Whether you're a flag football beginner learning the basics or an experienced player looking to sharpen your skills, understanding the key terms of the game is essential. This glossary covers important flag football terminology commonly used to help you communicate effectively and elevate your game.
Blitzing: Some leagues allow the flag football defense to rush more than one player to sack the quarterback. When this occurs, it is a blitz.
Blocking: When one flag football player moves their body in front of a defender attempting to prevent the opposing player from pulling a teammate's flag. This is often called "Screen Blocking". It is legal in some leagues and not allowed in others.
Boundary: The outer perimeter lines of the football field. This includes the sides of the field and the back of the end zone.
Center: The center snaps the ball to the quarterback and then can run for a pass as a receiver.
Charging: A penalty that is called when an offensive player runs over a defender who is vying for the same physical space on the field.
Cleats: Athletic shoes that include studs on the bottom of each shoe that provide improved traction for players running on grass or turf. Metal cleats are not allowed in most flag football leagues. Cleats are optional gear.
Completion: A forward pass that is caught by an eligible offensive player.
Dead Ball: Period of time when the ball isn't in play. This can occur when:
-The ball touches the ground.
-The ball carrier's flag is pulled.
-The ball carrier steps out of bounds.
-The ball carrier's body other than their hands or feet touches the ground.
-The pass is incomplete.
-The ball carrier's flag falls out or the receiver has one or no flags when catching the ball.
Defense: The team playing to prevent the opponent offense from scoring.
Defensive Back: Defensive backs cover the receivers on the offense. There are different schemes and responsibilities. Most defenses play a zone coverage or a mna coverage. Some leagues allow a defensive back to rush the quarterback as an extra rusher.
Delay Of Game: Penalty called when the offense does not put the ball in play before the designated time alloted by the rules.
Dipping: An evasive move by a flag football player carrying the football where they "dip" their hips as they advance the ball making it harder for the defenders to pull their flags.
Down: In most flag football rule, teams normally have four downs to cross midfield. A down occurs when the offense snaps the ball for a scrimmage play. If they successfully cross midfield within four downs, they then have four more downs to score a touchdown.
End Zone: There are two end zones at opposite ends of the field. A goal line designates the beginning of the end zone in the field of play. When a team advances the ball into the end zone that is a score.
Extra Point: Rules regarding an extra point vary. In some leagues, after scoring a touchdown, a team can choose to earn one or two extra points.
-The team can earn one extra point if a runner carries the ball across the goal line or catches the ball within the end zone starting from the five yard line.
-The team can earn two extra points if a runner carries the ball across the goal line or catches the ball within the end zone starting from the ten yard line.
False Start: Penalty called when an offensive player moves towards the line of scrimmage or forwards from the line of scrimmage prior to the football being snapped.
Flag Football Belt & Flags: Every player on the field wears a flag football belt and flag football flags. There are several kinds of flags available for flag football. Some are fastened on the belt by velcro, others by a pop socket that emits a noise when pulled.
Flag Guarding: Penalty that is accessed when the ball carrier prevents a defender from pulling their flags. Some examples are when the ball carrier stiff arms the defender or if the ball carrier covers their flag with their open hand, or lower their elbow.
Flag Football Gloves: Gloves can aid the ball carrier with the grip on the ball and help a receiver with catching passes. Gloves are optional.
Formation: Common term that describes where the offensive players are lined up just prior to the flag football being snapped.
Fumble: If an offensive player loses possession of the ball, the play is dead. The ball will be spotted for the next snap where the ball was fumbled.
Handoff: Normally executed by the quarterback, but it can be executed between any two players. One player hands the ball to another player.
Halftime: The intermission period between the first and second halves of play.
Halves or Half: Games are normally divided into two halves of play. Each is called a "Half".
Hip Twisting: An evasive move by a flag football player carrying the football where they twist their hips as they advance the ball making it harder for the defenders to pull their flags.
Holding: A penalty that occurs when one player retrains another player by grabbing a body part or jersey.
Huddle: Some teams will gather together prior to the ball being snapped to call the next play or defense.
Illegal Flag Pull: It is illegal to pull an opponent's flag unless they possess the ball.
Illegal Forward Pass: Penalty that is called when a forward pass is completed after being thrown past the line of scrimmage.
Incomplete Pass: A pass that is thrown and falls to the ground without being caught.
Intentional Grounding: Penalty called when the quarterback, while still between the tackles, purposely throws the ball out of
bounds or into the ground to avoid being sacked.
Interception: A pass thrown by the offense that is caught by the defense.
Lateral: A backward or sideway toss of the ball by the ball carrier. Laterals are not allowed in some leagues.
Line Of Scrimmage: The line of scrimmage separates the offense and the defense prior to the snap of the football. Teams can't cross the line of scrimmage until the play has begun.
