MLOFlag Football DRAFT RULES

MLO Flag Football DRAFT RULES

Updated Fall 2026

1.  The MLOFLAG Draft is based on the Mandatory Skills Clinic to help create an even playing field for all teams.

2.  If a player does not complete the clinic, they will then be refunded as they are NOT draft eligible.

3.  Any player caught cheating in the clinic will be notified and either given a rating by the Commissioner/Committee or placed on the waitlist and/or might be suspended and/or may lose their freeze eligibility or be removed from the league.

4.  Head Coach and Assistant Coach #1 child are automatically frozen. 

a.  Any other relationship MUST be approved by the committee.

b.  Assistant Coach#1 is defined as the Assistant Coach from the previous season.

c.  Returning Coaches can FREEZE up to 3 returning players that played on their team in the previous season.

d.  IF siblings are FROZEN each sibling counts towards the MAX number of frozen players.

e.  In ALL scenarios 3 is the MAX number of freezes per team.

5.  Assistant Coach must have submitted background check, completed NAYS and submitted badge requests to have their player freeze eligible.

6.  If the Head Coach is not returning or is moving to a different division, an assistant coach from the previous season, who is becoming the head coach of that team, can freeze players from that prior team in accordance with returning coach freeze rules.

7.  Each team is allowed to freeze up to 3 players TOTAL (Head Coaches child, Assistant Coach #1 Child (returning AC from the previous season) and one additional player which must have played for the head coach in the previous season).

8.  If the Head Coach and/or Assistant Coach #1 does NOT have a child in the corresponding division or if the team does NOT have an assistant Coach, up to three returning players that played with the current Head Coach in the previous season can also be frozen but all times the maximum is 3 frozen players.

a.  Example: HC with NO kids in the division and NO AC, can FREEZE 3 returning players from their previous team.

b.  Example: HC with a child in the division and does not have an AC can freeze 2 returning players from their previous team.

9.  Coaches or Players moving up, if the parent allows, can freeze players coached in the previous season prior to moving up. (If there are any conflicts the parent will decide which Coach the child can be frozen by and will be subject to committee review and approval.)

10.  In ALL scenarios parents must submit a fully completed and signed freeze form and must be submitted prior to draft commencing for Committee review and approval. Hard copies must be turned in by Coach on draft day.

11.  Draft Order is determined by pulling a number out of a hat.

12.  Siblings MUST be drafted together. NO OTHER RELATIONSHIP is guaranteed to be drafted together.

13.  There are NO TRADES/SWAPS ALLOWED.

14.  No RECRUITING and/or “TEAMING UP”.

15.  All FREEZES are subject to approval by the Flag Football Committee, the Committee will not only consider the letter of the rules but the spirit of the rules when necessary to do it’s best to create a level playing field, if a team is found to be in violation of freeze rules a player and/or coach may be suspended or removed from the league and/or may lose their freeze eligibility in the next season.

16.  Draft RULES are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Committee and may vary by age group aka division as deemed necessary.

a.  For example: Number of Freezes may be adjusted in an effort to create balanced teams depending on age group, number or players/teams in a division, etc.

PLEASE remember this is a REC league, and the rules are above designed to create an environment where kids can learn a sport, have fun, create relationships and play on a level playing field. The Committee can exercise discretion when it deems that a FREEZE or RULE may inadvertently conflict with the above.