Football, as we know it, is changing. The way the game used to be taught and played is different from what’s happening today. Player protection and injury prevention are front and center, causing a major culture shift within the sport. Leagues across all levels are adopting new technology, regimens and regulations in an effort to reduce the risk of injury, as researchers continue to focus on the impact of sustained contact in youth sports.
All-American Sports Recreation offers NFL Flag year-round. In the winter, games are played indoor. There are several sessions every year.
Go to the
registration page
for information on how to sign up.
Flag football flags and belt: Players wear belts with flags that hang along their sides and opponents have to pull the flags off of the ball-carrier’s belt. Every player receives an official NFL FLAG football belt and flag football flags, either from their coach or league organizer.
NFL FLAG team jersey: Every player also receives a team jersey upon registration.
Shorts: It’s important to wear shorts that don’t have pockets. This allows the belt and flags to be visible at all times, avoiding unnecessary penalties. It also is a safety precaution so that fingers don’t get stuck when attempting to remove the flag.
Mouthguard: This is the only protective gear that players wear. We recommend having a backup pair in your bag, just in case.
Football cleats (optional): Metal cleats are not allowed in flag football.
Football gloves (optional): Some players prefer to use football gloves, which give extra grip to help control the ball. These aren’t required, though.
Physical development: Being a member on any sports team takes a certain level of coordination and gross motor skills. In flag football, coaches tailor their practice to each age group. For example, children aged 5-to 7-years-old learn the basics, while 8-to 10-year-olds focus on position-specific skills and are more emotionally mature. But in general, your child should have enough coordination to run up and down the field while holding a football or pulling a flag off an opponent.
Understand teamwork: One of the biggest benefits of organized sports is that children learn what it means to be a team member. This is especially true in football where there are so many moving parts and every player’s contribution counts. If you feel that your child is ready to understand sportsmanship and teamwork, they will gain a lot from joining a flag football team.
Discipline: Playing on a team requires children to come to practice, learn the rules, listen to coaches, and participate in drills and other activities. They make a commitment to work hard and show up every week. And by doing so, they gain a sense of discipline. Parents should feel comfortable that their children can respond well to a structured team environment.
Plain and simple, flag football is loads of fun. With fewer players on the field, there’s more engagement and a faster speed of play. Games are quick, competitive and every drive counts, especially in tournaments. It’s the version of football you loved playing in your backyard—why ever stop?
NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program for girls and boys ages 5-17. Backed by the NFL with an emphasis on football fundamentals and community involvement, NFL FLAG empowers youth athletes across the nation.
The fee is $150 in December 2024, but is subject to change. The current fee is on the
registration page.
It is paid to All-American Sports Recreation. The following equipment is included: flag belts and flags, a mouth guard, and reversable team jersey.
The first rule of flag football is pretty straight forward: there’s no contact allowed. That includes tackling, blocking, and screening. Instead, players wear flags that hang along their sides by a belt. To “tackle” the person in possession of the ball, the opposing team needs to pull one or both of their flags off.
This rule, along with several others, serve a single purpose: to keep players safe. From creating “no run zones” to eliminating fumbles, flag football rules are designed to create a fast-paced, engaging version of football without the physical contact. Read all about the important
NFL Youth flag football rules.
We have also provided a
positions guide
which explains how to play each position.
In simple terms, flag football positions are essentially the same as tackle, but without the linemen. There are five players on the field in NFL FLAG football—for both offense and defense—with assigned roles.
But, unlike tackle football, these football positions overlap much more than you may realize. For example, one player can take on many responsibilities in a given play, such as a center transitioning into a wide receiver after snapping the ball. For this reason, versatile players tend to be more successful in flag football.
We have also provided a
positions guidewhich explains how to play each position.
The most notable difference between flag football and tackle football is, well, tackling. In flag football, contact is not permitted. Players wear flags and defenders are tasked with removing the flags in order to “tackle” their opponent. If the ball carrier can reach the goal line with both flags intact, he or she scores. That being said, you will find some forms of flag football that allow blocking; however, NFL FLAG is strictly non-contact. Here are a few other key differences:
Number of players on the field: In general, there are fewer players on the field in flag football, five for each team. The field is also shorter to accommodate the smaller team size.
Faster pace: Without tackling, flag football games are much faster paced. Think about it: less timeouts, no kick offs, less stoppage time— kids are flying out there. And as a result, the games are shorter than tackle football as well (usually an hour or less).
Rules: To eliminate contact, you’ll find many differences between tackle football and flag football rules. For example, quarterbacks aren’t allowed to run the ball in flag football. Diving, blocking, screening and fumbles aren’t allowed. Once the ball hits the ground, it’s dead.
See the complete list of
NFL Youth flag football rules.