NFL FLAG FOOTBALL FAQ

League Organizers

We are looking for highly motivated league organizers that are mission aligned to grow the NFL FLAG program. We will review the amount of leagues in that area, and require every new league organizer to complete a background check as part of the approval process. START A NEW LEAGUE or CONVERT YOUR EXISTING LEAGUE get in touch if you are interested in starting a brand new league with NFL FLAG.

Benefits for NFL FLAG league organizers include: 

  • Free and easy league set-up 
  • Access to the official NFL FLAG logo to promote and grow your league 
  • Access to NFL FLAG marketing kit to promote your league online 
  • Chance to participate in regional tournaments 
  • Chance to qualify for National Championships at Pro Bowl 
  • Unmatched credibility from the NFL and the country’s most reputable flag football organization 
  • Liberty to set up and run your league according to the needs of your community 

Joining NFL FLAG provides you not only great equipment, recognition of one of the strongest sports brands in the world, access to a variety of resources developed to help you simplify and grow your sports business as well as the ability to operate in an exclusive territory. Get in touch if you are interested in AFFILIATING YOUR EXISTING LEAGUE with NFL FLAG.

It doesn't cost anything to become an NFL FLAG League operator.  Unlike many other sports franchises starting an NFL FLAG league is FREE!

A core $25.00 player kit includes an NFL Club uniform and flag belt and one football for every 5 players.  Sublimated Performance uniforms are also available for $30 per player which also includes a Flag belt with each uniform and football for every 5 players.

RCX Sports runs NFL FLAG on behalf of the NFL. Each local club has the choice to be as involved as they want.  Some clubs are more involved than others in helping create experiences beyond just playing in a local league.  Speak to your league success manager about the club in your market and how they are involved in raising awareness for NFL FLAG locally.  

Leagues can start out as small as 50 kids and get as large as several thousand. The more kids involved usually means age groups are more closely aligned for a greater experience.   

League operators are free to schedule their season as long or short as they would like, however the typical season takes place in the Spring, Fall and sometimes Winter. Most seasons are anywhere from 7 to 10 weeks.   

NFL FLAG offers discounted liability insurance policies, free accident insurance, access to dedicated league success managers, free Matrix software, discounted registration software, discounted  background checks,  exclusive access to play in NFL FLAG regional and national tournaments, and much more!   

It generally takes 2-3 weeks for the league request approval process.

It typically takes 4-6 months of marketing and preparation to launch a successful season.  

We are looking for highly motivated league organizers that are mission aligned to grow the NFL FLAG program. We will review the amount of leagues in that area, and require every new league organizer to complete a background check as part of the approval process.

Fields can be secured typically through local parks departments, school districts, and/or private sports facilities.  Sometimes field rental can be as simple as an hourly rental rate and/or fee or a percentage of your registration fee depending on the local facility partner.

You can run up to 4 flag football fields on one soccer or football field at a time!  NFL FLAG field dimensions are typically 60 yards long by 25 yards wide however these can vary based on location and overall field size.

The more time you put in, the more successful your league can become. Experienced league organizers recommend spending 5-20 hours per week to ensure a successful league. During the preseason most of the time is spent securing fields, marketing the league and developing local partnerships. 

After registration has been completed a majority of time is spent building teams, recruiting coaches, distributing equipment and communicating with parents.  During the season most of the time is spent on managing officials, parent inquiries and general customer service.  It's not easy running a league, but the more time you can spend, the better your chance of success will be.   

A variety of tools are offered to help our NFL FLAG leagues succeed.  This includes proffered registration systems, the Matrix back end league management software, NFL FLAG marketing hub , MOJO Coaches Training resources and much more.  

Marketing is one of the most important functions of starting your program.  Typically it takes time to build up a large enough audience where word of mouth will help growth.  In the meantime having a marketing budget to kick start your program is important to get the ball rolling.  Typical marketing campaigns could consist of anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 per location depending on the marketing opportunities and resources available. 

Parents

NFL FLAG leagues are recommended for boys and girls ages 4-17 however we also see some leagues starting as young as 3 years old by offering development or tots programming which is a great introduction to Flag Football.

Go to the Find a League page, search for leagues in your area, and contact those leagues to register to play. All NFL FLAG leagues are independently owned and operated, and all league registration will be conducted by the operators of that league.

Football, as we know it, is changing. The way the game used to be taught and played is different from what’s happening today. Player protection and injury prevention are front and center, causing a major culture shift within the sport. Leagues across all levels are adopting new technology, regimes and regulations in an effort to reduce the risk of injury, as researchers continue to focus on the impact of sustained contact in youth sports.

To help parents better understand what’s changed, we’ve highlighted the key developments in football safety awareness. Click here to learn more.

