Terms to be used throughout:

QB = Quarterback RB = Running Back WR = Wide Receiver DB = Defensive back

Flag Football Strategies:

Most successful teams have a system rather than outstanding athletes. Certainly players

with superior speed, agility and talent will help the flag football team, nevertheless teams

with organization and basic fundamentals tend to progress far into the post-season

playoffs. We encourage you and your team to seek whatever strategy works best.

Practice, practice, and practice - The stronger teams practice twice a week for a couple of

hours; maybe once on the weekend, and once during the week. Sometimes they will set

up scrimmages with random teams that are practicing alongside them. This enables

teams to practice plays and work on timing drills, and give them “a look”. Smart teams

know they cannot simply walk onto the field and win the game.

Defense

Basics – The best teams pull flags on defense. When attempting to pull someone’s flag,

try to pull from the flag belt, and not the actual flag. This gives you some room for error

(as you can grab the flag if you miss the belt) and a constant target (even if the player

spins, the flag belt will still be in the same spot). The better flag-pulling teams will rake

the opponent’s back with the fingers. Once minimal contact is established, the hands

move down the back and grasp hold of the belt, to make the pull. The disadvantage to

pulling for the flag belt is grabbing on to the player’s shorts or shirt, possibly resulting in

a holding penalty. Occasionally that will occur, but the raking technique is still

recommended.

A great flag-pulling practice drill is to get your teammates in a single file line, acting as

the ball carriers (X). Have one person act as a defender (D) about five yards away from

that line and facing back toward it. Then, the first ball carrier in the single file line runs

toward that defender, and at the last step, cuts to the right of the defender. The defender

reaches out and pulls the flag. The next ball carrier in the single file line does the same

thing; only this time cuts to the left of the defender. Again, the flag is pulled. Now, the

ball carriers begin speeding up the process. Running back cuts to the right, the next to the

left, the next to the right, and again to the left. The defender does not have much time to

think, only to react by pulling the flag belt. Now switch and let another player try it.

Many teams will practice this in the few minutes before a game, to warm up and prepare.

X X X X X X --------------------------------( D

Ball carriers (facing East) Defender (facing West)

Another drill is to practice as a defensive back. While the defensive back is standing still,

have the receiver run a route and catch the ball right in front of the defender. The receiver

has a sure touchdown, and the only thing the defender can do is react and pull the flag

belt. The DB makes a quick flag pull to save the touchdown. This drill is helpful because

the DB is somewhat stationary, and the pressure to prevent the touchdown falls solely on

the flag pull, not the defender’s speed.

A Few Extra Pointers:

1. Since there are no fumbles in flag football, as a receiver gets close to the “zone line to

gain”, he/she should always hold the ball out while running, especially for a first down or

touchdown. This stretches the forward progress another yard, which could be critical for

the offense. Remember, the defensive team cannot knock/slap the ball out of the

receiver’s hands – it’s a defensive penalty.

2. Though a play may seem complete, do not stop running until the whistle is blown. A

player running with the ball will feel the opponent’s hands reaching for the flag. Too

often, the runner will stop, thinking the flags were pulled, when in reality, the defender

missed the belt. Also, just because a flag is thrown does not mean the play is instantly

over, your team may decide to decline the penalty.

3. The ability to pitch the ball is a definite advantage to an offense, especially without the

concern for fumbles. Good teams will design plays featuring players down the field in

“lanes”, with the ball being pitched multiple times during one play. As you begin looking

at the plays, you’ll notice that many times once a receiver catches the ball, there are two,

three or sometimes four other receivers running in stride with him/her. Thus, they are

available for a backward pitch (or lateral), which helps keep the play moving and

advancing toward the opponent’s goal line. Just be careful the pitch is not intercepted in

the air.