Open Division 2
Havoc
Runner-up
Prestige Wordlwide

Legends & Pioneers Division 3
Rozzi Warriors
Runner-up
Danger Zone

Recreation Division 4
Sons of Dothraki
Runner-up
Illmatics

SEASON MVPs
Kenny Newcomb, Stumps with Attitude, Comp D1 QB MVP
Sean Hill, Reservation for Six, Comp D1 Player MVP
Jay Ardizzoni, Havoc Football, Open D2 QB MVP
Nick Leary, Boyds to Men, Open D2 Player MVP
Mark Wilson, Danger Zone, Legends & Pioneers D3 QB MVP
Jon Terwilliger, Danger Zone, Legends & Pioneers D3 Player MVP
Larry Masse, Knights Watch, Rec D4 QB MVP
Ken Masse, Knights Watch, Rec D4 Player MVP

TOP NEWCOMERS
Brian White, Sons of Dothraki
Tommy Lafferty, Danger Zone
Kevin Rosado, Villains
Walt Ohnemus, Demons

SACK CHAMPS
Chris Chan, Trojans
Lionel Houston-Jones, Beastmode

OUTSTANDING HANDSOME CENTER EVERYBODY GETS A TROPHY AWARD
Jon Garcia, Godspeed
Mike Rizzo, Havoc Football

Top: Ardizzoni, Tavares, Brodie, Dorey, Rizzo, Fletcher, Hohl Bottom: Jean-Louis, Henry Missing: Leon

Top: Ardizzoni, Glaude, Pizzoferrato, Fletcher, Yoon, Dorey Bottom: Rizzo, Brodie. Missing: Leon

Tieso, Pavol, Griffin, Mike Pisano, Hough, Matt Pisano, Sholes, Kane, Acacia, Mirabella

L to R: Dieter, O’Leary, Ly, Lipka, White, Tamayo, Atton, Brudny, Lysenko, Kimball Missing: Malcolm

Hello Flag Football Players,

Our league has started its pre-season workouts and scrimmages. We are only a few weeks away from the start of the Fall 2018 Season. Many of you contacted me regarding spots on teams and joining as Free Agents.

Well, here is your chance. We are having a Captain’s Draft this Sunday for players looking to join a team in our league, form new teams, and get an idea of how our league is run.

Free Agents who already signed up who are already playing in the league can also look into jumping onto other teams in different divisions.

Date: Sunday, August 26, 2018
Time: 10:00am
Location: Cassidy Park at Cleveland Circle, 2000 Beacon Street,Brighton, MA 02135

We just ask you to sign a waiver which most of you already have. Even if you are not looking to join and just want to play some football, you are welcome to come down.
https://www.smartwaiver.com/v/bostonflagfootball/

Myself and some captains will take care of everything else.

The format will be 5 on 5 and we’ll have teams rotate in and out. We will have a better idea of how we will run the scrimmage once we get all the RSVPs.

If you are interested, just shoot us an email and we’ll provide more details. We have spots in all four divisions: Competitive D1, Open D2 and Rec D3. For more information about our Free Agent program, visit http://ccflboston.com/free-agents-boston-flag-football and FAQ Section http://ccflboston.com/free-agent-faq

Cya on the fields,

-andrew

CCFL Boston Fives Flag Football Rules

Changes for the 2018 season will be implemented prior to the start of the first game after the Captains votes are all counted

THE GAME

Game Time is Forfeit Time – NO GRACE PERIOD

Minimum 4 players to start a game

Registered League players may be substitutes with opposing captain’s approval to start games.

• CONTACT IS ALLOWED – Open hand contact allowed between shoulder and waist
• The Home Team or in some cases a coin toss determines first possession Team can elect to have offense, defense, defer, or direction. Choice in the 2nd half will be awarded to the team that did not have 1st half election.
• The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 10-yard line and has four plays to cross mid-field. Once a team crosses mid-field they have four plays to get a second first down to the opponents 10-yard line (redzone). They then have three plays to score a touchdown.  If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession. The ball will be placed at the spot of the last play. Interceptions will be spotted at the end of the play. However, if the interception occurs within the 10-yard line and the endzone, the next drive will start from the 10-yard line.

