How does rushing the quarterback work in flag football?
I · Intermediate · Contact, blitzing and penalties · 7 of 9A defender may rush the quarterback only from more than 7 yards (6.40 m) behind the scrimmage line at the snap. Up to two such players can raise a hand before the snap to become blitzers, and the offence must then keep out of their path. Defenders nearer than 7 yards wait until the ball is handed off or thrown.
How it works
- Seven yards: all parts of the rusher's body must be more than 7 yards from the scrimmage line at the snap.
- The signal: one hand raised well above the head, held there for at least the last second before the snap.
- Two at most: no more than two players may signal on one play.
- What it earns: right of way. Offensive players must avoid the blitzer's lane.
- How to keep it: rush at once, quickly and straight to the spot where the quarterback takes the snap.
- How to lose it: rushing late, slowly, somewhere else or changing direction.
- Without a signal: any defender starting beyond 7 yards may still rush, but without right of way.
- Everyone else: defenders within 7 yards stay behind the line until the ball is handed off, faked or passed.
- Illegal rush: 5 yards from the scrimmage line.
- Bad signal: a hand raised inside 7 yards, a third raised hand or an unclear signal. Dead ball, 5 yards.
- Still no contact: a blitzer may not run into a stationary snapper or hit the quarterback's arm.
The glossary has the blitz, the blitzer, the pass rush, the sack, the right of place and right of way entry and the quarterback.
Tricky cases
A defender 6 yards back raises a hand. What happens?
It is an illegal blitzer signal: the ball stays dead and the penalty is 5 yards. If the player moves back beyond 7 yards before the snap there is no foul.
A blitzer is rushing straight and a receiver's route takes them across the lane. They collide. Whose foul?
The offence's, for illegal contact, if the blitzer tried to avoid it. Receivers must stay out of the blitzer's lane.
The quarterback rolls out and the blitzer turns to follow. Does the blitzer keep right of way?
No. Changing direction loses it. The blitzer may carry on rushing but must now avoid the receivers.
The snapper stays still after the snap and a blitzer runs into them. Whose foul?
The blitzer's, for aiming. The snapper's right of place outranks the blitzer's right of way.
Why the rule exists
With no blockers, a rusher starting on the line would reach the quarterback at once. The 7 yards give the quarterback time to throw, and the raised hand tells the offence where the rush is coming from so that receivers can stay out of its way. The blitzer gives up surprise and gets a clear run in return.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard game | Rush from more than 7 yards | IFAF Flag Rule 2-2-6; 7-1-4 |
| Beach flag | Rush from 5 yards | IFAF Flag Rules, Beach Flag |
| After a hand-off, fake hand-off or pass | Any defender may cross the line | IFAF Flag Rule 7-1-4 f |
| Quarterback crosses the line | Any defender may pull the flag | IFAF Flag AR 7-1-3-IV |
From the rule book
International Federation of American Football, International Flag Football Rules 2023 (in force from 1 May 2023), Rule 2-2-6 and Rule 7-1-4, with approved rulings 7-1-4-I to VII and 9-1-1-B-I to XV. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IFAF International Flag Football Rules 2023 (PDF).