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Flag football is a version of American football where 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. The rules of the game can vary depending on the league in which it is being played; however they are all variations on NFL and CFL rules.
Flag football is often played as an intramural sport, or for elementary schools as it is a safer and cheaper option to the traditional sport of football. There is no safety equipment needed for flag football therefore it is an affordable alternative to tackle football. It is also a good way to introduce children to the sport as it allows them learn the basic rules of the game and develop their skills before going into a tackle football league.
History[edit]
The sport of flag football was established in 1905 when it became distinguished as different from football[1]. It was played without flags, the player just had to be touched by the opposing team to stop the play; hence the term Touch Football[2]. The first game of college touch football was between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869[2]. Prior to the separation of the two variations of the sport, football was played with no protective equipment and little to no restrictions on physical actions within the game[1]. The change that allowed for flag football to be born was brought about by President Theodore Rosevelt, when 18 young men died playing the sport[1].
Flag Football was extremely popular in the 1940s on military bases, as the players didn't have equipment and didn't want to injure one another, but could still play the sport[1]. Recreation leagues started to form in the 1950s and in 1960 the first flag football league, National Touch Football League, was formed[1]. The "Touch" version of flag football was recognized by Websters Dictionary in 1933, with flag football being recognized in 1954[2]. The United States Flag Football League was formed in 1989 in North Carolina, and allowed for teams to go "semi-pro" and represent their city in games and tournaments[1]. More than a decade later in 1997 all existing flag football leagues joined together to form the Professional Flag Football League. This union allowed for its players to play professional flag football, and the first tournament called the PFFL Pro Flag Bowl took place in 1997[1]. The first six teams to play flag football professionally on a travelling schedule represented Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton and Columbus, and finally Ohio[1].
Variations[edit]
Chiefly because there is no dominant sanctioning organization for the sport, the game has mutated into many variations: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4-players on each side; coed or single-gender; without kicking and punting and with point-after conversions (including some with 1, 2, and 3 point tries) or without; and field sizes that vary from full Canadian Football League (CFL) size, National Football League (NFL) size (120 yards long by 531⁄3 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 / CFL, 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.[3]
The ability or inability for the quarterback to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage (LOS) by running is another rule subject to variation by league.
Competition[edit]
The sport has a strong amateur following and several national and international competitions each year sponsored by various associations.
North America[edit]
The majority of adult flag football leagues are organized by recreation departments of cities and municipalities, across all 50 states in America. Pickup games are common, as flag football is first and foremost a recreational sport. Flag football tournaments are held to boost competitive play. Every Memorial Day weekend in Roswell, NM. Hike it & Spike it 4-on-4 flag football has almost 600 teams playing in 42 divisions. Young, old, male and female are all welcome in the alien city.
The United States Flag and Touch Football League (USFTL) has a number of smaller organizations spread out over the US. Located in Ohio, this league supports a number of teams from the Mid Atlantic, NorthEast, and Midwest states. On the west coast XFLAGFOOTBALL has over 15 leagues throughout Southern California and Hawaii. In the south, FlagFootballX hosts many of the largest 5on5 cash tournaments, located in Dallas, TX. Texan Flag Football hosts many large tournaments and leagues in the Houston area as well. TAAF hosts a yearly 8on8 State Championship at a rotating location throughout Texas and a couple other events throughout the year. Flag lists all of Texas and the bordering states tournaments in one location to browse but does not host their own events.
In the Midwest, Timeout Flag Football league has an outdoor 4 v 4 session every Spring, Summer, and Fall and attracts 20 or more teams each session to participate in Recreational and Competitive divisions.
i9Sports a youth sports league franchise business in the U.S., is one of the country's largest providers of flag football leagues for boys and girls ages 3–14. Flag football participation has increased in the past decade while participation in tackle football among kids under age 14 has declined[4] amid growing safety concerns from parents. National Flag Football is the country's largest youth flag football organization, with leagues in six states and over 15, 000 kids participating. The NFL conducts their own Youth World Championship for children 12–14 years of age. Held in different nations around the world. It is five man no contact football played between ten countries. Previous NFL Flag Football World Championships have been held in Beijing, Cologne, Mexico City, Tokyo, Toronto, and Vancouver. The NFL has also at times sanctioned "Air It Out" competitions aimed primarily at its fans in which tournament-winning teams were allowed to compete against retired NFL All-Pros. "Air It Out" has now been rebranded as "Let It Fly" a nationwide tour operated by North American Sports Group. Many universities around the continent have flag football divisions and leagues.
