What is Flag Football?
Flag football is a modified version of tackle football which provides participants with the opportunity to develop many of the same skills, tactics & strategies without significant physical contact. Anyone can play flag football with boys, girls, men & women of all ages playing in coed or gender specific recreational, intramural, school & competative programs, leagues or tournaments. It is an emerging game that provides a fast, fun, active & safe environment for players to develop their running, passing & catching abilities in an environment of teamwork & fair play.
Football Nova Scotia (FNS) currently supports & promotes the 5v5 (5 verses 5) version of flag football in the province. The game is played with 5 players per side on a 25 x 60 yard field size for youth or a 25 x 70 yard field size for adults. Teams will typically have 8 - 12 players, games are usually completed in an hour with 2 x 20 minutes halfs, there is no blocking, no fumbles, no kicking or punting & the quarterback can't run. The offensive team starts with the ball on their own 5 yard line, they have 3 downs to get a first down at midfiled & then 3 downs to score or the ball is turned over to the defensive team who will then start on their own 5 yard line. There are also no running zones on the either end of the field from the 5 yard line to the goalline. The opposing player carrying the ball is stopped by the defensive team removing their flag(s) to end the play or down rather than tackling or bringing them to the ground. Player positions on a flag football team include quarterback, center, running back, receiver, rusher & defensive back.
Game equipment required to play are 18 cones to mark the field, jerseys + flags for the players, a couple of bean bags, a stop watch & a football or two. For players, they will require pants or shorts, sneakers or cleats, possibly gloves & a mouthguard which may be mandatory depending on the program or league. With the smaller field size, both the youth & adult games can be played either outdoors or indoors on one fourth or one third of a typical football or soccer field.
Football Nova Scotia (FNS) currently supports & promotes the 5v5 (5 verses 5) version of flag football in the province. The game is played with 5 players per side on a 25 x 60 yard field size for youth or a 25 x 70 yard field size for adults. Teams will typically have 8 - 12 players, games are usually completed in an hour with 2 x 20 minutes halfs, there is no blocking, no fumbles, no kicking or punting & the quarterback can't run. The offensive team starts with the ball on their own 5 yard line, they have 3 downs to get a first down at midfiled & then 3 downs to score or the ball is turned over to the defensive team who will then start on their own 5 yard line. There are also no running zones on the either end of the field from the 5 yard line to the goalline. The opposing player carrying the ball is stopped by the defensive team removing their flag(s) to end the play or down rather than tackling or bringing them to the ground. Player positions on a flag football team include quarterback, center, running back, receiver, rusher & defensive back.
Game equipment required to play are 18 cones to mark the field, jerseys + flags for the players, a couple of bean bags, a stop watch & a football or two. For players, they will require pants or shorts, sneakers or cleats, possibly gloves & a mouthguard which may be mandatory depending on the program or league. With the smaller field size, both the youth & adult games can be played either outdoors or indoors on one fourth or one third of a typical football or soccer field.