Flag football flags and ball

WHAT ISFLAG FOOTBALL?

The fast-paced, non-contact sport that's taking the world by storm — and heading to the 2028 Olympics.

The Sport at a Glance

Flag football is an exciting, non-contact version of American football. Instead of tackling, defenders remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end a down. Players wear flag belts with two flags dangling from the hips.

The game is played with teams of 5 to 7 players on each side, on a smaller field, making it fast, high-scoring, and accessible to all ages and fitness levels.

5–7
Players/team
50 yds
Field length
No
Tackling
Flag football players

Why Play Flag Football?

🛡️

Safe

No tackling means dramatically lower injury rates compared to contact football. Great for all ages.

🌍

Inclusive

Co-ed teams, mixed ages, minimal equipment. Anyone can join — no experience required.

Fast-Paced

Constant motion, high scores, and exciting plays make every game action-packed from start to finish.

🏋️

Great Fitness

Excellent cardiovascular workout that builds speed, agility, coordination, and teamwork skills.

🧠

Strategic

Football IQ, route running, and defensive positioning — the mental game is just as important as the physical.

🚀

Growing Fast

20M+ players across 100+ countries. Now an Olympic sport debuting at Los Angeles 2028.

Flag football field

SPEED · STRATEGY · SPORTSMANSHIP

Key Rules

No tacklingDefenders must pull a flag to stop play.
No blockingOffensive players cannot block defenders.
Passing & runningAdvance the ball through passes and runs.
4 downs to scoreTeams get 4 downs to advance to midfield, then 4 more to score.
Touchdown = 6 ptsExtra points: 1 pt (5 yd), 2 pts (10 yd), or 3 pts (20 yd).
No-running zonesDesignated areas near the end zone where running plays are not allowed.

Ready to dive deeper?

Explore the full history, complete rule guides, and governing organizations of flag football.