Basic Flag Football Rules

There are several different versions of flag football, and many leagues have developed their own rules. In general, the following rules apply to most flag football games. Flag football rules are designed to allow for a lot of fun and exercise while minimizing the possibility of serious injury. This means that people with a wide range of physical abilities can play football fairly safely.

In most flag football games, teams are required to field a five-person team and to have a specified number of players on the bench. Flag football rules require all players to wear flag belts throughout the game. Since the center and the two guards are not eligible to carry the ball, they are the only exceptions to the flag rule. A game is played for either 40 or 44 minutes and features a short intermission halfway through the allotted time.

Flag Football Rules vs. Contact Rules

As in contact football, a coin toss is held to determine which team has first possession. After that, the offensive team gets the ball and starts play at its own five-yard line. The offensive team's first goal is to cross the center line of the field in only three plays. If they are successful, they will earn another three plays in order to try to score. Failure to cross the center of the field during the first set of plays or to score during the second set of plays results in losing the ball to the other team, which will then begin play on its five-yard line.

In flag football, the quarterback can pass or hand the ball off, but all passes must be forward. A quarterback is not allowed to run with the ball at any time. The offense can complete multiple hand-offs, but they must all be behind the line of scrimmage. Most of the foul rules are very similar to those of contact football, as are the basic guidelines governing movement down the field, the presence of officials, and overtime play (when a game is tied at the end of the regulation game time).