Whether you’re new to the game or looking to brush up on flag football rules, this guide will teach you the ins and outs of how to play flag football.
A flag football field is shorter than a standard tackle field at 30 yards wide and 70 yards long, with two 10-yard end zones, although the size can vary some. Crossing midfield earns a first down. To prevent power football in tight spaces, no run zones are located 5 yards before the end zone and on each side of the midfield first down line. If the ball is spotted on or inside the no run zone, the offense must use a pass play to get a first down or touchdown.
When learning how to play flag football, it’s best to start with the basics. In NFL FLAG football leagues, teams play 5 on 5 and each game consists of two halves, usually 15 to 25 minutes long. Tournament games are typically shorter with two, 10 to 12 minute halves. The clock only stops for halftime, timeouts (each team has 3), or injury, making games quick and competitive. Each player has a specific role on the field and every play counts.
The most important rule in flag football is that there’s no contact allowed, including tackling, diving, blocking, screening. Fumbles are dead when they hit the ground. Instead of physically tackling an opponent to the ground, players wear flags that hang along their sides by a belt. Defenders “tackle” the ball-carrier by removing one or both of their flags.
While this rule is designed to keep players safe, there are several other rules that limit contact among players, including:
- The quarterback isn’t allowed to run the ball past the line of scrimmage, unless it was handed off first. They can run behind the line of scrimmage, but they can’t gain yardage.
- Center sneak plays aren’t allowed.
- There are no fumbles. Instead, the ball stays in possession of the offense and is spotted where the ball-carrier’s feet were when the fumble occurred.
- The ball is dead when: the ball-carrier’s flag is pulled, the ball-carrier steps out of bound, a touchdown or safety is scored, the ball-carrier’s knee hits the ground, the ball-carrier’s flag falls off or the ball touches he ground.
- Players can’t obstruct or guard their flags.
If the offense fails to score or earn a first down, they turn over the ball to the opposing team, which then starts from its own 5-yard line.
Once midfield is crossed, the offense has three downs to score a touchdown. A touchdown is 6 points plus the opportunity for a 1-point conversion from the 5-yard line or a 2-point conversion from the 10-yard line. A safety is 2 points.
A safety occurs when the ball-carrier is declared down in their own end zone. This happens when their flag is pulled by a defensive player, their flag falls out, their knee or arm touches the ground, or if a snapped ball lands in the end zone.
When players run with the ball, they are allowed to can spin to avoid their opponent, but they can’t leap or dive.
Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush. And the person who takes the handoff is allowed to throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. So while you’ll see a designated quarterback on the field, several plays actually rely on other teammates to pass the ball. This changes up plays, keeps the defense on their toes, and makes the game even more exciting.
Flag football rules aim to prevent power plays and avoid short-yardage situations, so you’ll find no run zones located 5 yards from each end zone and 5 yards before midfield. In this designated area, the offensive team must complete a pass play.
Additionally, center sneak play—where the quarterback hands off to the center as the first handoff of the play—is not allowed.
Lastly, if an offensive player’s flag is pulled while carrying with the ball, their feet determine where the ball is spotted, not the flag.
RECEIVING
Everyone can receive a pass. This includes the quarterback, after the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage. This allows coaches to include a variety of plays into their playbooks and helps players develop fundamental offense skills. Plus, it makes the game more engaging.
Quarterbacks have a seven-second pass clock to get rid of the ball. And if they don’t, the play is dead and the ball spotted at the line of scrimmage before the play.
Interceptions are allowed, but look a little different in flag football. They change the possession of the ball at the point of the interception. So if an interception occurs, the referee blows the whistle and the play is dead. Interceptions are the only change of possession that don’t start on the team’s 5-yard line.
RUSHING THE PASSER
Players who rush the passer must stand at least seven yards off the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped, while players who aren’t rushing the passer may start on the line of scrimmage. The seven-yard rule no longer applies once the ball is handed off—all defenders are allowed to go behind the line of scrimmage at that point.
A sack occurs when a defensive player pulls off the quarterback’s flag(s) behind the line of scrimmage. The quarterback, or anyone in possession of the ball, is down when their flag(s) are removed.