Flag Football Handout

Object of Game:
The offense tries to get the ball into their oppositions end zone without getting stopped by the defense.

Playing the Game:

To start the game the defense team kicks off to the offensive team. The players on each team line up facing each other on the line of scrimmage. The offense has three downs (or plays) to move the ball 10 yards (from one cone to the next) to get a new set of downs. If the offense gets past a cone after less than three plays, they have three more to get to the next cone. A play is started when the quarterback says Hike. QB calls cadence (shouts: "Ready - Down - Set - Hut one - Hut two - Hut three - Hut four) The center snaps the ball to the quarterback and the receivers go down field for a pass. If an offensive players flag is pulled while they possess the football, the play stops and the ball is set down where the flag was pulled to start another play (line of scrimmage). When a pass is caught by the defense, (an interception), the defense becomes the offense. They then will try to move the ball in the opposite direction. The team that threw the pass is now on defense.

Scoring

Touchdown: 6 points are awarded for crossing the end line Conversion: 1 point (played from 10-yard line kicked through posts or run into the end zone) Conversion: 2 points (played from 10-yard line passed cross the end line)

Play
To start the play, the ball must be snapped between the legs of the Center. The Center is the Player who gives the ball to the Quarterback via a snap. The Center cannot take a direct handoff back from the Quarterback. The Quarterback is the Player who receives the ball directly from the Center. The Quarterback cannot run with the ball past the line of scrimmage. An offence may use multiple handoffs behind the line of scrimmage. Only backward or lateral handoffs are allowed during a down and are considered running plays. . The Player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. All Defensive Players are eligible to rush once the ball has been handed off or tossed, or there is a play-action fake or fake handoff. The Quarterback can be rushed after 7 steamboats (or 7 seconds) are called out by the defense. The ball is spotted where the ball carriers feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.

Rules
Live ball: the ball is still live when The ball carrier falls and then immediately gets up and their flag(s) have not been taken. The ball is passed or pitched out to a teammate. The quarterback does not catch the snap. A hand-off has been dropped. Dead ball: the ball is dead when The ball carriers flag(s) have been pulled off. A pass is not caught and it falls to the ground resulting in an incomplete pass. A ball is fumbled.

Possession changes: a team loses possession of the ball when They fail to achieve a 1st down after 3 downs (tries). The team kicks off. Anytime there is an interception of a passed ball. A hand-off that is dropped during delivery and recovered by the opposite team.

Simple Infractions
1. Off sides: NO player may cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped. Penalty: 5 yards against the team that does this. 2. Interference: any disturbance to an opponent who is in the midst of receiving a pass or any illegal foul to one who is not receiving the ball. Penalty: 10 yards against the interfering team.

Skills involved in flag football

Stance: 2 point (offense), 3 point (defense) Centering: long snap for a punt Normal snap for passing or hand-off Passing: Grip the ball firmly with fingers spread. Allow them to rest on the laces naturally. Put as many fingers on the laces as the hand will allow. Throwing action: Bring the ball back close to your ear. Step with your opposite foot while opening your hips and rotating your shoulders square to the target. Lead with your elbow and snap your wrist upon release. Ball should roll off the fingers to produce a spiral effect. Practice for a good throw is necessary. Pass receiving: Above the waist thumbs together Below the waist pinkies together Ball carrying: After receiving the ball from a pass or a hand off, carry the ball in the arm away from the defenders. Tuck the ball away with the carrying hand over the pointed part of the ball. Punting: laces of the ball are up, kick on shoelaces. Place kicking or Kick off:

Flag Belt Removal: No article of clothing may cover any portion of a player's flag. Each player must wear a one-piece belt at the waistline with three flags permanently attached. One flag on each side and one in the center of the back. When the flag belt is clearly taken from the ball carrier the down shall end and the ball is declared dead. A player who removes the flag should immediately hold the belt above their head to assist the official in locating the spot where the capture occurred. In any attempt to remove the flag belt from a ball carrier, defensive players may contact the body and shoulders of an opponent with their hands, but not their face or any part of their neck or head. A. defensive players may not hold, push, or knock the ball carrier down in an attempt to remove the flag. The flag may be dropped at the spot of capture by the defense with no penalty. In all situations where a play is in progress and a ball carrier loses the flag belt accidentally, inadvertently, or on purpose, the play reverts to a one-hand touch of the ball carrier between the shoulders and knees. Ball carriers shall not guard their flags to prevent the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove flag belt and by blocking with arms or hands. (15 yards) The defensive player shall not hold, grasp, or obstruct forward progress of a ball carrier when in the action of removing the flag belt (15 yards)

Offense Position Descriptions

The Quarterback (QB) calls the offensive plays as leader of offense. The QB always receives the football in what is called a snap from the Center (C). The QB has the option to hand off the football or pass the football to a teammate on offense. The Center snaps the football to the QB. A snap is when the Center tosses the football between his or her legs. After the snap, the Center can run out for a pass.

