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Flag football

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the sport. For the flag used to signal penalties, seePenalty flag.

Flag football
A game of flag football being played at theUniversity of Texas at Austin
Highestgoverning body
First playedc. 1940inFort Meade, Maryland,U.S.
Characteristics
ContactLimited
Team membersTwo teams of 4-10
Type
EquipmentBall,flag
VenueFootball field
Presence
Country or regionWorldwide
OlympicTo be first included in2028
ParalympicTo be first included in2028
World Games2022

Flag footballis a variant ofgridiron football(American footballorCanadian footballdepending on location) where, instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier ( "deflagging" ) to end adown.In flag football, contact is limited between players. The sport has a strong amateur following with several national and international competitions each year sponsored by various associations but is most popularly played in America where it was invented. The international governing body for the sport is theInternational Federation of American Football(IFAF). In 2022, flag football was shortlisted as a proposed discretionary event for the2028 Summer Olympicsin Los Angeles, with inclusion being accepted on October 16, 2023.

History

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The best available records to date point to the early 1940s duringWorld War IIas the sport's starting point.[1][2]The game began as a recreational sport created for American military personnel to help them stay fit but was designed in a way that would help prevent them from becoming injured during wartime. At the time it was called "Touch and Tail football", which then became "flag football" after the war ended.[3]

The first knownrecorded historyof flag football can be traced toFort Meade, Maryland,USA, which is now generally accepted as the sport's birthplace. The first national flag football organization, theNational Touch Football League,was formed in the 1960s inSt. Louis, Missouri.Since 1971, the league has had a national championship game.[4]

Arizona teachers Porter Wilson and Norman Adams invented flag-a-tag belts and flags[5][6][7]which are the template for the flags used in the game today.

Basic rules

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The specific rules of flag football vary widely by league, though all share in common their replication of the rules of traditionalAmerican footballwith tackling replaced by flag-pulling.

Traditional American football rules are often eliminated or modified to reflect the more recreational nature of the game, the desire to avoid physical contact and injury, and the generally smaller number of participating players per side.

In a standard game of flag football, the match is played in two halves. Time length is determined by the league being played.[8]The clock only stops for injuries, half-time and timeouts.

Variations

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Flag football is sometimes played on sand.

Chiefly, because there is no dominant sanctioning organization for the sport, the game has mutated into many variations: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4 players on each side;coedor single-gender; with kicking and punting and with point-after conversions (including some with 1, 2, and 3 point tries) or without; and field sizes that vary from fullCanadian Football League(CFL) size,National Football League(NFL) size (120 yards long by 531⁄3yards wide), to fields a third that size.

An important distinction is whetherlinemenare allowed to catch passes ( "Eligible Linemen" ) or, as in the NFL / CFL, are not allowed to do so ( "Ineligible Linemen" ). Flag (andtouch) football may also be divided into "contact" or "non-contact", depending on whether or notblockingis allowed; if allowed, blocking is usually restricted to thechest.[9]

The ability or inability of the quarterback to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage (LOS) by running is another rule subject to variation by the league.

The sport is also played on surfaces other than a traditional grassfootball field,including on sand beaches; beach flag football has previously featured as a discipline at theAsian Beach Games.[10]

IFAF Flag Football World Championship

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Main article:IFAF Flag Football World Championship

TheIFAF Flag Football World Championshipis normally conducted every two years. IFAF stands forInternational Federation of American Football.

IFAF Flag Football World Championship 2021

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TheInternational Federation of American Football(IFAF) had selected Israel to host the Flag Football World Championships for 2021IFAF Flag Football World ChampionshipwithWorld Gamesplaces up for grabs. TheKraft Family Sports Campusin Jerusalem was originally scheduled to stage the men's and women's events, however, due to expected high winds the games were played atTeddy Stadium.

An IFAF event record of 39 men's and women's teams combined, spanning 22 countries, competed at the tournament in Israel. Normally conducted every two years, Denmark was scheduled to host the 2020 edition only for it to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The United States retained their men's and women's titles at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF)Flag Football World Championshipin Jerusalem. The US fought back in both finals, against Mexico to successfully defend their world crowns.

We love the game of American football and are so proud to see the sport's popularity continue to grow internationally in its various forms, including flag football...[11]

— Robert Kraft,New England Patriotsowner andKraft Groupchairman and CEO, International Federation of American Football News, March 15, 2021

Women's gold

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Against Mexico in the women's gold-medal match, the Americans scored 12 unanswered points in the second period to seal a 31–21 victory. In the semi-finals, the US beat Austria 33–6, and Mexico beat Brazil 47–6 to reach the final.

I'm extremely proud of our women coming together...They were dedicated to the mission at hand, and they succeeded.

— US head coach, Chris Lankford

Men's gold

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The US Men's team rallied from behind against Mexico to a 44–41 victory and retain their world title. A 35–6 win over Panama sent the US through to the final, and Mexico beat Italy 36–35 to join them in the tournament's showpiece contest.[12]

Mexico played extremely well, but through the entire process, our team made a statement...They represented their country, the program, themselves, and their families well and I'm proud of them.

— US head coach, Bryan Garcia

Other nations

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AustriaAustria defeated Brazil 26–13 to win the women's bronze medal.

PanamaPanama edged out Italy 45–40 in the men's third-place playoff.

Medal table

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RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1United States141015
2Austria3104
3France1034
4Panama1012
5Canada1001
6Denmark0426
7Mexico0213
8Germany0202
9Italy0022
10Thailand0011
Totals (10 entries)20101040

Olympics

[edit]
Main article:Flag football at the Summer Olympics

In July 2022, theNational Football League(NFL) and the IFAF partnered on a bid for flag football to be included as an optional event during the2028 Summer Olympicsin Los Angeles. The NFL had sponsored the inclusion of flag football as aninvitational eventduring that month's2022 World Games—a multi-sport event featuring sports and disciplines not currently contested at the Olympics—in Birmingham, Alabama. The men's tournament was won by the United States, and the women's tournament by Mexico.[13][14]The NFL's executive VP of football operationsTroy Vincentstated that the sport was "the future of American football", as it was inclusive and had fewer barriers to access.[15]

In August 2022, flag football was shortlisted as one of nine sports advancing to the next phase of the bid process.[16]On October 9, 2023, the LA organizing committee officially proposed the inclusion of flag football as an event.[17][18][19][20]On October 16, 2023, flag football and the organizing committee's other proposals for temporary events were approved at the141st IOC Session.[21][22]

World Games

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Main article:Flag football at the 2022 World Games

The2022 World Gamesmarked the 40th anniversary of the event, which took place from July 7–17, 2022. Hosted at Birmingham's historicLegion Field,Flag Football featured eight men's teams and eight women's teams from around the world. In 2021 theWorld Gamesuploaded a beginner's guide to World Games Flag Football.[23]

As the reigning world champions,[24]the United States men's and women's teams both pre-qualified for the 2022 World Games. The remaining seven teams were selected through the IFAF qualifying process[14]

North America

[edit]
Children playing the sport in Mexico

USA Football

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USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole US member of the International Federation of American Football,[25]and a recognized sports organization of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee.[26]Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes the U.S. national team (men'sandwomen's) in federation-sanctioned international competition.[27]

USA Flag

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USA Flag currently operates the largest National Championships flag football tournament in the United States, along with a club World Championships every January in Florida that eclipsed over 980 teams this past January 2023, the largest single weekend flag football tournament ever recorded. The USA Flag has grown exponentially each year.

