A Teacher's Guide to Flag Football for Schools and Kids Clubs

Flag football is a fast-paced, non-contact version of American football that's perfect for schools and children’s activity groups. With simplified rules, minimal equipment, and an emphasis on agility and teamwork, it's an ideal addition to your PE curriculum or club programme.

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What Is Flag Football?

Flag football replaces traditional tackling with the pulling of flags from a belt worn by each player. This significantly reduces the risk of injury and makes the game more inclusive and accessible to all age groups. It's a game that encourages coordination, communication, and strategic thinking.
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Basic Rules of Flag Football

• Team Size: Typically 5 to 7 players per team.
• Objective: Score points by carrying or passing the ball into the opposing team's end zone.
• Starting Play: Begins with a throw-off or snap.
• Advancing the Ball: Players can run or pass the ball.
• Defending: The ball-carrier is stopped when their flag is pulled.
• Turnovers: Occur after four unsuccessful attempts to gain a first down.
• Key Positions: Quarterback, receivers, defenders.

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Why Flag Football Is Ideal for Schools

• Non-contact and safe: Ideal for mixed ability and inclusive PE lessons.
• Builds core physical skills: Agility, speed, balance, coordination, and endurance.
• Promotes teamwork and fair play.
• Adaptable: Can be played indoors or outdoors and scaled for different year groups.

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Essential Equipment for Schools

You don’t need a full-size field or traditional American football gear to get started. All you need is:

• Flag belts and flags: Each player wears a belt with two or three removable flags.
• American footballs: For the more experienced players.
• Soft footballs: Foam or rubber options are great for younger children.
• Cones: Used to mark the pitch, end zones, and first down markers.
• Team bibs: For easy team identification.
• Whistle and stopwatch: To help manage games and drills.

Tip: View our Flag Football Kit for an all in one pack to get started.

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Teaching Flag Football in PE

A basic 4-week unit can help introduce the sport:

• Week 1: Introduction to rules, safe flag pulling, and ball handling.
• Week 2: Basic passing and catching drills, introduction to simple plays.
• Week 3: Small-sided games, introducing defence and teamwork.
• Week 4: Mini-tournament or creative team challenges.

Encourage pupils to rotate positions so they experience all aspects of the game.
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Game Variations and Fun Activities

• Capture the Flag: A fun twist using flag belts and zones.
• End Zone Dash: Relay races that mimic real gameplay.
• Quarterback Challenge: Who can complete the most accurate passes?
• Flag Pull Tag: A warm-up game focused on speed and awareness.

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Curriculum and Cross-Curricular Opportunities

Flag football supports:

• Physical Education: Movement, team play, and tactical awareness.
• PSHE: Leadership, communication, and resilience.
• Maths: Scoring, timing, and distance tracking.

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Resources and Further Information

• Use our sports equipment section to browse flag football-friendly gear.
• Explore our other PE guides for ideas.

Flag football is a fun, fast, and inclusive sport that can energise your PE offering. With simple setup and endless room for creativity, it’s an ideal choice for active learning and team play.