division, not the division in which her team played
• The 9U division does not field an All-Star team
• Selection is by League Director and selection committee based on observed play
• See the All-Star Team page for full details
Inclement Weather
• Lightning: All play is suspended at the first sign of lightning. Play resumes only after the all-clear is given per Community Fieldhouse policy
• Rain: Light rain does not cancel games on turf fields. Heavy rain affecting safety or visibility may result in cancellation
• Tropical weather and hurricanes: Cancellations may be made up to 5 days in advance based on forecasts
• Cancellations are communicated through the league's registration platform, email, social media, and website
• Make-up games: Rescheduled where possible; if not feasible, weeks may be played short
• For full details, see the Houston United Inclement Weather Policy
Conduct
All players, coaches, parents, and spectators must comply with the Houston United Code of Conduct. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, ejections, and suspensions are governed by the Code of Conduct.