NFL Flag

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TheNational Football Leagueand its teams have promoted and sponsored flag football leagues in the United States as a youth sport under the brandingNFL Flag;in 2020,Denver BroncosquarterbackRussell Wilsonbecame a chairman and co-owner of NFL Flag, as part of efforts by the NFL to expand its promotion of the sport into other territories. The program has also placed a particular focus on expanding women's flag football, due to gridiron football having predominantly been played by men.[28][29]

In2023,as part of a retooling of thePro Bowl—the NFL's all-star event—into a series of skills competitions, culminating with three flag football games as the final events.[30]In 2023 and 2024, NFL Flag also hosted its world championships as part of the Pro Bowl festivities.[31][32]

American Flag Football League

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Main article:American Flag Football League

The American Flag Football League (AFFL) is a flag football organization that offers youth and women's competition, and in 2023, a men's professional division.[citation needed]

Canadian Flag Football League

[edit]
Main articles:Canadian Flag Football LeagueandFootball Canada

TheCanadian Flag Football League(CFFL) was established in 2019 and runs Canada'sCFFL National Championship.[33]The league is affiliated withFootball Canada,the national governing body for football in Canada and its variants. The winners of the CFFL National Championship also gain the opportunity to represent Canada in international competition.

The league's major objective is to help integrate existing adult flag leagues on a nationwide basis. Depending on the region, teams compete in their Regional Championships, either Eastern, Western, or Central. The top two teams from each division advance to the national championship.

There are three divisions for the CFFL: male, female, and mixed.

Flag Football National Championships

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The CanadianFlag Football National Championships(FFNC) was established in 2007 to provide athletes with the opportunity to develop their skills and compete in national team competitions and eventually theCanadian Flag Football League(CFFL) which was established in 2019. Since its inception, the format of the championship has undergone several changes.[34]

In 2011, in response to the growth of flag football and the development of Football Canada's Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, the under-15 co-ed division was replaced by separate boys and girls under-16 divisions. These divisions supplemented the pre-existing under-18 divisions that were added in 2010.

By 2013, the championship featured three divisions: male and female under-16 divisions and a female under-18 division.

In 2017, with the introduction of the Under-16 Regional Flag Challenge, the championship shifted to an under-18 format with male and female divisions.

Varsity sport

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United States

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In May 2020, theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics(NAIA), in partnership with theNFL,announced the addition of flag football as a varsity sport for female student-athletes.[35]The NAIA became the first collegiate governing body to sanction the sport at the varsity level. NAIA women's flag football began during the 2020–21 season as an emerging sport with at least 15 teams, and the NAIA and NFL also expected an upgrade of the sport to an invitational level sport by 2022 with at least 25 teams.[36]

In May 2022, theNational Junior College Athletic Association(NJCAA) announced that it would sponsor flag football as an emerging women's sport, starting in 2023.[37][38]

In June 2023, theAtlantic East ConferenceofNCAA Division IIIannounced five of its seven member institutions would independently sponsor women's flag football in the spring of 2025, with support from the NFL and thePhiladelphia Eagles.[39]In July 2024,Conference CarolinasofNCAA Division IIannounced that six of its 16 member schools would sponsor women's flag football, starting in the spring of 2026.[40]

International

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See also:International Woman's Flag Football Association,International Federation of American Football,andBritish American Football Association
Player at the point of taking other player's flag at a game atMonterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico City

International Woman's Flag Football Association

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TheInternational Woman's Flag Football Association,IWFFA,hosts 8-on-8 flag football tournaments and flag football training across the world with participants from theUnited States,Canada,Mexico,Sweden,Norway,Finland,Denmark,Iceland,Scotlandand several other nations. The organization is the largest for women and girls in the sport. The most active tournament is held each February inKey West, Florida,called the Kelly McGillis Classic[41]where over 90 women and girls teams participate in 8-on-8, semi-blocking contact flag football. There are no restrictions for girls and women to play.

International Federation of American Football

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TheInternational Federation of American Football(IFAF) organizes theIFAF Flag Football World Championshipevery two years since 2002.

International Flag Football Festival

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TheInternational Flag Football Festival(IFFF) organizes theWorld Cup of Flag Footballfeaturing teams from theUnited States,Mexicoand several other nations.

