Flag Football

Essential Questions How is catching a football like or different from catching a baseball? Why is it important for a quarterback to know the route a receiver will run?

History American football as we know it originated in the late 1800’s, developing from two English sports, soccer and rugby. In 1876 the Intercollegiate Football Association was formed and developed rules of the game, including line of scrimmage, systems of downs, and the scoring system. Touch and flag football grew out of the interest in American football. Flag football eliminated the controversy in touch football; which allowed for less contact and a clearly successful tackle by pulling a flag The skill to grab or protect the flag also made flag football more interesting than touch football.

HOW TO PLAY FLAG FOOTBALL 8 players on each team Game starts with a placekick from the field’s centerline Objective is to carry or pass the football across the defense’s goal line for a touchdown Offense gets 4 consecutive attempts, called downs, to advance the ball 10 yards There are two types of scoring, 6 point touchdown and 2 point conversion Defense stops offense by pulling one flag No body contact is allowed

MODIFIED GAME OF FLAG FOOTBALL “ONE DOWN” FLAG FOOTBALL Play is the same with the exception of each team only getting, “One down,” before the possession changes. The team advances the ball as far as they can in one down. When a team gains possession of the ball again, players rotate to a new position.

FLAG FOOTBALL SAFETY Flag football players wear flags to be pulled instead of being tackled Players need to wear athletic shoes and clothing Players need to be aware of all surroundings making sure not to come in contact with another player Make sure football field is free of debris, specifically, rocks or other equipment Practice proper communication when playing, make sure you are speaking loud enough to be heard over any other noises.

FOOTBALL FIELD

FLAG FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT Flags Teammates Football Field Football

FLAG FOOTBALL FLAGS In flag football, each player wears a belt that has two (or three) brightly colored flags. The flags are attached to the belt by Velcro that allows them to stay secured to the belt, yet are easily pulled from the belt by an opposing player. The player carrying the ball is considered "down" if a flag is pulled from his/her belt. When a player is down, the ball is considered "dead" and play is halted.

The act of throwing the ball to another player. PASSING (6th Grade) The act of throwing the ball to another player.

FORWARD PASS CUES 6TH GRADE ASSESSMENT One hand with Fingers on strings Side to the target Step with opposite foot Twist Throw

RECEIVING A FOOTBALL (7TH GRADE) The act of catching a football without dropping it

RECEIVING A FOOTBALL CUES 7TH GRADE ASSESSMENT Elbows flexed Reach with hands Eyes track the ball Soft hands pull it in

RECEIVING A FOOTBALL THAT IS THROWN LOW/MEDIUM Pinkies together with fingers forward Eyes track ball Extend arms with pinkies together Use 2 hands Soft hands pull it in

RECEIVING A FOOTBALL THAT IS THROWN HIGH Thumbs Together Eyes track ball Extend arms with thumbs together Use 2 hands Soft hands pull it in

PLACEKICK (8TH GRADE) A kick in which a ball is held by a person or tee on the ground

PUNT A kick in which the kicker holds the ball and drops and kicks it before it touches the ground.

PLACEKICK AND PUNT CUES Placekick (8th Grade Assessment) Non kicking foot next to the ball Strike the center of the ball Use inside of foot Follow through Punt Step forward with non punting foot Extend arms and drop ball Point toes Contact ball with laces

The act of giving the ball to another player HANDOFF The act of giving the ball to another player

The act of running or moving with the ball CARRYING THE FOOTBALL The act of running or moving with the ball

To put the ball in play by giving it to the quarterback SNAP/CENTER To put the ball in play by giving it to the quarterback

OFFENSE AND DEFENSE OFFENSE DEFENSE The team that has the football and attempts to advance it toward their goal for a touchdown The team that is trying to stop the offense from scoring by pulling their flag or intercepting the ball Offense Defense

POSITIONS Quarterback-The offensive player who receives the ball from the center at the start of each play before either handing it to the running back, throwing it to a receiver, or running with it himself Wide Receiver-Key offensive player involved in passing plays Running Back- An offensive player who runs with the football Center-The offensive lineman who hikes (or snaps) the ball to the quarterback at the start of each play Defenders- Unit that is responsible for keeping the opposition out of their end zone.

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE An imaginary line stretching the width of the field that separates the two teams prior to the snap of the ball and where the ball is placed before each play

TACKLE Performed by pulling one flag off the offensive ball carrier

DOWN One play, starting when the ball is put into play and ending when the ball is ruled dead There are 4 Downs in Flag Football The offensive team has 4 downs or plays to either score or gain 10 yards. If the team gains 10 yards, then the downs start over. If they don't gain 10 yards, after the fourth try, the opposing team gets possession of the football at the spot of the tackle

Touchdown A scoring play in which any part of the ball, while legally in the possession of a player who is in-bounds, crosses the plane of the opponent's goal line. A touchdown counts as 6 points.

2 Point Conversion A scoring play, immediately after a touchdown, in which a team can add two bonus points by running or passing the ball into the end zone on one play starting from the opponent's two-yard line.

Completion and Interception A completion is a forward pass that is caught by an eligible receiver An interception is pass thrown to an offensive player but is caught by a defensive player

Cognition Information

IDENTIFY THE FOOTBALL Hockey Puck Tennis Ball Soccer Ball Basketball

IDENTIFY THE PERSON PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALL Basketball Volleyball Soccer Flag Football

WHAT SKILL AM I DOING IN FLAG FOOTBALL? Receiving or Catching Kicking Passing Carrying the Ball

WHICH PLAYER IS ON THE OFFENSE AND TRYING TO MAKE A TOUCHDOWN? Defense Offense

WHY SHOULD I PLAY FLAG FOOTBALL? Playing flag football is good for my cardiovascular health Playing flag football stimulates my brain Playing flag football keeps my muscles strong Playing flag football allows me to play with friends

Playing flag football keeps me at a healthy weight HOW WILL FLAG FOOTBALL BENEFIT ME IN MY LIFE? Playing flag football keeps me at a healthy weight Physical activity such as flag football keeps me active and alert and keeps me from being tired Playing flag football is a great way to have fun and make friends

Cognition Assessments Tools

IDENTIFY THE FOOTBALL

IDENTIFY THE PERSON PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALL

WHAT SKILL AM I DOING IN FLAG FOOTBALL?

WHICH PLAYER IS ON THE OFFENSE AND TRYING TO MAKE A TOUCHDOWN?

WHY SHOULD I PLAY FLAG FOOTBALL?

HOW WILL FLAG FOOTBALL BENEFIT ME IN MY LIFE?