Flag Football is played all year round.  Many League operators offer programs in the Spring, Fall, Winter and Summer based on geography, weather conditions and facilities. 

  • Flag football flags and belt. Players wear belts with flags that hang along their sides and opponents have to pull the flags off of the ball-carrier’s belt. Every player receives an official NFL FLAG football belt and flag football flags, either from their coach or league organizer. 
  • NFL FLAG team jersey. Every player also receives a team jersey upon registration.  
  • Shorts. It’s important to wear shorts that don’t have pockets. This allows the belt and flags to be visible at all times, avoiding unnecessary penalties. It also is a safety precaution so that fingers don’t get stuck when attempting to remove the flag.  
  • Mouthguard (optional). This is the only protective gear that players wear. We recommend having a backup pair in your bag, just in case.  
  • Football cleats (optional). Metal cleats are not allowed in flag football.  
  • Football gloves (optional). Some players prefer to use football gloves, which give extra grip to help control the ball. These aren’t required, though. 

Learn more here! 

Plain and simple, flag football is loads of fun. With fewer players on the field, there’s more engagement and a faster speed of play. Games are quick, competitive and every drive counts, especially in tournaments. It’s the version of football you loved playing in your backyard—why ever stop?

NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program for girls and boys ages 5-17. Backed by the NFL with an emphasis on football fundamentals and community involvement, NFL FLAG empowers youth athletes across the nation.

Learn all the benefits of flag football here

No. There is currently no requirement to have any athletes or parents register or be associated with your league.

All NFL FLAG leagues are independently owned and operated and all league operations are managed by league organizer. The best place to report this feedback is directly to the league operator. If more follow up is necessary please contact our customer service team at info@nflflag2020.com

With most leagues only meeting once per week, many families easily squeeze flag football into their packed schedules. Typically, teams practice for about 45 minutes before their game, and then the game itself is usually an hour or less. Of course, some high-level competitive leagues offer more playing time, if that’s something you’re looking for. 

Since all NFL FLAG leagues are independently owned and operated, registration fees are set by league operators and vary from league to league. The list of necessary equipment is much shorter and therefore less costly than tackle. All you need are flag football belts and flags, a mouth guard, and gloves if you prefer.

Coaches

The first rule of flag football is pretty straight forward: there’s no contact allowed. That includes tackling, blocking, and screening. Instead, players wear FLAGS that hang along their sides by a belt. To “tackle” the person in possession of the ball, the opposing team needs to pull one or both of their flags off.  

This rule, along with several others, serve a single purpose: to keep players safe. From creating “no run zones” to eliminating fumbles, flag football rules are designed to create a fast-paced, engaging version of football without the physical contact. Read all about the important FLAG FOOTBALL RULES you need to know, including the different terms and positions. 

We’ve teamed up with MOJO, the best resource for coaches of young athletes – providing compelling, easy-to-follow, world-class instruction through game-changing technology, so you can give your players the best with less work and stress.

Learn how MOJO can help make COACHING EASY & ACCESSIBLE or DOWNLOAD THE APP 

In simple terms, flag football positions are essentially the same as tackle, but without the linemen. There are five players on the field in NFL FLAG football—for both offense and defense—with assigned roles. 

But, unlike tackle football, these football positions overlap much more than you may realize. For example, one player can take on many responsibilities in a given play, such as a center transitioning into a wide receiver after snapping the ball. For this reason, versatile players tend to be more successful in flag football.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FLAG POSSITIONS HERE

The most notable difference between flag football and tackle football is, well, tackling. In flag football, contact is not permitted. Players wear flags and defenders are tasked with removing the flags in order to “tackle” their opponent. If the ball carrier can reach the goal line with both flags intact, he or she scores. That being said, you will find some forms of flag football that allow blocking; however, NFL FLAG is strictly non-contact. Here are a few other key differences:  

  • Number of players on the field: In general, there are fewer players on the field in flag football. The most common youth flag football leagues are 5 on 5 and 7 on 7. The field is also shorter to accommodate the smaller team size.   
  • Faster pace: Without tackling, flag football games are much faster paced. Think about it: less timeouts, no kick offs, less stoppage time— kids are flying out there. And as a result, the games are shorter than tackle football as well (usually an hour or less).  
  • Rules: To eliminate contact, you’ll find many differences between tackle football and flag football rules. For example, quarterbacks aren’t allowed to run with the ball in flag football. Diving, blocking, screening and fumbles aren’t allowed—once the ball hits the ground, it’s dead. See the complete list of FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

Still have questions? Contact us!!

Email: info@nflflag.com  

Phone: 1-844-940-1005  

Customer Service Hours:  

Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET