Grades 7-12
Flag Football Study Guide
Flag Football Terms
• Offense: team unit working to score points by passing and running the ball.
• In a huddle, a team groups together to get instructions from the quarterback, team captain or coach.
• Quarterback calls signals, throws passes, hand off the ball, and runs the ball.
• Running backs often take the ball from the quarterback and run toward the opposite team's end zone. They can also catch or pass the ball as they run.
• Receivers catch passes and can run the ball.
• The center snaps the ball to the quarterback to begin each play. The center is allowed to catch the ball hi flag football. (Note: offensive lineman block defenders from getting to ball hi full contact football.)
• The line of scrimmage is an imaginary line that extends through the football from one sideline to another, separating the field into offensive and defensive sides.
• The cadence is the signal the quarterback uses to begin the play.
• The snap is the exchange of the ball from the center to the quarterback.
• A completion is a successful pass and caught between two players on the same team.
• A hand off is when one player hands the ball to another.
• Defense: team unit working to prevent the offense from scoring by pulling the flags, intercepting the ball, and other means.
• Defensive linemen try to stop all movement toward their team's end zone.
• Defensive backs are in charge of stopping receivers from catching the ball.
• An interception is the act of catching the other team's pass to gain possession for the defensive team.
• A sack is the pulling off of the quarterback's flags behind the line of scrimmage.
• The end zones are located at both ends of the field, where touchdowns are made
· Touch down is worth 6 Points
· Extra Point is worth 1 Point
· The ball carrier is downed by pulling the flag from his/her waist
· If a player inadvertently loses his flag, he is considered down at that spot.
· It is illegal for a player to deliberately withdraw an opponent’s flag unless that player is possession of the ball.
· A ball carrier may not run through a defender with his body in any way. Every attempt must be made to avoid the tackler. The object is to play the flag not the man.
· Actual tackling is not permitted. Any action against the runner, other than contact while attempting to pull his flag will be considered unnecessary roughness.
· Grabbing the runners’ clothes is not permitted!
· The team has four downs in which to score.
· A kick off going out-of-bounds can be handled in two ways: (1) the receiving team may take possession of the ball at the spot it went out of bounds or (2) the kicking team may re kick
· Players must stay on their own sides until the ball is hiked.
· A team may put or pass on the 4th down. They must tell their intentions. No rush on a punt will be allowed until the ball is hiked and kicked.
· All members of a team are eligible to receive a pass.
· Lateral passes are not considered forward passes.
· An incomplete pass is any forward pass that is not caught by an offensive player.
· The length of the flag football field is 40 yards.