GAME CLOCK FORMAT

• Each time the ball is spotted the offensive team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. (Officials will warn the offense when there are 10 seconds left to snap the ball). Teams must wait until the referees are set or a referee acknowledges they are prepared to start the play. The game clock will always be running with the exception of the last minute of the second half when it will be a “Pro-Clock” with stoppage. All dead ball penalties in the last minute of the game stops the clock. Two 20 minute halves and a 2-minute halftime.

SCORING

• Each touchdown is worth 6 points
  · Extra points are automatically rewarded 1 point or a team can elect to go for 2 points  from the 10-yard line. Extra points can be returned for 2 and offensive holding after an interception will automatically reward the defense 2 points.

Time Outs

• Each team has three 30 second timeouts per game that can be used at any time during the game. If a time out is called after a TD the clock will not run until the change of possession and the offense snaps their ball.

RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK

• Players that rush the quarterback must be a minimum of 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. There is a 2 yard halo rule from lining up on the center

RUNNING

• Only one run play is allowed per zone during an offensive team’s drive to score.
  
  · All offensive players may run the ball at any time once a ball is exchanged from the original player under center – the QB, except in the 5-yard no-run zones.
  
  **Rule Change: A QB that is directly snapped the ball can run the ball if a defender rushes and crosses the line of scrimmage. The QB must cross the LOS before the 5-second pass clock expires. This run will count at one of the team’s run plays in the zone.
• No stiff arming allowed – considered flag guarding.
• No run zones are located 5 yards before mid-field , 5 yards before the redzone and 5 yards before the endzone. You may not run the ball in the no run zone. Only forward passes are allowed.
  
  · A pass that is caught and does not break the line of scrimmage is considered a screen pass. All screen passes are Run plays and will be counted as such.
• Teams may handoff, pitch, or throw back the football in the backfield. The player who receives the pitch or handoff may throw the ball as long as he is not beyond the line of scrimmage. Pitching (backward) is allowed.
• A forward pass does not have to cross the line of scrimmage to be a legal play.
• Ball is spotted where the flag is pulled. The lead flag, ball and hips of the player in possession of the ball must break the plane of zone lines to be considered a first down or TD. The ball has to cross.

PASSING

• There is a 5 second count to pass the ball that is timed by the referee. The ball must be released from the fingertips within the expiration of 5 seconds.
• Interceptions may be returned.
  
  · The rusher may not hit the quarterbacks’ arm, or knock the ball out of the quarterbacks’ hand. The rusher must always play the flags. Any contact with the ball and then the QB will automatically be assessed a 15-yard roughing the QB penalty.

RECEIVING

• All players are eligible to receive a pass, including the quarterback, if the ball has been pitched back or handed off behind the line of scrimmage. Players must have at least one foot in bounds when making a catch. Players that run out of bounds during a play cannot be the first player to touch a ball when attempting to make a catch.

PLAY IS RULED DEAD WHEN:

The offensive player’s flag is pulled. Ball carrier steps out of bounds, touchdown is scored, an incomplete pass and/or anytime the ball hits the ground. If a player loses a flag unintentionally, the defense only has to touch the ball carrier, not pull the flag. This also applies to a player who catches the ball and is on the ground and attempts to make a football play to advance the ball (NFL rule). Players may not start a play without a flag.

DEFENSIVE PENALTIES:

• Offside-Illegal Rush. Pass interference /Face Guarding with contact (must play/look at ball).
• Holding * Note the officials will determine incidental contact which may result from normal run of play.
• Roughing the quarterback – the rusher may not knock the ball out of the quarterback’s hand or bump into them.
• Excessive contact – even if the defender is making a play on the ball. If the official feels it was intentional or with intent to harm the player will be ejected from the game and may be removed from the tournament.
• All defensive penalties are 10 yards from the line of scrimmage and automatic first down except holding – spot foul, pass interference – 15 yards from LOS and Roughing the QB, Major 15 yards – Minor 10 yards.

OFFENSIVE PENALTIES:

• Pre-Snap Penalties – these are not a loss of down. Illegal motion /False Start/ delay of game/ illegal equipment violation – a player may not start a play without flags
• Flag guarding (players must keep their hands above their waist). Charging (the offensive player must avoid the defender if they are set).
• Delay of game (all delay of game penalties stop the clock). Pass interference (illegal pick, pushing off defender).
• Excessive contact – If the official feels it was intentional or with intent to harm the player will be ejected from game.
• All off penalties are ten yards from the line of scrimmage and loss of down except flag guarding which is a spot foul and the pre-snap penalties mentioned above.

