Flag football reduces the amount of contact between players ages 5 to 17. Instead of tackling, kids wear 3-inch-wide flags attached to a belt at their waists which the defense plucks. In this version of the game, the ball is dead whenever it touches the ground. Flag football emphasizes teamwork, sportsmanship and participation, according to NFL Flag Football. Eight players per team take the field. Several rules apply to flag football for kids.
Time Frame and Scoring
Game time is 60 minutes, which are divided into four 15-minute quarters. There's a one-minute interval between the first and third quarters, and a 10-minute interval at halftime. Field captains and the referee can agree to shorten the game time. In a tie game, there's a one-minute interval before overtime starts. Each team gets four tries to score during overtime, according to the United States Flag Football Association National Rules. A touchdown is worth six points, a field goal worth three points and a safety worth two points.
Passing
All players are allowed to receive forward passes. The receiver has to have 2 feet in bounds for the pass to count, according to USFFA. Making contact with a receiver is considered interference unless the defensive player is attempting to catch the ball.
Prohibitions
A player cannot block in a way that brings his knees, feet or legs into contact with his opponent. High-low blocking and two-on-one blocking also are disallowed. No tripping or clipping is allowed. Runners cannot be thrown to the ground. Runners are not allowed to jump over other players. Ball carriers cannot run into opposing players. In addition to the no tackling rule, knocking players out of bounds is not allowed, according to USFFA. Rules also prohibit pulling a flag from an offensive player who does not have the ball.
Flagrant Fouls
A player is suspended from the game if he commits a flagrant foul. These include: tackling a ball carrier; use of fists, kneeing or kicking another player; roughing a kicker; and any other "deliberate or flagrant act," such as spiking the ball or taunting other players after a touchdown, according to the USSFA rule book.
Substitutions
There's no limit on substitutions, but these cannot interfere with or delay play, according to "How to Coach Youth Sports," by Danford Chamness.
Member Comments