Flag football is a way to experience the excitement of the game – without contact. It’s a fun and fast-paced Game Type that can be played at any age and on various field sizes.
Flag football is rising! It’s one of the fastest-growing games in the world and was recently added to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
If you’re interested in learning how to play, this video explains the basics of the sport. As the sport's National Governing Body, USA Football is the exclusive selector and leader of the U.S. National Teams that play in international tournaments, including the Olympics. We hope to see you on the field!
The IFAF Flag rules are recognized as the official rules for international competition. This is the set used for the World Games, Continental Championships, and the Olympics. This style is played throughout the world. The rulebook you will find through the button below contains descriptions and rules for Beach Flag, Indoor Flag, 5v5 and 7v7.
The USA FLAGTM 5's Rulebook is a condensed version of the larger IFAF rulebook. Additionally, it contains separate rules for league play and tournament play making it useful to flag organizations regardless of how they structure their competition. It also contains suggestions for modifications to the game or rules based on age and skill level.
These are the rules used at USA Football sanctioned events including Qualifiers and The One Flag Championship. For a tournament to be sanctioned and have athletes scouted by the U.S. National Team, game play MUST use this book. There is no section for league play in this rulebook as it includes tournament operation and rules only.
The USA FLAGTM 7's Rulebook mirrors the USA FLAGTM 5's Rulebook with adjustments made for the additional two players. This is an excellent resource for youth leagues where they want more players on the field to maximize the amount of coaches and playing time in their program.