FLAG FOOTBALL

Flag Football is an outgrowth of regular football, which was first played in the United States around the middle of the Nineteenth Century. The first inter—collegiate football game was played between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869, and since that time it has experienced a steady growth in this country. The game has had a steady growth in this country, particularly in public schools and colleges where it is widely played in physical education classes and in intramural contests. Flag Football is a variation of touch football in which cloth flags are worn by all players. The flag is detached from its place on the ball carrier by the defensive player in place of a touch. Flags are usually strips of cloth 12 inches to 18 inches long by two inches to six inches wide, and come equipped from commercial sources with an adhesive substance, or plastic snaps, for attachment to the player. In order to minimize hazardous play in flag football, the following precautionary measures are suggested: 1. Eliminate blocking, tackling, or holding of the ball carrier by a defensive player in attempting to secure the flag. 2. Defensive players must maintain contact with the ground when attempting to secure the flag — no jumping or diving. 3. The ball carrier shall not employ a straight—arm or utilize body contact against a defensive player in order to prevent him/her from securing the flag.

DESCRIPTION OF GAME

The game begins with one team kicking off from behind their 5 yard line with a place kick to the other team. All players on the kicking team must be behind the 5 yard line as the ball is kicked. The receiving team attempts to catch the ball or gain possession of it after it touches the ground and move the ball to the opposite end zone before the ball carrier can have a flag taken. The kicking team attempts to down the ball by taking the flag of the ball carrier. If the ball should be fumbled at any time, the team who first touches the loose ball gains possession and play begins at that spot. Once the ball is downed after the kick—off, the offensive team has four downs to move the ball to the next zone. Each down begins with the ball being centered to the quarterback, who gives the signal “Hike.” The ball may be passed, handed off, or run on each of the downs. If a forward pass is used to move the ball it must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. Each team may “huddle” before each play to decide the strategy it will use. If a team fails to move the ball to the next zone in four tries, the other team takes over and play continues. On the fourth down a team may punt but must indicate their intention do so before centering the ball. Neither team may cross the line of scrimmage until after the ball has been kicked. Six points are scored for a touchdown. After a touchdown the scoring team may have one attempt to gain an extra point by taking an additional down from 3 yards out from the goal line. An extra point is earned if the team successfully runs or completes a pass on this play to move the ball past the goal line. If the ball is downed behind the team’s own goal line, the opposing team is awarded 2 points. If the kickoff goes into the end zone a player from the receiving team may touch the ball to the ground behind the goal line for a touchback. Play then begins at the receiving team’s 15 yard line. Fouls: 1. The ball going out of bounds on the kickoff. 2. Forward passing on the kickoff return. 3. Failing to indicate the intention to punt. 4. Passing beyond the Line of scrimmage. 5. 0ff—side: a player of either team beyond the line of scrimmage before the ball is centered. 6. Pushing or blocking with the hands, hips, or shoulders.

Penalties: 1.Kick the ball again. If it goes out of bounds on the second kick the receiving team begins play on its 15 yard line. 2. Ball downed. Begin at the point where the ball was caught on the kickoff. 3. Five—yard penalty. 4. Five—yard penalty. 5. Five— yard penalty. 6. Fifteen—yard penalty.

TERMINOLOGY

Block -— Action of offensive lineman and backs in which they use their bodies to ward off defensive players from the ball carrier. Bootleg play An offensive play in which a back fakes handing the ball to a teammate, conceals it on his hip, and runs in the opposite direction. Button hook A forward pass play in which the receiver runs toward the defender, turns and runs back toward passer to receive the pass. Clipping Action by a player in which he throws his body across the back of the leg or legs of a player not carrying the ball. This is likely to cause injury and is a personal foul. End Around An offensive maneuver in which one end wheels around, takes the ball from a teammate, and attempts to run for a gain. Safety A score made when a free ball, or one in possession of a player defending his own goal becomes dead behind the goal, provided the force which caused it to cross the goal was provided by the defending team. Screen Pass An offensive maneuver in which a wave of eligible receivers converge in area where pass is to be thrown. Touchback When the bail becomes dead behind the opponent’s goal line legally in possession of a player guarding his own goal, provided the force which caused it to cross the goal line was provided by an opponent. No points are scored on the play, and the ball is put in play by a scrimmage at the 15-yard line.