Flag football is a version of American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game (often called “tackle football” for contrast), but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier (“deflagging”) to end a down. In most organized play, players wear a belt. These belts vary from ‘Triple Threat” which the entire flag belt is removed, to “Sonic Pop” which only the flag is pulled. The “Sonic Pop” flag belts have also been modified by some organizations to just a simple velcro attachment holding the flag to the belt.
Variations
Chiefly because there is no dominant sanctioning organization for the sport, the game has mutated into many variations: 9-man, 8-man, 7-man, 5-man, and 4-man on a side; with kicking and punting and without; with point-after conversions (including some with 1, 2, and 3 point tries) or without; and field sizes that vary from full NFL size (120 yards long by 53 1/3 yards wide) to fields a third that size.
An important distinction is whether linemen are allowed to catch passes (“Eligible Linemen”) or, as in the NFL, are not allowed to do so (“Ineligible Linemen”). Flag (and touch) football may also be divided into “contact” or “non-contact”, depending on whether or not blocking is allowed; if allowed, blocking is usually restricted to the chest.
In Non-Contact flag football, there is no blocking, usually no linemen, and if there are linemen they can not use their hands to block an opponent. Defensive players cannot get in the way of a runner; they can only attempt to grab the flag without impeding the path of the runner. Offensive players are not allowed to hand block defensive players to prevent them from grabbing the flag.
In Contact flag football, none of the rules above apply. There are linemen blocking only around chest area, no chop blocks or blocks below the waist. Defensive players can get in the path of an offensive player to attempt to grab the flag. Offensive players can hand block defensive players attempting to grab the flag.
ZFOOTBALL is a national 4-on-4 Flag football tour which holds events in cities across the United States. ZFOOTBALL tournaments include men’s divisions, which are separated by skill, as well as youth divisions, which are separated by age.
The game is played on a field that is 25 yards wide and 64 yards long. Each end zone is seven yards deep. Games consist of two fourteen-minute halves. Teams have one time-out per game, which stops the clock. In the last minute of the game, if the difference in score is less than 10 points, a pro clock is used (stoppage on out of bounds, incomplete passes, defensive penalties, and scores). Teams have four players each on the field, and can have rosters of up to six players. Substitutions are unlimited, and can be made between plays.
[edit] Offense
The offensive team begins their possession at the five yard line, and has three plays to gain 20 yards and advance the ball beyond mid-field. After they advance the ball past mid-field, the offense has three additional plays to put the ball into the end-zone. If a team scores a touchdown (six points), the have the option of attempting either a one-point conversion (from five yards) or a two point conversion (from twelve yards).
The offense advances the ball by completing forward passes. Passes must be completed over the line of scrimmage. No backwards laterals, screen passes behind the line of scrimmage, or downfield pitches are allowed. The offense also has the option of running the ball to gain yardage, but a hand-off must occur behind the line of scrimmage in order for the offense to gain the run option.
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