Flag Football
History:
The American game of football, as we know it today, has grown rapidly from its earliest
beginning in England’s Rugby Union, to the first college game
between Princeton and Rutgers Universities in 1869. Today,
football is considered by many sports lover to be the king of all
sports.
Flag football is believed to have begun in the U.S. military
during World War II to prevent injury to military personnel
playing football. Maryland is generally accepted as the birthplace
of flag football. Even though there are official rules that exist in
flag football, from region to region there are local customs, fields
and traditions that affect the rules.
Playing the Game
A flag football game usually consists of two 20-minute halves with a running clock. A team
consists of 7 to 11 players. The ball is put into play by a kick (punt ball from the end zone). The punt
(kickoff) is only live for the receiving team.
A team has four downs to advance to the next zone line. If the team fails this, the other team gets
the ball. A team may punt (kick) on fourth down. A player is considered down when one of his/her
flags is pulled (or falls off) while in possession of the ball. If a ball is fumbled and touches the
ground, it is a dead ball and the offense retains possession.
Below is one field configuration. The total length of field is adapted based on facilities.
60 yards
Endzone
Compared to regular NFL (American) football field:
Endzone
1st Down Line
And CFL (Canadian) football field:
Can you spot three key differences between the field layouts?
Offensive Rules:
1. The offensive team must have a center snap the ball.
2. Blocking is allowed in some leagues but it is more like interference, with not real contact.
3. The offense has 4 plays to cross the first down marker by passing or running.
4. The QB can run past the line of scrimmage only after 5 “steamboats” have been counted by
the rusher.
5. Any forward pass must be made from behind the line of scrimmage.
6. Handoffs and laterals are allowed.
7. At least three offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage.
8. All players are eligible to receive a pass.
9. The offensive team may punt on the 4th down and do not need to notify the defense of their
intentions to do so.
Defensive Rules:
1. The defense must have one defensive lineman who is responsible for pass rushing.
2. The pass rusher may not begin his rush until a set count in some leagues. (e.g. 5 steamboats)
3. Once the ball is handed off, all defensive players may rush past the line of scrimmage.
4. Blitzing (a full out attack on the quarterback) is not allowed.
Additional Rules
1. All minor penalties will result in a 5-yard penalty.
2. Major penalties also count for an automatic first down.
3. Field is usually 60 yards long plus end zones.
4. Possession begins where the punt receiver’s flag is removed. By reaching the 30-yd mark
(centre field) the offense is awarded a first down.
5. Possession ends on a touchdown, interception, fumble, punt or drive stopped after 4 downs.
6. NO BLOCKING! Offensive blockers may screen the defense, however. Responsibility to
avoid contact is with the defense.
7. If a defending team sacks the quarterback (or any offensive player with the ball) in the
offensive end zone, the ball is turned over at midfield to the defending team. No points are
scored.
8. First point of contact: A receiver is determined to be "in" if at least ONE foot touches
down in-bounds.
9. If the ball is kicked through the end zone on either a punt or kick-off (or kicked into the
end zone and the receiving team elects not to run the ball out by letting the ball go), the
offensive team will start their drive 10 yards out from their end zone. If the receiving team
elects to catch the ball in the end zone (or runs back into the end zone after catching the
ball), the receiver is in play and runs the risk of being tackled in his/her own end zone.
10. Teams may call a one (1) minute time-out per half.
11. If the ball is fumbled (dropped) without a flag coming off, any player on either team may
pick up the ball.
12. During punts, offensive players must give the receiving team room to be able to catch the
football (or they can ask for a re-kick).
SCORING:
A) Touchdown: 6 points (Getting the ball into the other team’s endzone)
B) Conversion: 2 points (Scoring a touchdown from their 5 yard line. Follows immediately after
a 6-point touchdown is scored.)
A) Safety: 2 points. (If you are tackled in your own end zone)
DEFINITIONS:
CENTERING: The action whereby the center puts the ball into play from the ground by
passing the ball between his legs to the quarterback. (Called “snapping” or “hutting” as well.)
DOWN: A unit of the game that starts with the centering of the ball and ends when the ball
is dead. A down is like an “attempt.”
END ZONE: The 10 yard area between the goal line and the end line.
FIRST DOWN: If the ball is moved forward past center field you get a first down.
FLAG GUARDING: Keeping the defensive player from pulling your flag by holding the flag or
guarding it with your hand/arm. This is a 5-yard penalty from the site of infraction.
FULLBACK: A member of the offensive backfield who lines up behind the quarterback.
FUMBLE: Loss of control of the ball by the ball carrier.
HOLDING: Using the hands or arms illegally.
ILLEGAL PROCEDURE: An error in setting a team formation. Five yard penalty.
INTERCEPTION: When a defensive player catches a ball being thrown. The person making
the interception can run the ball back.
LATERAL PASS: A ball thrown by the passer which travels sideways or backwards.
LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: An imaginary line marking the position of the ball at the start of
every play.
NEUTRAL ZONE: Area the length of the ball that neither the defensive or offensive players
can be in prior to the snap of the ball.
OFFSIDE: Movement or contact across the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Five
yard penalty.
PASS INTERFERENCE: Bumping, shoving, or interfering with a pass receiver while the ball
reaches the receiver.
PUNT: A kick to the other team usually on the fourth down.
SAFETY: When the ball is downed in a teams own end zone. Two points for the other team.
SHOTGUN: Type of center-quarterback exchange where the quarterback is further behind
the center. (Usually about 5 yards)
TACKLING: In the context of flag football, the term tackling refers to the removal of one or
both flags from a player who is carrying/holding the ball.