Football has become a phenomenon in the United States, with nearly three in every 10 Americans who watch at least one sport claiming it as their favorite. Naturally, along with such spectator interest comes plenty of interest in playing the sport. But whether it's because of age, skill level or the desire to keep all bones intact, not everyone wants to play tackle football. That's why flag football -- a non-contact version of the sport -- has become popular as well.
Origin
Flag football began in the 1940s on military bases, where members of the military used it for recreation and exercise. It's since become a national staple, with competitors of all ages playing it across the country in various leagues and pick-up games. In 1997, the first professional flag football league began with teams in several major cities. The league folded after a few seasons, but countless recreational and travel leagues remain coast to coast.
Flag vs. Tackle
Whereas in tackle football a play doesn't end until a player is tackled, flag football is more gentle. Players wear belts that have breakaway flags attached to them. To make a tackle, a player must simply pull the ball carrier's flag from his belt. When a flag is successfully pulled, the play is whistled dead at the spot of the flag pull.
Other Rules and Regulations
Typically, seven players are on the field per team. Unlike tackle football, little physical contact is experienced in flag football. Players can block, but only by shuffling their feet and standing in the way of a defender; hands and arms can't be used. Offensive players aren't allowed to use their hands to guard their flags from defenders, nor can they try to bull-rush a defender -- they must instead run around him. Fumbles aren't turnovers. If the ball is dropped, it's dead at the spot of the fumble. Otherwise, the game resembles normal football.
Strategy
Because there's little blocking and it's so much easier to grab a flag than it is to tackle a runner, hand-off plays aren't used much in flag football. Teams typically throw the ball on most plays. Quarterbacks who can throw and run are dangerous in flag football, though, because once an opponent crosses the line of scrimmage, the quarterback is free to scramble. Some co-ed leagues require a female player to throw or catch the ball once every few downs and award extra points for female-scored touchdowns, so teams can gain an advantage by recruiting the most athletic women they can find. Defensively, because of no tackling and lots of passing, teams with speedy cornerbacks usually excel.
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