Section 4: Players & Officials
Rule 1-1-1 sets each team at not more than 5 players on the field, with rosters of up to 15 players (5 on field, 10 substitutes). A team that is missing more than 1 player from its regular number forfeits the game. Rule 1-1-4 permits each team to designate no more than 2 players as captains and no more than 2 coaches to the Referee; only those designated individuals may request rule clarifications, make decisions for the team, or request a challenge.
Rule 11-1-2 allows games to be officiated by a crew of 2 (Referee and Field Judge), 3 (Referee, Down Judge and Field Judge), or 4 (adding a Side Judge) officials. Rule 11-1-1 states that officials' jurisdiction begins at the coin toss and ends when the Referee declares the score final. Each official's specific duties are prescribed in the IFAF Flag Football Officials Manual, though all officials carry equal authority over judgment calls (Rule 11-1-3).
Rule 12-1-1 grants each team one challenge conference per half, plus one during overtime, limited to alleged misapplication of a rule or incorrect penalty enforcement — judgment calls cannot be challenged. Notably, Rule 12-1-3 (Video Review) states that "the challenging team may not attempt to provide videos, photos, audio, witnesses or other evidence to support the challenge," and that "the Referee must ignore these if offered" — the 2023 rules do not provide for video replay review at any level of play.