On June 28, 2017 the inaugural game for the newly formed American Flag Football League was played. [5] The league plans to launch eight league-owned teams for 2018.[6]
In Canada, the organization who runs most leagues is called Football Canada[7]. You can become a certified referee, gain online training for coaching and register a league through this organization[8]. This site promotes flag football as fun and inexpensive, giving "sport for life" opportunities to help those involved develop life skills[8]. This organization also has drills, playbooks, safe training and merchandise available.
International[edit]
The International Woman's Flag Football Association, otherwise known as the IWFFA, hosts 8 on 8 flag football tournaments and flag football trainings across the world with participants from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Scotland and several other nations. The organization is the largest organization for women and girls in the sport of flag football. The most active tournament is held each February in Key West, Florida, called the Kelly McGillis Classic where over 90 women and girls teams participate in 8 on 8, semi - blocking contact flag football. There are no restrictions to for girls and women to play.
The International Flag Football Festival (IFFF) organizes the World Cup of Flag Football featuring teams from the United States, Mexico and several other nations.
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) organizes the IFAF Flag Football World Championship every two years since 2002.
Europe[edit]
Flag football competition in the United Kingdom is organized by the BAFA National Leagues. At a senior level as of 2011, it is played by fifteen teams divided into two regional conferences, North (Scotland), and South (England & Wales) with the top teams qualifying for playoffs at the end of the season. The league also organizes teams competing at youth and cadet levels.[9][10] Flag matches in the UK are played with five players on each side with no contact, and are officiated according to the IFAF flag football rules with a few minor variations.[11]
In Germany, both 5 vs 5 and 9 vs 9 are played. While the former is played with no contact in a wide range of leagues and ages, the latter is played as per the above-mentioned "contact" rules, with blocking to the chest being allowed. Most teams playing 9 vs 9 Flag Football are organized into two conferences within the DFFL (Deutsche Flag Football Liga) and compete for the DFFL Bowl.
Asia[edit]
In Korea, the biggest tournament is the National Flag Football Tournament held by the Korean Flag Football Federation (KFFF). It attracts up to 20 teams, from middle school students to adults.
In Indonesia, there is the Indonesian Flag Football Association, or IFFA. IFFA was established on February 14, 2009 as a continuation of its predecessor, the Indonesian Flag Football League, that had been defunct since 2001.
In Israel, Flag Football is organized and governed by American Football in Israel (AFI). Over fifty teams play in leagues for adult men and women, as well as youth. The men's league plays 6 vs 6, with contact. Men's teams compete for the Holyland Bowl Championship. Women and youth leagues play 5 vs 5, non-contact, and both the Men's and Women's Israel National Teams compete in international 5 vs. 5 tournaments.
Basic rules[edit]
Non-Contact
The specific rules of flag football vary widely by league, though all share in common their replication of the rules of traditional US-American football with tackling replaced by flag-pulling. Traditional American football rules are often omitted, changed or simplified to reflect the more recreational nature of the game, desire to avoid physical contact and injury, and the generally smaller number of participating players per side. Any flag pulling after the play has finished can result in unsportsmanlike penalties. If the flag of the offensive player in possession of the ball is not on the belt or falls off on its own during the play, the player then will be stopped by the "one touch" rule. This rule means the defensive player must touch the offensive player to stop them[12].