SPORTSMANSHIP / ROUGHING

• Trash talking will not be tolerated. The official has the right to determine language that is offensive. (Trash talking is language that may be considered offensive to the official, opposing team, or spectators). The official may eject players from the game for trash talking.
• If the official witnesses any act of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, or any other sportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game.

RULES FOR INSIDE ONE MINUTE AT END OF THE SECOND HALF
Defensive pass interference is a spot foul and will result in an automatic 1st down.

Intentional delay of game by any defensive player, team member, or fan will result in an unsportsmanlike 15 yard penalty, automatic 1st down and the clock will stop until the offensive team snaps the ball (30 second play clock still applies).

OVERTIME

• The Home team or in some cases a coin flip determines first possession. Teams will have 4 plays to score from the 20 yard line. There will be no first downs.
  
  · Each team has one possession in overtime during the regular season. During the playoffs or double elimination, there will be a maximum of 3 attempts of overtime before a team is forced to go for a 2-point conversion.
  
  · Determination of possession will be Home Team, then Away Team or Higher Seed, then lower seed for each Overtime. If score is still tied both teams will have one play from the 20 yard line to gain as much yardage as possible. Team with the most yardage will win. An additional coin toss determines who goes first.
  
  · An additional timeout will be given to each team for each overtime.

ATTIRE

• Players may not have pockets and may not tape pockets in any way. Only professionally sewn or zippers are fine.
• It is the responsibility of all players to wear a protective mouthpiece, and are available for purchase during games.
• Only Sonic Flags are allowed and may not be altered in any way. Or CCFL SKLZ 1st and Ten flags. Each team must wear the exact same style flag during their game.
• If someone scores with pockets the result will be loss of down and five yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage.
• Same color shirts are mandatory – you do not need numbers or matching logos, you only need the same color shirt.
• Referees reserve the right to negate touchdowns or remove players from the game if they are not following our uniform rules.

Hello CCFL Captains & Players,
We are still waiting for some of captains and players to get their Smartwaivers in before we officially email and post the Fall 2017 Week 1 Schedule. Every player needs to sign a Smartwaiver before they can play: https://www.smartwaiver.com/v/bostonflagfootball/

If your Captain submitted the schedule and you elected to start this weekend, you will have games. Remember boys, forfeits are a no-no. We are allowing your teams to create its own schedule so there are no conflicts. Your games should finish up early this year with plenty of time for fantasy, tailgating, etc.

For Boston Fives: Double-headers will be back-to-back in most cases when we group 4 teams. If its a group of 3 teams, the winner of the first game can decide if they want to sit out or play their next game. The losing team will have to sit a game out before their second game.

Game Times: will be 8:30, 9:20, 10:10, and 11:00.
Location: Smith Playground in Allston on Saturdays and Cleveland Circle on Sundays Brighton

Helpful Tip: The strategy is to get points ( 3 for a win or 2 for a tie). This is very relevant because there is no OT in Seeding or Group Stage.

For CCFL Boston: Your captains have submitted their Bye-Week request and their Double-Header request. We will not take game time request this year. However, time slots should be favorable to most teams since we will only have 8:30, 9:20, 10:10, and 11:00 game times. We may have to implement a rare 12pm time slot for make-up games. But we will end before NFL games start!

Game Times: will be 8:30, 9:20, 10:10, and 11:00.
Location: Cleveland Circle on Sundays Brighton

Helpful Tip: Do not fret about divisons, there will be at least 3 Playoff Tournaments based on final standings in your divison.

Boston Fives Saturday/Sunday Teams
Stumps With Attitude
Remember The Apes
DKX
Fuchs Boyd
Red Raiders
Filthy With The Rock
All Madden
Turn Down For Watt
Big Double TDs
Mayhem
Ram Rod
Sons of Dothraki
The Mooch
Villains (Sunday)
Prime Time (Sunday)
Chaos (Sunday)
Boston Knights (Sunday)

CCFL Boston Sunday
Double Hungs
Panama Papers
Bucs
Rozzi Warriors
Unsackable Unsullied
Trojans
Better Than Romo
Havoc
Danger Zone
Moxie
Wasted Talent
Dubs
Reservoir Dogs
Big Ol TDs

(B)  GROUP STAGE 2: This is a simulation of the software program that was designed to schedule and track Group Stage Two (2) through the final Knockout Stage – The Main Event (3).

