The rules are revised by IFAF to improve the sport's level of safety and quality of play, and to clarify the meaning and intent of rules where needed. The principles that govern all rule changes are that they must:

• be safe for the participants;
• be applicable at all levels of the sport;
• be coachable and administrable by the officials;
• maintain a balance between offense and defense;
• be interesting to spectators;
• not have a prohibitive economic impact;
• and retain some affinity with IFAF tackle rules.

The most important aspect of the rules is to avoid any significant and impactful contact.

One of the goals is to keep the rules as short and simple as possible. Consequently, the rulebook does not cover every combination of situations that might happen in a game. Players, coaches and officials are requested to interpret the rules according to the principles supporting them.

The Flag Football Code is an integral part of the rules.

IFAF request all member federations to play by IFAF rules, probably adopted with the optional changes listed in the chapter „National Changes“.

These rules take effect by 1st of May 2023.