Contact
Contact leagues require all players to wear mouthguard's for safety reasons. No jewelry is allowed to be worn unless taped and approved by referees. In contact leagues the only physical contact allowed is blocking. According to American football rules, blocking is when one player legally obstructs another players path with their body[13]. The purpose of blocking is to protect another player such as the ball carrier or the quarterback. There are many different rules to blocking depending on the league that it is being played in. According to American football rules, illegal blocking includes grabbing and holding another player's equipment in order to prevent them from moving; any sort of pulling on the opposing opponent and extending your arms beyond the line of your opponents armpit to armpit section is also considered illegal blocking. Any physical contact after the play has finished can result in penalties to one or all players involved.
Basic plays[edit]
Similar to tackle football, flag football also has set plays and routes for skill positions to run, (skill positions include any player that is not on the offensive or defence line)[14]. There are four basic routes a receiver will run: fly, hook, in and out[15]. A fly consists of the receiver running at full speed from the line of scrimmage in a straight line and catching the ball approximately 20 yards from their starting position[15]. The length of this route can vary depending on the receiver and quarterback. A hook, or "curl" route is when a receiver runs around 5-10 yards from the line of scrimmage, and plants their feet, turns in towards the quarterback and runs back toward the line of scrimmage 1-2 yards[15]. An in is where the receiver runs from the line of scrimmage for approximately 5-10 yards, then cuts toward the middle of the field on a 90 degree angle[15]. An in and out are the same play, however an out runs towards to sidelines rather than middle of the playing field.
Equipment[edit]
Many flag football leagues require minimal equipment for players since most versions are non-contact. Basic equipment for the game includes running shoes or cleats, a flag belt, and two or more flags attached by velcro on the belt around the players waste. Most leagues use two flags, one placed on each hip, however others attach upwards of ten flags to allow for easier pulling. Some leagues are contact and require a mouthguard for extra protection. Some leagues allow for shoulder pads or padding, but most leagues restrict what players can wear when on the field. For example, the Legend Football League, allows for players to wear shoulder pads, a mouthguard and a helmet.
Powderpuff[edit]
Powderpuff is an all female version of traditional flag football. The term originates from the makeup tool used to apply face powder that was made of cotton or cloth and referred to as a powder puff[16]. Just as co-ed football rules vary, so does powderpuff depending on where the league takes place. In Ontario, Canada the powderpuff league features teams from Ontario universities such as Western, Wilfrid Laurier, Windsor, McMaster and University of Toronto. This is one of many powderpuff leagues that take place in Canada. In many powderpuff leagues there is offensive lineman, defensive lineman and blocking is a large aspect of the game.
Powderpuff has commonly been associated with a league that features women playing flag football in lingerie, Legends Football League. This league is American and can often be advertised as an attraction for male spectators. Uniforms in this league are made not for protection of the athlete, but to showcase the bodies of the woman playing. This league brings a lot of controversy to women in sports as the woman are being judged on their appearance rather than their athletic ability.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
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- ^ a b c d e f g h Bird, Beverly. "History of Flag Football". LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
- ^ a b c User, Super. "A Brief History Of Flag Football | News". www.sandiegosocialleagues.com. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Flag Football Plays - Lineman and Blocking". Best Flag Football Plays. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
- ^ "Pop Warner youth football participation drops; NFL concussion crisis seen as causal factor". Retrieved 2015-09-10.
- ^ Taylor, Tom (June 29, 2017). "Star-studded flag football league leans on NFL influences in debut". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- ^ Rovell, Darren (May 18, 2017). "Michael Vick to play in trial game for American Flag Football League". ESPN. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- ^ "Flag Football". Football Canada. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
- ^ a b "Flag Football". Football Canada. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
- ^ "BAFACL Flag South". BAFA Community Leagues. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
- ^ "BAFACL Flag North". BAFA Community Leagues. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
- ^ "BAFA Rules Committee - Flag football". British American Football Referees' Association. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
- ^ "Football Canada" (PDF).
- ^ "Blocking (American football)". Wikipedia. 2017-11-03.
- ^ "skill position | Definition of skill position in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
- ^ a b c d Hall, Brandon. "The Football Route Tree, Explained". STACK. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
- ^ "Powder puff". Wikipedia. 2017-03-08.