While football is known for its bone-jarring collisions and tackles, there's a popular form of the game that doesn't include such physical contact: flag football. The game is played much like the sport's original version, but instead of tackling, players yank flags attached to opponents' waistbands. This may sound easy, but snatching a thin strip of material from the midsection of someone running at full speed can be nearly as challenging as dragging an opponent to the turf.
Pre-Play Diagnosis
Your first step is anticipating the play and getting yourself into position. Observe your opponent's pre-snap formation. If the other team has three receivers on the other side of the field and only one on your side, the odds that the player you're guarding will get the ball are less, and you can prepare to sprint across the field. If they have a couple of players lined up in the backfield, prepare to rush in and grab the flag of a running back.
Chasing the Ball Carrier
Begin the play with your knees slightly bent and head up, ready to speed into action. Once the opposing quarterback has handed the ball off or thrown it to a receiver -- or taken off running with it himself -- make your move. Sprint toward the ball carrier, keeping your eye on his waist. This way, you'll not only maintain focus on his flag, but in all sports, a runners hip motions are often the best indicator of which direction he's headed in.
Breaking Down
If you're chasing from behind, you'll need to run as fast as you can while reaching out for the flag. But when you're squared up with the ball carrier, you won't need to sprint as fast. Once the player gets within a few arms lengths, break down into flagging position by slowing your gait, bending your knees and positioning your body in front of her. This will cut off her running path -- in flag football, runners aren't allowed to plow through would-be tacklers -- and you'll be in position to grab the flag. If you fail to break down out of your sprint early enough, you run the risk of overrunning the play and allowing the runner to sprint past you.
Grabbing the Flag
Keep your eyes trained on the flag and when the moment is right, reach for it. Don't flail at it; the flags are hard to grab and often bounce up and down as the runner moves, so wait until you're as close as possible to the ball carrier before making your move. Be prepared to make several quick grabs for it, because often your first attempt will miss. And avoid wildly grabbing for the general midsection in an attempt to get the flag. Not only can this cause you to miss the "tackle," but it can also result in an embarrassingly misplaced grab.
Member Comments