Football is played at the youth, high school, college, and professional levels. Organized football is played on a field of 120 yards by 53 yards, between two teams of 11 players each; it includes tackling, blocking and hard hitting. In addition to the formalized version of football, variations to the game include touch football and flag football.
Flag Football
Flag football is a popular version of the sport, and is played on an organized level by young players who are not ready to play tackle football, or on an intramural level among college students. In flag football, players are usually on a smaller field --- determined by the number of the players, and their age and size --- and they wear strips of cloth, or flags, attached their hips, or on belts around their waists. Tackling a player who is running with the ball is not allowed; the play is over when an opponent grabs a flag and pulls it out. Blocking is allowed in flag football, and you may hold and grab the player as you attempt to pull his flag.
Tackle Football
Tackle football is the most popular spectator sport in the United States. Youth organizations like Pop Warner sponsor leagues. High schools and colleges often have their own teams, and the National Football League is the most successful sports league in North America. Players must wear protective equipment to play, including helmets, shoulder pads, knee pads, and cleats. The game is 60 minutes long, and is divided into four 15-minute quarters.
Touch Football
Touch football is one of the most popular versions of the sport. It can be organized into park district- or school-sponsored leagues, but in most cases touch football is the equivalent of pickup basketball. It is very informal, and can be played with as few as four players, or as a many as eight, on each side. Blocking is allowed, but there is no hard hitting or tackling. Running plays are not often used, and teams tend to pass on every down. A play is over when a defensive player touches an opponent with two hands. One-hand touch is not usually accepted.
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