Flag Football Rules and Terminology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the rules, field specifications, scoring, definitions, and penalties for Flag Football.

Flag Football Origin

An outgrowth of regular football played in the United States since around the middle of the nineteenth century, developed due to a lack of proper equipment and time for highly organized play.

Physical Education Equipment

Flag belts, a P.E. uniform, and a regulation or junior-sized football.

Playing Field Dimensions

40 yards wide by 100 yards long, divided into four 20-yard zones with two 10-yard endzones.

Flag Specifications

Flags must be 12 to 15 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Length of Game

Four 10-to-12 minute periods with a 1-minute rest between periods and a 5-minute rest between halves.

Touchdown

Awarded 6 points when an offensive or defensive player crosses the opponent's goal line with the football in hand while still having both flags attached.

Field Goal

Awarded 3 points when the ball is kicked through the goal posts from the ground; notably NOT used in flag football.

Safety

Awarded 2 points when a free ball or a ball in possession of a player defending his own goal becomes dead behind the goal line.

PAT (Point After Touchdown)

Awarded 2 points in flag football, achieved by running or passing after a touchdown.

Team Composition

Consists of 11 players per team (unless fewer are agreed upon), with the offensive team required to have at least 5 players on the line of scrimmage.

Kick-off Position

The ball is placed on the 40-yard line, and the receiving team must remain at least 10 yards away.

Touchback

Occurs when a kicked ball goes over the opponent's goal line, causing the ball to be put into play at the 20-yard line.

Fumbled Ball

Becomes dead immediately at any time and remains in possession of the team that fumbled it at the spot of the fumble.

Downed Ball

Occurs when one flag is detached from the belt or the ball carrier loses a flag.

First Down

Earned when a team advances the ball from one 20-yard zone to the next within 4 downs.

Overtime

A tie-breaking period where each team receives 4 downs from the 20-yard line, and the team advancing closest to the goal (or scoring) wins.

Timeout Limit

Each team is allowed 2 timeouts per period.

Forward Pass Rule

Must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage; any number of passes may be thrown in a series of downs, and all players are eligible receivers.

Lateral Pass

A pass thrown underhand and backwards that can be executed anywhere on the field.

5-Yard Penalties

Penalties assessed for Offsides, Delay of Game, Illegal Motion or Shift, and Illegal Forward Pass.

15-Yard Penalties

Penalties marked from the spot of the foul for Illegal Use of Hands, Illegal Block, Unnecessary Roughness, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Clipping, and Pass Interference.

Offsides

When an offensive player is ahead of the ball when it is hiked.

Encroachment

When a defensive player crosses the line before the ball is hiked.

Line of Scrimmage

Where the ball is placed on the field for each down.

Neutral Zone

The area located in between the line of scrimmage of each team.

Endline

The outer line of the endzone.

Endzone

The area between the goal line and the goal posts.

Sideline

The lines located on the outer edges of the field.

Goal Line

The line that needs to be broken to score a touchdown.

Clipping

An illegal action where a player throws their body across the back of the leg or legs of a player not carrying the ball; penalized as a Personal Foul with 15 yards.

Pass Interference

Interfering with an opponent trying to catch a pass through pushing, knocking them down, pulling their flag, or making any bodily contact.

Illegal Block

A foul incurred by leaving the feet to block someone or blocking below the waist.

Flagrant Violations

Severe infractions of the rules that result in automatic disqualification.