Line To Gain: The line the offense must cross to get a first down or score.
Live Ball: This is the period of time when the ball and play is in motion. It's generally used in regard to penalties. Live ball penalties are enforced before the down is considered complete. (See Dead Ball)
Mercy Rule: Some leagues and/or tournaments will have a rule that ends a contest once one flag football team leads another team by a certain number of points after the game has been played for a designated amount of time. (Example: One team leads another team by 30 points with 5 minutes remaining)
Mouthguard: A mouthguard protects the mouth and teeth area. Mouthguards are required in some leagues and competitions.
No Run Zone: Some flag football leagues have rules that include no run zones. These zones are normally located five yards before each goal line and the midfield. If the ball is spotted within a no run zone, the offensive team must use a pass play to earn a first down or touchdown. This is to minimize physical contact between players.
Offsides: When one team is lined up or advances into the opponent's field of play prior to the snap. (Also called Encroachment)
Offense: The team who has possession of the ball and will snap the football to begin a play.
PBU or Pass Break Up: When a defender knocks the football down while defending a forward pass intended for an offensive receiver.
Pass Interference: Penalty that is called when a defender physically interferes with a receiver as they attempt to catch a forward pass. This penalty can also be called on a receiver if they interfere with a defender attempting to intercept the football.
Passer: The passer is the offensive player throwing the ball.
Penalty: Flag football penalties are accessed due to rule infractions that occur during play. Most penalties are accessed from the line of scrimmage. Some are accessed from the spot where the infraction occurred. (See Spot Fouls)
Punt: In some flag football leagues the offense can kick the ball to the opponent and relinquish the drive and possession of the football. A punt normally occurs on a fourth down situation. This is referred to as punting the football.
Quarterback: The quarterback receives the snap and then passes the ball or hands it off. The Quarterback is allowed to run in some leagues and prohibited from running in others.
Receiver: Receivers line up on or near the line of scrimmage and normally runs a pass route to receive a pass from the quarterback. Some leagues allow screen or shield blocking, others do not. Some leagues allow receivers to shift or come in motion prior to the snap and others do not.
Roughing The Passer: Penalty called when a defensive player makes contact with the passer after they've thrown a forward pass
Running Back: The running back lines up in the offensive backfield with the quarterback. The running back can take a handoff and run with the ball. The running back can also throw the ball after receiving a handoff and is also eligible to receive a pass.
Rush Line: An imaginary line that designates the distance the defense must be away from the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. This distance varies from league to league.
Rusher: The rusher is a defensive player who rushes the quarterback and attempts to pull the quarterback's flag before the ball is thrown. There are different rules regarding when the rusher can start. Some leagues have a distance of 5 or 7 yards that the rusher must be away from the line of scrimmage. Other leagues dictate when therusher can advance by dictating the number of seconds the rusher must wait until advancing to the quarterback. Some flag football leagues allow the defense to have two rushers.
Sack/Passing Clock: Some leagues and/or tournaments have a clock that starts when the football is snapped. The flag football defense has a designated amount of time until they can rush the quarterback. This is an alternative way to regulate this from having "Rush Line".
Safety: A safety is worth two points. It is a score that occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in their own end zone. This can happen several ways:
-The ball carrier's flag is pulled by an opponent.
-Their flag falls out.
-Their knee or arm touches the ground.
-A snapped ball lands in their own end zone.
Screening: When one flag football player moves their body in front of a defender attempting to prevent the opposing player from pulling a teammate's flag. It is legal in some leagues and not allowed in others.
Shorts: Shorts are normally worn while playing flag football. Shorts without pockets are recommended for safety purposes.
Shovel Pass: A pitch attempted behind the line of scrimmage. The quarterback "shovels" the ball directly forward to a receiver.
Snap: When the ball is delivered from the Center To The Quarterback. It can also be referred to as "Hike".
Spot Fouls: Flag football penalties that are assessed from the spot on the field where the foul occurred.
Stripping: Penalty that occurs when a player smacks or grabs the football out of the ball carrier's possession.
Timeout: Each team is normally awarded a certain number of timeouts that allows them to stop the play clock for a limited amount of time before resuming play.
Touchdown: A touchdown is worth six points. A player scores a touchdown when they carry the ball across the goal line into the other team's end zone or they catch the ball in the opponent's end zone.
Turnover: When one team relinquishes possession of the ball to the opponent. This can happen as the result of an interception or sometimes as an unsuccessful four down attempt by an offense.
Tripping: Penalty called when a player uses their hand, foot, or leg to obscure another player's movement.
Unnecessary Roughness: Penalty that is called when a defender uses excessive physical play to pull the flags of an offensive player.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Penalty that is called when a team or player display behavior that is detrimental to the game. This penalty can lead to a player or a team being disqualified. Examples can include, fighting, profanity, taunting, abusive language, and others.