Flag football words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 37 words · Step 1 of 2

Checked 8 October 2026

Basic setup terms

Team

Not more than five players on the field for each team, in games played by teams of one gender. A roster has at most 15 players, five on the field and ten substitutes. A team forfeits if it cannot field the regular number less one.

Field

A field 50 yards long and 25 yards wide for 5-on-5, with a 10-yard end zone at each end, a goal line, a no-running zone in the 5 yards before each goal line, and a middle line halfway between the goal lines.

End zone

The 10-yard area at each end of the field between the end line and the goal line.

Down

The part of the game that begins with a legal snap after the ball is ready for play and ends when the ball becomes dead. The offence gets a series of four downs to carry the ball across the middle line.

Referee

The official in charge of a game, which is supervised by two or more officials. The Referee tosses the coin, declares the ball ready for play and ends periods.

Also called: officials

Flag football

A non-contact form of football played with flag belts. Blocking, tackling and kicking are not allowed, and the main principle of the rules is to avoid significant contact. The regular game is 5 on 5; the same rules cover 7 on 7, 4-on-4 beach flag and indoor flag with changes.

Flag belt

The tightly fixed belt each player wears with pop-sockets and two identical flags, normally one on each hip. The flags must hang freely, be clearly visible and contrast with the pants. Deliberately manipulating flags means disqualification.

Also called: flags

Half

A game is 40 minutes, in two halves of 20 minutes with a 2-minute break. A period is extended until a down has been played that is free of live ball fouls for which the penalty is accepted.

Middle line

The line midway between the goal lines. Its middle point is the line to gain for a new series of downs.

Scoring terms

Touchdown

Six points, scored when a runner advancing from the field of play carries the ball across the plane of the opponent's goal line, or when a player catches a pass in the opponent's end zone.

Try

An extra down after a touchdown, scored from the 5-yard line for 1 point or the 10-yard line for 2 points. The scoring team chooses before the ball is ready. There are no kicks. A defensive touchdown on a try is worth 2 points.

Also called: extra point, conversion
See also: Down, Touchdown

Safety

Two points to the opponent, when the ball becomes dead on or behind a goal line and the team defending that goal line is responsible for it being there, or an accepted penalty leaves the ball there. On a try it is worth one point. The scoring team then snaps from its own 5-yard line.

Downs and possession

First down

A new series of four downs, earned when the offence has the ball beyond the middle line when it becomes dead, the first time in a series, or by an accepted penalty that mandates it. The line to gain is the middle line, not a set number of yards.

Fourth down

The last down of a series. There are no punts. If the offence fails to score or earn a new first down, the defence gets a new series on its own 5-yard line.

See also: Down, First down, Offence, Defence

Turnover

A change of team possession, which happens when an opponent gains possession of the ball, as by an interception. A fumble that hits the ground is a dead ball that stays with the fumbling team.

Interception

A catch of an opponent's pass or fumble. The ball then belongs to the defence at the dead ball spot, in a new series.

Fumble

Any act other than passing or handing that makes a player lose possession. When a fumble hits the ground, or a teammate of the fumbler touches it first, the ball is dead and stays with the fumbling team at the spot where possession was lost.

Series of downs

Four consecutive scrimmage downs, awarded at the start of each half and after a score, safety, touchback or change of possession. It renews when the offence carries the ball beyond the middle line for the first time in the series.

See also: Half, Middle line, Safety, Touchback, Offence

Playing terms

Snap

The legal start of a down: handing or passing the ball backward from the ground with a quick, continuous backward motion that loses possession. It need not be between the snapper's legs. The ball must be put in play within 25 seconds of being declared ready.

Quarterback

The offensive player who first gets possession of the ball after the snap, and the first runner. The quarterback cannot run with the ball beyond the scrimmage line, and has 7 seconds to pass or hand off.

Also called: QB
See also: Snap

Pass

Any intentional act of throwing the ball, or dropping it to the ground. A team may make one forward pass per down, from behind the scrimmage line, before possession changes. A pass is forward if it first touches something beyond the spot where it was released; all others, even sideways, are backward passes.

Run

A running play: any live ball action other than a legal forward pass play. The runner has no right of way and must avoid contact; kicking, jumping, diving and flag guarding are illegal.

Also called: rush
See also: Flag guarding, Penalty

Tackle

Legally bringing the ball carrier to the ground to stop their progress.

Sack

The removal of a flag from the quarterback behind the scrimmage line while the quarterback has a live ball.

Line of scrimmage

Each team has its own scrimmage line: the vertical plane through the point of the ball closest to that team's goal line, running to the side lines. A player has crossed it if any part of the body is beyond it.

Blitz

A defender who lines up with all parts of the body more than 7 yards from the scrimmage line may signal with one raised hand and become a blitzer, who has right of way over the offence while rushing quickly and straight at the quarterback. At most two players may signal.

Flag pull

Removing one or more flags from an opponent with one or both hands. It is how a runner is stopped. The defender must take all reasonable steps to minimise contact.

Positions

Offence

The team that puts the ball in play by a snap. Its players are the snapper, the runner and receivers.

Defence

The team opposing the offence. Its players are blitzers, rushers and defenders.

Wide receiver

An offensive player focused on catching passes.

Also called: WR

Running back

An offensive player focused on carrying the ball on running plays.

Also called: RB

Linebacker

A versatile defensive player positioned to stop both run and pass plays.

Cornerback

Defensive backs positioned to cover receivers and prevent big passing plays.

Also called: safety

Fouls and penalties

Penalty

The result of a foul, imposed on the offending team: loss of yardage, loss of down, an automatic first down or disqualification. The team that did not foul may accept or decline it.

Also called: flag
See also: Down, First down, Loss of down, Automatic first down

Holding

Grasping an opponent or their equipment, not releasing immediately and impacting the opponent. It is illegal contact in flag football.

Offside

A defender who is not in bounds and behind their scrimmage line at the snap, or who is within 7 yards of it and crosses it before the ball has been handed off, fake handed off or passed.

Pass interference

Physical contact on a legal forward pass play, up to the point the pass is touched or falls incomplete, that interferes with an opponent while the ball is in the air. It is 10 yards, with loss of down for the offence or an automatic first down for the defence.

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