WE TRIED IT:
Flag Football
By: Elizabeth Rakow
Taking to the turf for a day of movement, laughs, and football.
“Hike!” the QB calls into the blazing sun. Flashes of yellow and green whiz by, the sounds of rushing bodies cascade through the open field. Look left, look right, the QB cocks her arm back, sending the football sailing toward the end zone. Flanked by members of the opposing squad, the receiver looks sky high, the incoming ball merely a shadow amidst the sea of light. Haphazardly, the receiver runs toward the ball, reaching up, just waiting for her fingers to graze the textured leather. She leaps off her feet in the hopes of making a game-solidifying catch.
Up, up, up…and…drop.
The football hits the ground. The field erupts in laughter. The ref calls a fourth down. And truthfully, we have to ask him what, exactly, is a “down” for the second time today.
This is fun, this is tiring, this is silly. This is us trying flag football.
The football hits the ground. The field erupts in laughter. The ref calls a fourth down. And truthfully, we have to ask him what, exactly, is a “down” for the second time today.
This is fun, this is tiring, this is silly. This is us trying flag football.
WHAT WE DID + WHERE WE WENT
This month, we wanted to give a team sport the old college try. Ten of us were ready to put our powder puff muscle memories to the test and hit the turf for a friendly game of flag football.
We ventured to the Maple Zone Sports Institute in Aston, PA and were greeted by our 3 instructors for the day. After some light stretching, we took to the turf for a little warm-up before entering game mode.
So, before we get into it, let’s talk about flag football. A game that originated in the US Military, flag football was a way for soldiers to stay active and maintain physical fitness without the risk of injury. A safer, non-contact version of the sport, flag football became popular in the 1960s and 70s, offering a way for people of all skill sets to engage without fearing for their safety.
Today, flag football has expanded into recreational leagues on the national level and has even experienced growth on the international stage. In fact, the NFL and International Federation of American Football are actively lobbying for flag football to be included in the 2028 LA Summer Olympics.
For team FP, flag football ended up being the perfect way to bond with our coworkers, get some fresh air, and try out a sport that most of us haven’t touched since high school.
We ventured to the Maple Zone Sports Institute in Aston, PA and were greeted by our 3 instructors for the day. After some light stretching, we took to the turf for a little warm-up before entering game mode.
So, before we get into it, let’s talk about flag football. A game that originated in the US Military, flag football was a way for soldiers to stay active and maintain physical fitness without the risk of injury. A safer, non-contact version of the sport, flag football became popular in the 1960s and 70s, offering a way for people of all skill sets to engage without fearing for their safety.
Today, flag football has expanded into recreational leagues on the national level and has even experienced growth on the international stage. In fact, the NFL and International Federation of American Football are actively lobbying for flag football to be included in the 2028 LA Summer Olympics.
For team FP, flag football ended up being the perfect way to bond with our coworkers, get some fresh air, and try out a sport that most of us haven’t touched since high school.
WHAT WE LEARNED
The basics of flag football are this: it’s a 5 on 5 game in which every player wears a belt containing two flags. Tackling, diving, blocking, etc. are not permitted. In order to “block” your opponent from scoring, you remove a flag from their belt. Players can’t guard or obstruct their flags. As it is in most sports, the goal is to score more points than the opposing team.
SCORING
The starting team gets four downs (we didn’t know what this was - so for our knowledge and yours: a “down” is basically just running a play) to cross midfield for a first down. If the offense fails to advance after three attempts, they can turn the ball over to the other team, or they can go for a first down, but if they fail, the opposing team takes over possession from the spot of the ball. Once midfield is crossed, the offense has three downs to score a touchdown (or, 6 points). Following a touchdown, the scoring team can attempt an extra point. This is done by either running or passing from the 5-yard line for 1 point or from the 12-yard line for 2 points.
In our game, the yellow team beat the green team with a finishing score of 13 to 7 (for context, we played half-field). With two touchdowns and plenty of speed on their side, team yellow was in it to win it from the start. The green team, though less of a threat, proved to have a lot of heart and had a few great runs early on. “Ultimately, the heat got the best of us!” one green team member said.
In our game, the yellow team beat the green team with a finishing score of 13 to 7 (for context, we played half-field). With two touchdowns and plenty of speed on their side, team yellow was in it to win it from the start. The green team, though less of a threat, proved to have a lot of heart and had a few great runs early on. “Ultimately, the heat got the best of us!” one green team member said.
RUNNING
When players run with the ball, they are not allowed to leap or dive. Handoffs are allowed behind the line of scrimmage (the starting line, basically) and only 1 forward pass is allowed per play. The end of any run is determined by where the ball is when a flag is pulled.
