FLAG FOOTBALL SIMMONS MIDDLE SCHOOL

HISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL  The first remembrance of organized “touch” football was in the 1930’s.  Flag Football was developed on military bases in the early 1940’s as a recreational sport for military personnel.  Recreational leagues developed in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. ( Flag Football: Brief History of Flag Football, 2005) ( Flag Football: Brief History of Flag Football, 2005)

HISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL  St. Louis, Missouri is the birthplace of the first national flag football organization, the National Touch Football League. It was formed in the 1960’s.  It produced the first rulebook for flag football and it also formed the first Hall of Fame for flag football. ( Flag Football: Brief History of Flag Football, 2005)

HISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL  Flag Football hit college campus intramurals in the 1960’s.  Flag Football soon became a big hit at most colleges. ( Flag Football: Brief History of Flag Football, 2005)  (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)..

HISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL  The annual National Collegiate Flag Football Championships are played each December at the University of New Orleans. (Flag Football: Brief History of Flag Football, 2005) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

HISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL  The United States Flag Touch Football League Tournament is the largest non-college tournament in the nation.  It drew 175 teams in 2002 and crowned 11 National Champions.  There is even a semipro league for flag football. Teams represent a franchised city and win cash awards at tournaments. ( Flag Football: Brief History of Flag Football, 2005)

THE FORWARD PASS  Purpose – Quick way to advance the ball down the field.  Grip – Make a “C” with your hand and have fingers across laces.  Stance – Non- dominant shoulder toward target. (Fronske,1997, pp ) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

THE FORWARD PASS  Arm Action – Bring ball behind ear. Stretch arm back and make an “L” with your arm. Step forward and bring arm forward.  Release – Make a whipping action with your wrist and the palm is out at point of release.  Follow-Through – Your arm should continue across your body toward non-dominant hip (Fronske,1997, pp ) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

CATCHING THE FOOTBALL ABOVE THE WAIST  Hand and Arm Position – Make a triangle shape with your forefingers and thumb. THUMB TO THUMB. Make a triangle shape with your forefingers and thumb. THUMB TO THUMB.  Tucking away – REEF – Rib cage – Elbow – Eagle Claw – Forearm. (Fronske,1997, pp ) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

CATCHING THE FOOTBALL BELOW THE WAIST  Hand and Arm Position Thumbs face outward. PINKIE TO PINKIE.  Tucking Away – REEF Rib Cage, Elbow, Eagle Claw, Forearm (Fronske,1997, pp ) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

CATCHING THE FOOTBALL OVER THE SHOULDER  Hand and Arm Position Back is to the ball, and you look over your shoulder in the direction that the ball is coming. Stick your arms above your head. PINKIE TO PINKIE.  Tuck the Ball Away – REEF (Fronske,1997, pp ) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

3-STEP QUARTERBACK DROP  Purpose – Allows quarterback time to survey the field and defense. Also give quarterback momentum before throwing.  Leg Action – Quarterback will say “Set Go,” and will take a drop step with right foot. Second step will be left foot across right foot, and third step will be stepping with your right leg to the right. (Right-handers only) (Fronske,1997, pp ) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

CENTERING POSITION  Purpose – To snap the football into play.  Stance – (3-point Stance) Feet are wider than hips. Toes are pointed straight ahead. Knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Back is parallel to ground.  Hand Position – Make a “C” around the football. Flex your wrist and tilt the forward end of the football upward.  Eyes and Snapping the Football – Eyes should focus on quarterback’s belt. When snapping the football, propel the football backwards and upward. (Friend, 1975, pp , ) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

SHOTGUN SNAP  Purpose – To get the ball to the quarterback deep in the backfield so he/she can have more time to survey the field.  Stance – The quarterback will stand 3 to 5 yards behind the center with knees bent.  Hand and Arm Position – Arms are extended from the body. Palms are out with THUMB TO THUMB. The quarterback will keep his/her eyes on the football. When the quarterback is ready for the center to snap it, he/she will say “SET GO.” (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29)

HOOK PASS ROUTE  Purpose – This pass route is effective when a defender shows an inclination to retreat too soon.  Distance to run for Hook Route: - When receiver gets 5-7 yards from the line of scrimmage, the receiver will prepare to cut back toward quarterback.  When to throw the football to receiver: The quarterback will throw the football just before the receiver turns around. (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29)

HOOK PASS ROUTE

SLANT PASS ROUTE  Purpose – This is a quick pass play to hit the receiver on the slant at waist level.  Distance to run for Hook Route: - The receiver will take a couple of quick steps toward the defender, then cut sharply at a 45-degree angle toward center of field  When to throw the football to receiver: The quarterback will throw the football as soon as the receiver starts to cut. The quarterback should hit the receiver on the run at waist level. (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29)

SLANT PASS ROUTE

SQUARE-OUT PASS ROUTE  Purpose – This is another pass route that is effective when a defender is guarding you loosely.  Distance to run for Hook Route: - The receiver will run about 10 yards down the field and then make a 90-degree cut toward the middle of the field.  When to throw the football to receiver: The pass is delivered to lead the receiver slightly as the receiver completes the cut. (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29)