The Wide Receiver may catch a pass or take a handoff from the QB to gain yardage.

The Running Back stands to the side or behind the QB He/she will take a hand off or run for a pass play

Defensive Backs (DB)

All defensive positions in Flag Football are called Defensive Backs. The DB is responsible for stopping the players on offense and trying to intercept or gain possession of the football.

Player Positions on the Field:

Terms:
End zone: Area at each end of the field where offense tries to get the ball to score points. Goal Line: Line at beginning of end zone ball must cross to get touchdown. Touchdown: 6 points received to team when they get ball into end zone. Extra Point: After touchdown is scored, team can kick ball through goal posts for one more point. Two Point Conversion: After touchdown is scored, team gets one more play to get ball into the end zone for two extra points. Offense: Team that has possession of the ball. Trying to get ball from cone to cone and eventually, into the end zone. Defense: Team that is trying to stop offense from getting ball into end zone by pulling the flag of the offensive player who has possession of the ball. Downs: Offensive team has three downs (plays) to get football from cone to cone and eventually into the end zone. If offense gets ball to cone, they have three new plays to get to the next cone. Interception: Defensive player catches pass intended for offensive player. The defense then becomes the offense and the team that threw the ball is now on defense. Fumble: Occurs when the offensive player has possession of the ball, then drops ball. The play stops and the team that had possession of ball retain possession. Dead Ball: Occurs whenever the ball hit the ground. Play is immediately stopped and ball is put on line of scrimmage. If ball was fumbled, line of scrimmage is where ball hit the ground.

Sack: When defensive player pulls quarterbacks flag off behind the line of scrimmage. Blitz: When defensive players other than the defensive linemen rush the quarterback. Huddle: strategy meeting used to determine what offensive and defensive teams are going to do. Teams must stay on side during huddles. Line of Scrimmage: an imaginary line on the field where the ball is placed to begin play. Defense can be no closer than 1 yd to the line of scrimmage Centering or Hiking the Ball: the center snaps the ball to the QB to begin Play. QB can stand right behind center or 5 to 8 yds back - called Shot Gun position Illegal Procedure: Until the ball is snapped any offensive player within 1 yd of line of scrimmage cannot move. If they do it is called illegal procedure - Penalty 5 yds back Off Side: Defensive team cannot be in the 1 yd zone when ball is snapped or the players are called offside. Penalty 5 yds before ball is snapped. Pass interference- Contact during a down in which a legal forward pass is thrown, contact which interferes with an eligible receiver unless it occurs when two or more eligible receivers make a simultaneous and bona fide attempt to reach, catch, or bat a pass. Penalty is the considered caught and a new line of scrimmage where the ball would have been caught. Cadence - a call from the QB to say when the ball is snapped for example (shouts: "Ready - Down - Set Hut one - Hut two - Hut three - Hut four)

Penalties:
Offensive Holding: When an offensive player grabs a defensive player and does not allow them to continue moving or slows them down. Example: an offensive lineman holds a defensive lineman who is trying to get to the quarterback. Defensive Holding: When a defensive player grabs an offensive player and does not allow them to continue moving or slows them down. Ex- a corner holds a receiver when the receiver goes out for a pass. Illegal Flag Pull: When a player pulls someones flag that does not have possession of the ball. Unnecessary Roughness: When a player tackles or pushes over an opponent. Off sides: When an offensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Encroachment: When a defensive player moves into or crosses the neutral zone before the ball is snapped. Illegal Forward Pass: When a player throws the ball forward to another player after they have already crossed the line of scrimmage. Touchdown- an offensive player having possession of the football in the opponents end zone

Running
To start the play, the ball must be snapped between the legs of the Center. The Center is the Player who gives the ball to the Quarterback via a snap. The Center cannot take a direct handoff back from the Quarterback The Quarterback is the Player who receives the ball directly from the Center. The Quarterback cannot run with the ball past the line of scrimmage. An offence may use multiple handoffs behind the line of scrimmage. Only backward or lateral handoffs are allowed during a down. Tosses or sweeps behind the line of scrimmage are allowed and are considered running plays. Downfield tosses are not permitted. Once a player has possession of the ball beyond the line of scrimmage, any loss of possession will be blown dead by the official. The Player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. All Defensive Players are eligible to rush once the ball has been handed off or tossed, or there is a play-action fake or fake handoff. The ball is spotted where the ball carriers feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is. All Players are eligible to receive passes (including the Quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage). A Player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception. Only Players starting 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage can rush the passer. The Quarterback has seven seconds to throw the ball. If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, results in a loss of down and the ball is spotted at the previous line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off or tossed, or there is a play-action fake or fake handoff, the seven-second rule no longer is in effect. Interceptions change the possession of the ball. The defense can return interceptions.

Receiving

Passing

Offensive Football Pass Plays

Streak Square in Square out Slant in Slant Out

QB

QB

QB

Curl, Button or Hook In QB

Curl, Button or Hook Out

Flag

Post

QB

The Field: