RAPID CITY - It's more than a backyard game.

To some, Rapid City Parks and Recreation's flag football leagues are an obsession.

"It's a different level of how serious people take it," said Jeff Richardt, who directs the leagues.

It's definitely more than a hobby. In 10 years, the local flag football leagues have grown from six teams to 33. They have even evolved in its rules systems and divisions, as well as become extremely competitive. Several teams show up hours before their game to practice plays. While some teams are just out to get exercise, some others map out plays and gameplan. Some players even have wristbands and signals.

The adult leagues start play in August - about a week before Labor Day - and the youths started play Sept. 15. The season is short, only a couple of months. The adults play on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and the youths play on Monday and Tuesday nights. Games start at 6 p.m. on each night.

The game has a unique style. Each team has five players on the field for every play, but the number of players on a team varies. Teams must have at least five players, but most have eight or nine. Some of the teams from the police or fire departments have as many as 20 players, but they are limited in who can play because of work shifts.

While the perception of flag football may be that of an informal, backyard game, there are plenty of rules and dimensions to prove the contrary.

Of course, there is the simple rule that you have to grab a flag to in effect "tackle" a player. But also, this version of flag football has no punting, no kicking and no fumbles - a runner is ruled down when the ball hits the ground.

"We came up with our own rules," said Richardt, who added that the leagues' rules have evolved over the years.

Each team has five players who play on a field that is 70 yards long from the back of each endzone, which equates to about a 50-yard playing surface. Teams have three plays to get a first down. But a first down is not the same 10-yards as it is in the traditional sport - first downs are marked by a cone near midfield.

Teams are limited by when they can call running plays. Teams are not allowed to have rushing plays five yards from each endzone, and no blocking - or "picking" - is allowed.

"We had to rewrite the rules to get rid of handchecking," Richardt said.

Also, one foot inbounds equals a catch.

The way the leagues are divided somewhat reflects this. In the adult ranks, there are three levels of competition: A, B and C.

The A league is for the most competitive and more athletic. Richardt said that some players in the A league were former college football players, and at least one used to play for the former Rapid City Red Dogs.

The C leagues are the largest contingent, and when the tournament rolls around, Richardt said the C leagues will be divided into upper and lower divisions.

At the end of the season, the teams are seeded by record for the tournament. Each team is guaranteed at least one game. The winning team advances, and the league has the semifinal and championships games on the same night.

The first place team in each league gets a three-foot high trophy and some highly coveted t-shirts, which also go to second-place teams.

"When it is championship night, they get competitive," Richardt said. "They want those t-shirts."

Registration for flag football begins during the first week of July. Richardt contacts teams from the previous year and posts information about the league throughout the city. Teams sign up starting during the second week of August up to the next week, when play begins.

Players register as teams, but individuals may also find a spot. Richardt said interested individuals that are not already with a team can contact him, and he will put their name on a list when there is an opening for a player.

"I usually will take their names down," Richardt said. "We take registrations until the day we start."