Flag football 5 on 5 (regular field 50 x 25 yd)

IFAF Flag Football Rules are based on Tackle rules but kept short and simple. The structure will follow Tackle Rules, but the numbering will not correspond. All Flag Football situations are ruled on without reference to the Tackle rules. Even when the whole document has 60 pages, the fundamental parts for understanding the game itself are on less than half of it.

Flag Football has a lot of additional definitions (no-running zones, middle, blitzer, shielding, contact, aiming, flag pulling, flag guarding, jumping, dipping, spinning, diving, right of place, right of way) and respective rules. On the other hand, there are no helmets, protective padding, kicks (kickoff, punt, field goal), blocking or tackling. All of this makes Flag Football a similar, but distinct, sport with more speed and less injuries. Overall, there is a general understanding that Flag Football is a speedy pass-orientated sport.

Flag football is non-contact. Blocking, tackling and kicking are not allowed.