Health & PE Department, Heritage Middle School Teacher: Ms. Mayk Name______Date ______Period ______

Flag Football Class Rules, Terminology, & Strategies

Flag football is a version of American football that is popular in North America. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the professional game, but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag from the flag belt of the ball carrier ("deflagging") to end a down. Flag football is played with two flags streaming from each player. The flags are attached to a belt. It is illegal for anyone to attach the flags so they will be unable to come loose when pulled on. To stop the advancement of the ball carrier, you must pull one of the flags off and drop it on the ground. Flag football was designed in an effort to minimize injuries that playing tackle football could bring.

Scoring Two types of scoring are possible in flag football: the touchdown and the conversion. Touchdowns count 6 points and occur when the offensive team passes or carries the ball over the opponent’s goal line. The offense can also score a 2-point conversion immediately after a touchdown by moving the ball over the opponent’s goal line from 5 yards away. The defense scores a safety by removing the flag of the offensive ball carrier behind the offensive goal line (within the end zone). A safety is worth 0 points but it results in the defense gaining possession of the ball.

General Rules and Basic Game Sequences • The ball is put into play by a punt (kickoff) from the kicking team’s 20-yard line at the beginning of the game and after each touchdown. After the punt, the receiving team becomes the offense and tries to advance the ball until the defense pulls the flag of the ball carrier. The point on the field at which the flag is pulled becomes the new line of scrimmage. • The offense has 4 consecutive attempts, called downs, to advance the ball. In our game play, 2 successful completions will enable 4 more downs (i.e. getting a first down) to advance the ball closer to the opponent’s end zone. A forward pass that is not caught is ruled incomplete. If they are unsuccessful in gaining another first down, the defense takes possession of the ball at that point on the field (i.e., the line of scrimmage), becoming the offense. Or, the offensive team has the option to punt on the fourth down, in which case play continues the same as a kick off. • Forward passes may be thrown from any point behind the line of scrimmage. Lateral passes may be thrown from anywhere. Offensive players may advance the ball by running with it or passing it. • Defensive players stop ball carriers or receivers by stealing one of the flags from their belts. Play continues by placing the ball at the point on the field where the flag was taken, known as the line of scrimmage. • Defenders may not pull off a flag before the receiver catches the football. • A team may punt the ball to the opposition at any time during the four-down sequence. Usually a team punts only when they don’t think they have a chance at getting another first down.

Safety Rules • This is NOT the NFL -- your classmate’s safety is your responsibility. You are NEVER permitted to tackle or block an opponent. • Never throw the ball to someone if s/he is not looking at you. • Pay attention and be aware at all times. • Fumbles are dead at the spot of the fumble. Terminology

Carrying Position - Carrying arm bent at the elbow against body. Ball in notch formed by arm, other arm on ball for protection.

Center – The center initiates plays, the offensive lineman/woman who snaps the football to the quarterback.

Defense – the team that does not have possession of the football.

End Zone - A pass caught in an end zone scores a touchdown. The player must have control of the ball in the end zone. A ball caught beyond the end zone is out-of-bounds and is considered an incomplete pass.

Fake – a move made by a player for the purpose of deceiving an opponent.

First Down – the first of four attempted plays to move the football forwards towards the opponent’s goal line.

Forward Pass – a pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage toward the opponent’s goal line.

Fumbles - All fumbles are dead at the spot of the fumble which becomes the new line of scrimmage. The team having fumbled the ball is still in possession of the ball but loses the down. If it is the 4th down, then the ball goes to the other team.

Handoff – An offensive play in which the quarterback hands off the ball to a back who attempts to advance the ball.

Huddle - The team with the ball usually huddles to make up the play. A team has 30 seconds to put the ball into play.

Line of Scrimmage - This is an imaginary line from sideline to sideline, that passes through the ball and is parallel to the goal line. No one may go over it until the ball is kicked, or snapped. Forward passes must be behind this "line".

Offense – the team that has possession of the football.

Offside – movement across the established line of scrimmage before the football is snapped.

Passing - When passing the ball forward, the grip should be slightly behind middle of the ball with fingers on or across the laces, same foot as the throwing arm should be planted, body sideways to target. Step toward target with opposite foot from throwing arm. Snap wrist downward upon releasing ball to impart spin. Follow through and end up the weight on forward foot.

Punting - when punting the ball, the ball should be kicked with the top of the foot, with toes pointed. The ball will be kicked on the long axis with laces up. When the ball is kicked right, it should spiral through the air.

Rushing - The players must start back 3 yards off the line of scrimmage. Players must also count out loud until “7 Mississippi”. Then they may rush the quarterback to try to pull his/her flag.

Safety - A safety occurs when the team defending a goal line causes the ball to go back over their own goal line by fumbling, running, or being caught during a scrimmage play behind their own goal line. The person's flag is pulled by the opponent and the opposing team gains possession of the ball.

Screen (block) – an offensive player positioning the body between an opponent and the ball carrier.

Tackling - A player is down if one of their flags has been pulled or if he/she slips and their knee or any part of their body, (hands included) hits the ground. The ball carrier must make an attempt to avoid the defensive player and is not permitted to run over or through the defensive player. The tackler must play the flags and not the ball carrier.

Touchbacks - A touchback is when a receiving player downs the ball in his/her own goal area and puts one knee down. Any ball kicked over the goal line is ruled a touchback and is brought out to the 20 yard line to be put in play by the receiving team.

Touchdown – An offensive player having possession of the football in opponent’s end zone.

Positions Offensive Line-up 1 Center – snaps the ball to the quarterback. 2 Guards/Tackles – protect the quarterback from a defensive rush. 2 Ends – receive passes, protect the quarterback, block for running backs. 1 Quarterback – throws passes. 1-2 Running Backs – receive passes and handoffs to advance the ball down the field.

Defensive Line-up 3 Defensive Linemen – rush the quarterback and tackle ball carriers. 3 Linebackers – stop the sweep run, prevent pass receptions. 2 Safeties - cover offensive receivers, try to intercept passes.

Running Pass Patterns

The purpose of running patterns is to elude a defender. Patterns consist of running and making at least one cut or quick movement involving a change of direction. Before catching a ball, get into an open area by running a predetermined pattern.