Group stage scoring is broken up into  i. Score (3pts for a win, 2pts for a tie and 0pts for a loss), ii. Tie Breaker (TB) Common Opponent, and iii. Points Differential (a teams actual TD scores from a match).

Below is a simulation of the Final Standings of the Group Stage (Image 1).

(Image 1)

(C) THE KNOCKOUT STAGE – The Double Elimination Main Event. Groups get split up into a Division A – CUP Tournament CUP, Division B – PLATE Tournament PLATE, Division C – RIBBON Tournament  and so on.This is known as your Group’s MAIN EVENT. Remember, if you are avancing out of the LOSER Brackett, you must run the table to win it all and if your team’s first loss is in the first championship game, you will play a rubber match.

(Image 2)

Below (Image 3) is how Afternoon Delight won the championship  in our simulation – winning 4 games without a loss.

(Image 3)

What you need to do for BOSTON FIVES FALL LEAGUE TOURNAMENT:
(A) Seeding Stage 1 – Round Robin (2 Games)
(B) Group Stage 2 – 8 Teams (7 Games)
(C) Final Stage  3- Main Event Double Elimination Finale (2 Games Minimum)

Dates:
(A) Seeding Stage 1 – Pick 1 Date for a  Double-header OR pick 2 Dates for two Saturday Single Games.
Saturday, September 2
Sunday, September 3
Saturday, September 9
Sunday, Septemer 10
Saturday, September 16
Sunday, September 17

(B) Group Stage 2 – Pick 4 Dates, 3 Double-headers, 1 Single Game
Saturday, September 23
Saturday, September 30
Sunday, October 1
Saturday, October 7
Sunday, October 8
Saturday, October 14
Saturday, October 21
Saturday, October 28

(B*) Make-up Games 
Saturday, November 4 if necessary for teams, can also be used for single game Group Stage 2 game.

(C) Final Knockout Stage 3 – The Main Event – 4-6 Double Elimination Tournaments
Final tournaments are based on your position from the Group Stage based on Scoring Points earned.
Round 1, Round 2, Losers Round 1
Saturday, November 11 or Sunday, November 12

Losers Round 2, Losers Round 3, Semi-Finals
Saturday, November 18 or Sunday, November 19

Loser Round 4, Finals, Double-Finals if necessary
Sunday, December 3

Welcome to the 2017 CCFL Fall League

We have 3 options this upcoming season. Space is limited for each day and registration is now open to all new teams.

(1) Boston Fives League: This is a league style tournament. Its format is designed for teams that like to play double-headers, commit to fewer weeks in a season, and end in a double-elimination tournament. I specifically created this for teams who travel from outside 25 miles, for teams that also play in their own leagues, and teams that like fast paced tournament style play. However, we use full-length 5v5 fields and full length games. Nothing is abbreviated like single day tournaments. Its purpose is to crown the Mythical Best 5v5 Men’s Flag Football Team in Greater Boston and beyond.

Your team creates its own schedule until the final stage Main Event – Double Elimination Tournament. Games will be played on Saturdays at Smith Field in Allston, MA.

(2) CCFL Fall League Saturdays: This is our bread and butter for the past 18 seasons. However games are played at Smith Field in Allston on Saturdays. This is a 10 game regular season plus playoffs.

(3) CCFL Fall League Sundays: Cleveland Circle, Brighton. Our 18^th This is my baby and is the oldest and most recognizable Men’s 5v5 Flag Football League in the area. This is 10 regular season games plus playoffs. Due to the construction of a new field, we will have a limited number of divisions and teams for Sundays in Cleveland Circle.

Beginning in November, we will move to Charlestown (or other turf fields) to wrap up the season and start the season Tournaments.

I know a lot of captains and players had their feathers ruffled with the new fields, days and format, but we made the adjustments and the competition will be the best around. The City of Boston did their best to work with us and find us new fields (its challenging when we have over 46 teams and 5 divisions), and in the coming years, this City will have some gorgeous new fields to play on.

To start the registration process, click http://ccflboston.com/registration-boston-flag-football

Cya on the fields,

-andrew