BASIC FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
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 or fumbles.
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 with the ball, unless it was handed off 🌧️ first.
They can run behind the line of scrimmage, but they can't gain yardage.
All passes must go forward and be received 🌧️ beyond the line of scrimmage.
Laterals and pitches aren't allowed-only direct handoffs are permitted.
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, or the ball-carrier's flag falls off.
Players can't obstruct or guard their flags.
For a 🌧️ complete list of flag football rules, visit our NFL FLAG Football Rules pageSCORING
Every game starts with a coin toss (there 🌧️ are no kickoffs).
The starting team begins on its own 5-yard line and has four downs-essentially four plays-to cross midfield for 🌧️ a first down.
If the offense fails to advance after three attempts, they can "punt," meaning they turn over the ball 🌧️ to the opposing team, which then starts from its own 5-yard line.
Or they can go for a first down, but 🌧️ if they fail, the opposing team takes over possession from the spot of the ball.
Once midfield is crossed, the offense 🌧️ has three downs to score a touchdown.
A touchdown is 6 points and a safety is 2 points (1-point conversion from 🌧️ the 5-yard line; 2-point conversion from the 10-yard line).
A touchdown is 6 points and a safety is 2 points (1-point 🌧️ conversion from the 5-yard line; 2-point conversion from the 10-yard line).
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.
As a general rule of thumb, 🌧️ if a team is winning by a 28 or greater point margin, the game is over and the team doesn't 🌧️ attempt an extra point.
RUNNING
When players run with the ball, their feet can't leave the ground to avoid a defensive player.
In 🌧️ other words, players can spin to avoid their opponent, but they can't leap or dive.
Only direct handoffs are permitted-there are 🌧️ no laterals or pitches.
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.
Also, under flag football rules, the quarterback can't run with 🌧️ the ball unless it has been handed to him/her in the backfield.
And all players who rush the passer must be 🌧️ a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
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 🌧️ on either side of the midfield.
In this designated area, the offensive team must complete a pass play.
Lastly, if an offensive 🌧️ player's flag is pulled when they're running with the ball, their feet determine where the ball is spotted, not the 🌧️ flag.
RECEIVING
One rule that makes flag football unique (and that much more competitive) is that everyone can receive a pass, including 🌧️ the quarterback, after the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage.
This allows coaches to include a variety 🌧️ of flag football plays into their playbooks and helps players develop fundamental offense skills.
Plus, it makes the game more engaging.
Keep 🌧️ in mind that when making a catch, players must have one foot in bounds, just like tackle.
PASSING
Flag football rules state 🌧️ that all passes must go forward and be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
Shovel passes, which are short passes to 🌧️ forward receivers, are allowed, but also must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.
Quarterbacks have a seven-second pass clock to 🌧️ get rid of the ball.
And if they don't, the play is dead.
Additionally, center sneak play-where the quarterback hands off to 🌧️ the center as the first handoff of the play-is no longer allowed.
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.
FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYS
To set up teams for success, 🌧️ coaches teach a variety of formations, routes and 5 on 5 flag football plays throughout the season.
And with every player 🌧️ being eligible to receive a pass, including the quarterback, coaches can get creative and tailor their plays to their team's 🌧️ strengths-or their opponent's weaknesses.
Some plays are complex, while others are more basic.
Some go for long yardage, while others aim for 🌧️ short gains.
In every scenario, these plays determine the flow of the game and teach players the basic fundamentals needed to 🌧️ succeed.
In other words, it teaches them how to play flag football.
That's why we always recommend that coaches start with the 🌧️ basics, helping players establish a strong foundation first, and then mix and match new and more challenging plays as their 🌧️ team gains confidence.
See the complete list of 5 on 5 offensive flag football plays and learn how to create a 🌧️ winning youth flag football playbook.
