Flag Football Terms

The outer perimeter lines around the field. They include the sidelines and back of the endzone.

• Downs

• Boundary Line

• Lateral

• Rusher

An illegal move by the ball-carrier DIRECTLY at a defensive player who has established position on the field. This includes lowering the head or initiating contact with a shoulder, forearm, or chest.

• Flag Guarding

• Shovel Pass

• Charging

• Lateral

This refers to the period of time immediately before or after a play.

• Dead ball

• Live ball

• Line-To-Grain

• Whistle

The team opposing the offense to PREVENT them from advancing the football.

• Offense

• Passer

• Rusher

• Defense

The offensive team has three attempts or "_____" to advance the football past the Line-to-Gain. (Choose the correct term to fill in the blank)

• Flags

• Downs

• Penalty

• Yards

An illegal act by the ball-carrier to prevent a defender from pulling the ball-carrier's flag by still arm, lowering the elbow or head, or by blocking access to the runner's flags with a hand or arm.

• Charging

• Flag Guarding

• Defense

• Offense

This is an officials whistle that is performed in error.

• Whistle

• Apology

• Inadvertent Whistle

• Dead Ball

A backward or sideway toss of the football by the ball-carrier

• Alley Oop

• Deflect

• Lateral

• Forward

An imaginary line running through the point of the football and across the width of the field.

• Line of Scrimmage (LOS)

• Neutral Zone

• Line-to-Gain

• Boundary Lines

The line the offensive team must pass to get a first down or touchdown.

• Line of Scrimmage

• Defensive Line

• Offensive Line

• Line to Gain