Flag Football vs. Traditional Football: Understanding the Differences in Rules

Most people have had the opportunity to watch a professional football game either in person or on television. This can give you a fair understanding of the rules of the game, which is an excellent foundation for a flag football league. Below, you can learn about some of the biggest differences between traditional and flag football to prepare yourself for your first game.

What Does “No-Contact” Really Mean?
Traditional tackle football can be a rigorous sport. There’s a good chance you’ve seen some gnarly tackles out on the field, and in some cases, they can lead to severe injuries. Because flag football was designed to be a fun, lightly competitive, and above all else safe sport, it has a no-contact rule that you must abide. Rather than tackling your opponent running for a touchdown pass, you simply reach out and remove a flag from his or her waist. This protects you and the other players and provides a less stressful experience.

Fewer Players
In traditional tackle football, there are eight players out on the field per team at any given time. This consists of positions like quarterback, running back, linebacker, and others. In flag football, many of the same positions exist, but there are only five to seven players on the field per team instead of eight. Because flag football requires less “muscle” and more hustle, fewer players on the field can provide a more exciting experience for everyone.

Scoring & Downs
Each team receives four opportunities to move the ball into the end zone for a score; these are referred to as “downs”. In order to continue your push toward the end zone, your team must be able to cover at least 10 yards per play, and if it doesn’t, your team loses one of its four downs. On the 4th down, you have the opportunity to either attempt to run the ball into the end zone or kick a field goal for three points. As per traditional football rules, a touchdown (which occurs when a player runs into the end zone holding the ball) is worth six points, and an extra point can be earned by kicking a field goal from the opponent’s two-yard line.

Breaking the Rules
Because flag football was designed to be a safer and less stressful way to play the sport, those who break the rules are often removed from the game, and those who break the rules repeatedly may be removed from the league. Though some contact does happen from time to time – people may fall and take a teammate or opponent with them, or they may simply run into another player on the field – and though there’s never any guarantee that players will not be injured, flag football is definitely a safer alternative, and players are expected to avoid tackles and other physical contact that could be viewed as aggressive. In some cases, penalties will cost the offending team a down or provide the other team with a free play.

Flag football is a very popular social sport, and it is one that many young professionals all across the Boston area enjoy. It provides ample opportunity to exercise, meet new people, and play one of America’s favorite sports in a manner that is safer, less stressful, and just as exciting. Click Here to view all Flag Football Leagues, or Click Here to view all outdoor sports open for registration now.