SQUARE-IN PASS ROUTE

DIRECT HANDOFFS  Purpose - The purpose of the direct handoff is to give the running back the ball quickly so he/she can try to gain yardage on the run.  Quarterback Pivot and Hand Delivery - The quarterback will make a one step pivot toward the right and toward the Running Back. Once the QB has the ball and starts to pivot, the RB will start to run to the right of the QB while at the same time making a rectangle to receive the ball. The QB will place the football in the rectangle.  Tuck the Football - REEF (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29)

PITCH-OUTS  Purpose - The pitch-out gets the football to the RB quicker, thus allowing the RB more time to find a hole in the defense to run through.  QB LEG ACTION– The QB will make a reverse pivot toward the right/left side. The QB will turn right by pivoting on the left foot.  RUNNING BACK LEG ACTION – Once the QB says “SET GO,” the RB will run to 4-5 yards to the right/left of the QB. (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29)

PITCH-OUTS  RUNNING BACK HAND AND ARM POSITION – Arms are extended with palms facing outward (thumb to thumb).  QB TOSS - The QB will then prepare to toss the football with both hands aiming for the stomach of the RB.  TUCK THE FOOTBALL – REEF (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29)

BLOCKING  Purpose – To keep the defense from the offensive person with the football.  Use of Feet – You CANNOT use your hands to block in flag football. You must mirror your opponents and just stand in- between the defender and your teammate with the football. You are not allowed to touch the defender. (Friend, 1975, pp , 21-29) (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006)

FLAG PULLING  Purpose – In order to stop your defender from scoring, you must pull the defender’s flag from his/her belt.  Positioning – You want to position yourself by the opponent’s waist where you can reach and pull the flag without touching your opponent. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Mood, Musker, & Rink,1999, pp )

FLAG PULLING  Reaching – When you get close enough to your opponent’s waist, you will stretch out for the opponent’s flag.  The Pull – When you grab the flag, give it a quick, strong pull. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Mood, Musker, & Rink,1999, pp )

FLAG PULLING RULES  A defensive player shall not hold, grasp, or obstruct the forward progress of the runner when attempting to remove the flag belt.  All shirts must be tucked in, and are not permitted to hang over the flag belt. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Mood, Musker, & Rink,1999, pp )  Runners shall not flag guard by using any part of the body or ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove the flag belt.

OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE POSITIONS Line of Scrimmage C QB RB WR LM DB DR COUNTS TO 5 MISSISSIPPI DB (Flag Football: Get in the Game, 2005)

PERSON-TO-PERSON DEFENSE  Leave some space between you and the receiver.  Back pedal when the receiver starts his/her route.  Run with the receiver to try to break up the pass. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Flag Football: Get in the Game, 2005)

RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK  Only defensive players that have counted to 7 MISSISSIPPI can rush the Quarterback.  The Quarterback has to pass the ball. He/she cannot run the football pass the line of scrimmage. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Flag Football: Get in the Game, 2005)

PURPOSE AND OBJECT OF FLAG FOOTBALL  The object of flag football is to reach your opponent’s end zone in order to score. The object of the game is to score more points than your opponent. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Flag Football: Get in the Game, 2005)

HOW TO START THE GAME  The game starts by one team starting with the ball at its 5-yard line.  The offense has four plays to score a touchdown. If the offense does not succeed at scoring a touchdown, the defense becomes the offense, and the offense starts its drive from its own 5-yard line.  All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line. (Flag Football: Get in the Game, 2005)

SCORING  Touchdowns = 6 points  If a female is involved with the touchdown = 9 points  Extra Points = 2 points if successful from the 5 yard line. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Flag Football: Get in the Game, 2005)

FOULS AND PENALITIES  If you physically tackle someone, that is a penalty and the offense would gain 10 yards.  When trying to pull the flag belt off of your opponent, do not hold onto your opponent. If you grab your opponent, your team will lose 10 yards from the current spot.  When running with the football, do not push or move other students out of the way. If you contact your opponent, your team will lose 10 yards from the previous spot.  If your team commits pass interference, the offense will gain 10 yards from the previous spot and an automatic first down. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Mood, Musker, & Rink,1999, pp )

TURNOVERS  Any ball that is fumbled during a down will be dead by rule once it has touched the ground. There are no fumble recoveries in flag football.  The defense can intercept a pass from the offense and attempt to score.  If a team fails to score a touchdown or gain a first down after four downs, this is a turnover and the opposing team takes over the ball at their own 5-yard line. (Mood, Musker, & Rink,1999, pp )

WHEN A PLAYER IS DOWN  The player is downed in flag football when one or both of the flags are removed by an opposing player.  The ball is downed when the offensive player touches out-of- bounds. (Flag Football: Flag Football Images, 2006) (Mood, Musker, & Rink,1999, pp )

SPORTSMANSHIP  Remember to play with good sportsmanship today. There should be no arguing between you and other students.  At the end of the game, be sure to shake your opponent’s hand and tell them “Good Game!”

REFERENCES  Flag Football: Flag Football Images. (2006). [On-line]. September 14, Available :  Flag Football: Get in the Game. (2005). [On-line]. August 25, Available:  Flag Football: Brief History of Flag Football. (2005). [On-line]. September 10, Available:  Friend, J. (1975). Youth league football. Chicago, IL: The Athletic Institute, pp , 21-29,

REFERENCES  Fronske, H. A. (1997). Teaching cues for sport skills. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon, pp  Mood, D., Musker, F. F., & Rink, J. E. (1999). Sports and recreational activities. Boston, MA: WCB / McGraw- Hill, pp