The History of flag football
History American football evolved from rugby, which was a spin-off from soccer. Early roots of the modern game can be traced to a college game played in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers universities. Each team had 25 men on the field;
the game more resembled soccer than football, as running with the ball, passing and tackling were not allowed. Harvard and McGill's universities played a game in 1874 that combined elements of rugby and soccer’ this game caught on in eastern U.S. schools and developed into the beginnings of modern football.
Early rules included playing with a round ball and needing to make 5 yards in three downs. Rules have continually evolved to make the game fair, exciting, and less violent. From its beginnings in America on college campuses, football has grown into a widely popular sport in the United States, where it is played in youth leagues, in high schools, and professionally. Football games are played all over the world, although it is not a great spectator sport outside the United States. There is a National Football League (NFL) Europe league, made up mostly of American players, with rules basically the same as in the NFL in the United States.
Flag Football is believed to have begun in the U.S. military during World War II. The game was started for military personnel to play without getting injured during wartime. It is believed that the history of flag football was first recorded at Fort Meade, Maryland and it is generally accepted as its birthplace. Local leagues were formed as military personnel returned home in the 1950s and 1960s. It is still played throughout the United States at the middle school, high school and college levels. Many cities have developed their own adult flag football leagues.
Objective: the object of football is to advance the ball over the opponent’s goal line without having your flag pulled off. Variations are made to ensure the student's safety.
The game allows players to participate in a relatively safe situation while still retaining many of the skills used in football. The rules for touch football and flag football are generally the same. However, when playing flag football, the rules for blocking, fumbling, and tackling must be strictly enforced. In flag football, any ball carrier without two flags is considered tackled. In order to minimize hazardous play, the following precautionary measures are suggested: No blocking, tackling or holding the ball carrier.
Defensive players must maintain contact with the ground. Ball carriers may not employ straight-arm or body contact.
Length of Game 2 halves per 20 minute period constitutes a game with 2 timeouts per half and a 5-minute rest between halves.
Players A team generally consists of seven players, and the offensive team must have at least three players on the line of scrimmage when the ball is put into play. Any number of substitutions may be made at any time during a stoppage in play.
Scoring: Scoring is the same as regulation football:
Touchdown = 6 Points
afety = 2 Points
Try after touchdown= 1 point from 5 yards, 2 points from 10 yards.
Flag football’s popularity continues to grow each year as more boys and girls discover the fun and excitement of the game. Parents love the game because it offers a much safer alternative to tackle football. You may already understand the basics of football, but here are six things you might not know about flag football:
1. The military boosted the popularity of flag football.
In the 1940s military personnel would play “Touch and Tail” football which we now know as flag football. The game was developed on military bases as a recreational pastime and sport for military personal to play to stay fit and occupied while on base during World War II. When they came back to the states they brought the sport back with them and created leagues with fellow military members.
2. It doesn’t require a lot of equipment.
With no physical contact, flag football doesn’t require expensive equipment such as helmets or shoulder pads. Get your child a pair of athletic sneakers or rubber-soled cleats, t-shirt jersey and they are ready to go!
3. Everyone has their own way to play.
Another great thing about flag football is that when the league is over, kids can play on their own. each week, we play 5 on 5 games of flag football, games can also be played with four, seven, eight or nine players to aside. Fields can also vary in size. As long as children have a big enough open area and two end zones to score on, they can play in almost any space.
4. Flag football can be fun for all ages.
Just like youth leagues have been popping up everywhere for flag football, it has also become a popular sport for college students and even adults. Many college intramural programs offer the sport with some schools offering it as a club sport. There are also many adult leagues that are becoming just as popular. There are leagues that offer men’s, women’s, and co-ed options for all skill levels and even hold a national championship every year.
5. The Guinness World Record for the longest continuous game of flag football is 62 hours! Held in Moose Jaw, Canada in 2015, the game was organised as a fundraiser for the Children’s Wish Foundation. Don’t worry – none of our games will go that long!
6. Even NFL superstars played flag football.
One of the most famous NFL players of all time, Tom Brady, started playing football in a flag football league. Considered to be one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks ever, Brady played flag football for several years, beginning in elementary school in San Mateo until his freshman year of high school. Brady used the skills and knowledge he learned from flag football to compete for a roster position on the junior varsity team. Brady went on to start on the varsity team his junior year and then accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Michigan before becoming a member of the New England Patriots.
