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Football TipsSUPPLIES
- Flags
- Football Field
- Referees
Overview
Not everybody is cut out for the NFL, but for players who still want to participate in the game, they can join a local American Flag Football league. American Flag Football is a safe competitive sport with much of the same rules as regular football. Teams and leagues form all over the country, so once you understand the rules, you can form a team and conquer a league near you.
Step 1
Decide whether the league will be conducted with "No Contact", "Contact", or a mix of both. No contact means that the flags are simply pulled. There is no physical blocking on the front lines and back end of the football field. Contact means that blocking and pushing is allowed all around, but the game could get violent. A mix of these would be to allow line of scrimmage blocking, but it is only open palmed. This is the typical choice for many flag football leagues.
Step 2
Form teams. At most, a team usually 4 to 7 players on a field at time, but this depends on the size of the league and size of the field. A roster could consist of 10 player's total, with substitutes on both offence and defense.
Step 3
Choose whether you are playing with eligible or ineligible linemen. If you use eligible linemen then the whole team is able to catch passes at any point. If you use ineligible linemen, then only the running backs and line receivers can catch a ball during an offensive play.
Step 4
Attach two flags to every player on the team. Both teams should have different colored flags and they should all hang off the same way. Players must tuck in their t-shirts to prevent any interference with the flags.
Step 5
Flip a coin to decide who gets the ball first. Games are generally played on regulation football fields, but 4 man teams can play on fields with half the length.
Step 6
Award first downs using 1 of 2 methods. Set a first down line at the halfway point on the field or award the first down with every 20 yards. If you are using minimal referees the better option is using the halfway mark on the field.
Step 7
Use kicks and field goals only if a field goal post is available. Otherwise, award the receiving with the ball about 20 yards out from the opposite end zone. Extra points without a field goal are decided by length. Teams can go for 2 extra points by attempting a 20 yard play or 1 extra point by doing a 10 yard play.
Step 8
Tackle a player by pulling the flag off of his waist. No other physical contact is allowed in the game unless open handed blocking has been decided beforehand.
Step 9
Play 2 fifteen minute halfs. Quarters are too short for this type of playing and a 30 minute game will help keep a steady pace for all the players. After each half switch the direction of the field that the teams are playing on.
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