Robert Orlandini is a veteran writer and editor with 20 years' experience. He started his career as a sports writer with the "Tribune-Star" daily newspaper in Terre Haute, Ind., and has since written and edited several daily, weekly and niche publications as well as several online publications.
Overview
Flag football is not just a kids' game. Adults play it, too, in organized leagues across the United States. Flag football has several governing bodies to enforce its unique rules and sponsor annual national tournaments for a variety of teams.
Overseeing the Game
The United States Flag Football Association and the United States Flag & Touch Football League (see Resources) are two of the major organizations governing men's flag football.
Not for Men Only
Women play flag football, too. The Women's American Flag Football Federation is one organization that oversees the women's version of the game and sponsors tournaments (see Resources).
Team Size
The most popular flag football versions are for nine-man and eight-man teams; however, rules exist for teams that field as few as four players at a time.
Scoring a Touchdown
The ball carrier's flag must break the plane of the goal to score a touchdown in flag football. The position of the football is irrelevant.
Contact or Not?
Non-contact flag football does not allow blocking and is the more popular version of the adult game. The full-contact version allows blocking on a restricted basis and is a much more physical game.
Resources