United Kingdom

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Flag football competition in theUnited Kingdomis, mostly, 5-a-side. There are two main organizations: The adult-only Outlaw Flag League,[42]which run Tournaments in two conferences, the Exile conference and the Bandit conference, from March to October, culminating in playoff and championships. Secondly, the NFFL, The National Flag Football League, organized by TheBritish American Football Association(BAFA). At a senior level, there are sixty teams divided into two leagues. NFL Division One: Highlands, North A, North B, Midlands, South East, and South West[43]and The Premiership: Highlands, North, South East, and South West, with the top teams qualifying for playoffs at the end of the season. BAFA also runs The Youth Flag Football League (YFFL)[44]and organizes teams competing at under 17, under 14, and under 11.[45][46]Flag football games in the UK are played with five players on each side with no contact, and are officiated according to the IFAF flag football rules with a few minor variations.[47]The U17s and U14s, and, for the 2023 season U11s, compete in the National Youth Flag Football League, which runs from April to August, with teams playing in Local and regional tournaments to qualify for National Finals Day and ultimately be crowned National Champions.

BAFA National Flag finals

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[48]

Under 17s
Year Team Score Score Team
2023
South Coast Spitfires		 25 14
Nuneaton Jaguars
2022
Nuneaton Jaguars		 19 8
Northants Titans
2021
South Coast Spitfires		 44 20
Leicester Huntsmen
Under 14s
Year Team Score Score Team
2023
South Coast Spitfires		 26 14
Burnly Tornados
2022
Houghton Bears		 34 27
Leicester Huntsmen
2021
South Coast Spitfires		 44 20
Leicester Huntsmen
Under 11s
Year Team Score Score Team
2023
Northants Ducks		 32 0
South Coast Spitfires
Mixed Adult
2022 London Smoke 42 33 Cardiff Hurricane
Adult Division 1
2022 Reading Devils 52 27 Swansea Hammerheads
2021 Final Standings
U14s U17s
1. South Coast Spitfires 1. South Coast Spitfires
2. Leicester Huntsmen 2. Coventry Cougars
3. Chorley Buccaneers Cutlasses 3. Waveney Wolves
4. London Blitz 4. South London Renegades
5. Nuneaton Jaguars 5. London Blitz
6. Solent Red Storm 6. Brighton & Hove Scorpions
7. Houghton Bears
8. Chorley Buccaneers Blades