On the field, the green team technically made more runs than the yellow team, despite their lower score. Team yellow showed some great defense and was pulling flags left and right (even with the green team’s uncanny amount of fake-out plays).
On the field, the green team technically made more runs than the yellow team, despite their lower score. Team yellow showed some great defense and was pulling flags left and right (even with the green team’s uncanny amount of fake-out plays).
PASSING
Any type of a forward pass must be caught across the line of scrimmage. According to the official rules, quarterbacks have 7 seconds to release the ball. As you can imagine, this was another rule we didn’t exactly hold very tightly to.
One of the yellow team’s best plays came from a long pass downfield. The QB threw all the way into the end zone for one of the team’s 2 touchdowns of the day.
One of the yellow team’s best plays came from a long pass downfield. The QB threw all the way into the end zone for one of the team’s 2 touchdowns of the day.
THE BLITZ
A huge learning for our team was the concept of a “blitz.” When one of our coaches, George, suggested the play, he made it seem like it was a bit of a trick-up-the-sleeve kind of thing. A blitz is when a defender runs into the offense and attempts to de-flag the QB - thus “blitzing” through the line of scrimmage.
Both teams tried this play multiple times, with mixed results. The first go was really the best one given that the offense didn’t know what to expect. “The blitz was my favorite part of the game,” said a member of the green team, “it was so funny to have them explain this concept to us like it was a secret weapon.”
Both teams tried this play multiple times, with mixed results. The first go was really the best one given that the offense didn’t know what to expect. “The blitz was my favorite part of the game,” said a member of the green team, “it was so funny to have them explain this concept to us like it was a secret weapon.”
WHAT WE WORE
Flag football has a few specific requirements when it comes to wardrobe. Since we weren’t playing the most competitive game, we skirted the rules a little bit and tried to keep team colors, breathable fabrics, and movement-ready materials at the forefront.
Technically, flag football should only be played in shorts without pockets so that nothing can impede the grabbing of the flags. Players are also encouraged to wear clothes that fit a little closer to the body so that flags remain visible and easily accessible.
Our favorites of the day? The Never Better Bike Shorts were perfect for a stretchy, sweat-wicking feel. The Well Played Pants added the perfect sporty look and were lightweight for easy movement. And the Varsity Blues Printed Shorts had an easy, effortless fit (and an amazingly fun plaid print).
Not to mention our team jerseys! The Living Life Layer was our tried-and-true companion for the day. While we were a little overheated in these comfy cotton tops in the hot August sun, the ventilated panels really helped give us some airflow and the sporty aesthetic was just too good to pass up.
Technically, flag football should only be played in shorts without pockets so that nothing can impede the grabbing of the flags. Players are also encouraged to wear clothes that fit a little closer to the body so that flags remain visible and easily accessible.
Our favorites of the day? The Never Better Bike Shorts were perfect for a stretchy, sweat-wicking feel. The Well Played Pants added the perfect sporty look and were lightweight for easy movement. And the Varsity Blues Printed Shorts had an easy, effortless fit (and an amazingly fun plaid print).
Not to mention our team jerseys! The Living Life Layer was our tried-and-true companion for the day. While we were a little overheated in these comfy cotton tops in the hot August sun, the ventilated panels really helped give us some airflow and the sporty aesthetic was just too good to pass up.
“Having fun is the key. When it comes to team sports, it’s all about the joy of playing the game.”
HOW WE MOVED
As mentioned above, flag football was designed to play a contact sport without risk of injury. Play does not involve overt physicality so much as it involves strategy and movement. While many of us were sore the day after, it wasn’t from taking hits. We were feeling the ache of running a sprint, reaching for a pass, and working our bodies in a high-intensity environment (which, for many of us, is pretty rare these days).
Our coaches said that their goal when coaching is to always do whatever they can to make sure everyone is having fun. Cliche as it sounds, flag football really did feel just that: fun. We bent the rules a bit, didn’t have great technique, and needed to be instructed on the most basic terms - but we moved our bodies and shared in the team bonding experience that sports were truly created to be.
At the end of the day, none of us are going pro. In fact, most of us probably won’t even be catching any NFL games on TV this season. But you know what? We took to the turf and tried our hand at something new. And we had a lot of fun doing it.
Our coaches said that their goal when coaching is to always do whatever they can to make sure everyone is having fun. Cliche as it sounds, flag football really did feel just that: fun. We bent the rules a bit, didn’t have great technique, and needed to be instructed on the most basic terms - but we moved our bodies and shared in the team bonding experience that sports were truly created to be.
At the end of the day, none of us are going pro. In fact, most of us probably won’t even be catching any NFL games on TV this season. But you know what? We took to the turf and tried our hand at something new. And we had a lot of fun doing it.
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