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^"Academics, Physical Education, Course, Team-Sports, Flag Football"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on January 9, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 8,2022.
  2. ^"Flag Football"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on January 9, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 8,2022.
  3. ^"6 Things You Didn't Know About Flag Football".i9sports.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2022.
  4. ^"When did flag football start in the United States?".idswater.com.July 5, 2020.RetrievedApril 29,2022.
  5. ^"US Patent for Flag football device Patent (Patent # 5,709,621)".patents.justia.com.RetrievedMay 1,2022.
  6. ^"Flag Football Belt Device Patent Grant Wilson May 25, 1 [Wilson; Porter C.] - USPTO.report".uspto. report.RetrievedMay 1,2022.
  7. ^"Flag football belt device".patents.google.com.RetrievedMay 1,2022.
  8. ^"Flag Football Rules".NFL Flag.RetrievedJuly 24,2024.
  9. ^"Flag Football Plays - Lineman and Blocking".Best Flag Football Plays.RetrievedJanuary 1,2016.
  10. ^"Phuket 2014 - Flag Football".Olympic Council of Asia.2014. Archived fromthe originalon February 5, 2023.RetrievedAugust 19,2022.
  11. ^"International American Football".Archived fromthe originalon March 15, 2021.RetrievedMarch 16,2021.
  12. ^"United States retain titles at World Flag Football Championships".December 8, 2021.
  13. ^"World Games flag football medallists honored at season-opening NFL game".www.insidethegames.biz.September 9, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 26,2022.
  14. ^ab"NFL partners with The World Games to add flag football in 2022".NFL.com.RetrievedDecember 30,2020.
  15. ^"IFAF partners NFL to launch flag football bid for Los Angeles 2028 inclusion".www.insidethegames.biz.July 13, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 26,2022.
  16. ^"Motorsport, cricket and karate among nine sports on shortlist for Los Angeles 2028 inclusion".Inside the Games.August 3, 2022.RetrievedAugust 4,2022.
  17. ^"Cricket recommended for 2028 LA Olympics spot".BBC Sport.RetrievedOctober 9,2023.
  18. ^Ingle, Sean (October 9, 2023)."Cricket, squash, lacrosse and flag football all set for 2028 LA Olympics".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.RetrievedOctober 9,2023.
  19. ^"Los Angeles 2028 proposes five new sports for 2028 Summer Olympics".insidethegames.biz.October 9, 2023.RetrievedOctober 9,2023.
  20. ^"International Olympic Committee approves cricket and four other sports for 2028 Games in Los Angeles".Sky Sports. October 16, 2023.
  21. ^"International Olympic Committee approves cricket and four other sports for 2028 Games in Los Angeles".Sky Sports.October 16, 2023.
  22. ^"FFRC".November 13, 2023.
  23. ^World Games (June 25, 2021)."A Beginner's Guide to Flag Football".YouTube.RetrievedMay 1,2022.
  24. ^"World Flag Championship (m) | EVENTS | International American Football".ifaf.org.RetrievedDecember 31,2020.
  25. ^"International Federation of American Football".IFAF Member Federations.
  26. ^"United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee".USOPC Affiliate Organizations.
  27. ^"International Federation of American Football".IFAF Membership.RetrievedJuly 21,2023.
  28. ^"Women fueling flag football's surging popularity: 'It's accessible and inclusive'".Los Angeles Times.September 19, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 26,2022.
  29. ^NBC Sports."Seahawks QB Russell Wilson becomes co-owner and chairman of NFL FLAG".RetrievedFebruary 5,2020.
  30. ^"2023 Pro Bowl Games skills competitions announced".NFL.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 25,2023.
  31. ^"NFL to host international 12 youth flag football teams at 2024 Pro Bowl games".www.insidethegames.biz.January 27, 2024.RetrievedApril 23,2024.
  32. ^Alvarado, Jairo (January 27, 2023)."NFL Hosting Community Events During 2023 Pro Bowl Games Week".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedApril 23,2024.
  33. ^"League - Football Canada".footballcanada.com.Football Canada.
  34. ^"Domestic Events | U18 FLAG FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP".Football Canada.
  35. ^"NAIA to sponsor women's flag football with NFL partnership".ESPN.May 4, 2020.RetrievedMay 5,2020.
  36. ^Kerkhoff, Blair (May 4, 2020)."With NFL's backing, women's college flag football will debut at NAIA schools in 2021".The Kansas City Star.RetrievedMay 5,2020.
  37. ^"NJCAA approves emerging sport updates"(Press release). National Junior College Athletic Association. May 5, 2022.
  38. ^Turbeville, Ryan Wyatt (May 9, 2024)."Florida Gateway College flag football team wins back-to-back championships".WCJB.
  39. ^DiAmore, Isabella (June 5, 2023)."Atlantic East Conference announces plans to offer NCAA Division III varsity women's flag football in 2025".The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  40. ^"Conference Carolinas announces the addition of women's flag football for 2025-26"(Press release). Conference Carolinas. July 2, 2024.
  41. ^Kelly McGillis Classic
  42. ^"Outlaw Flag League - Home".
  43. ^"National Flag Football League – 2021 schedule and alignments".Britishamericanfootball.org.RetrievedNovember 14,2021.
  44. ^"Youth Flag Football League – 2021 schedule and alignments".Britishamericanfootball.org.RetrievedNovember 14,2021.
  45. ^"BAFACL Flag South".BAFA Community Leagues.Archived fromthe originalon July 24, 2012.RetrievedMay 5,2011.
  46. ^"BAFACL Flag North".BAFA Community Leagues.Archived fromthe originalon July 19, 2012.RetrievedMay 5,2011.
  47. ^"BAFA Rules Committee - Flag football".British American Football Referees' Association.Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 17,2010.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  48. ^"South Coast Spitfires at the double at 2021 Youth Flag National Finals – British American Football".
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