Flag football, which is currently gaining attention, especially in the Indian arena, is not being played by the Indian team, as they are not traveling to participate in the Flag Football World Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Finland due to visa issues. This is the second consecutive time they are not taking part in the championship. With curiosity high about what the game is all about, how it differs from regular football, and how it compares to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé’s ‘football’ , we will discuss all the major points.
What is flag football
In simple words, it is a non-contact variation of American football, where players, instead of tackling to the ground, stop the ball carrier by removing a flag or belt worn around the waist. Just like in regular football, they need to score in the opponent’s end zone. The most important point to note here is that the field is comparatively smaller than a regular football field, and only 5 to 7 players per side are allowed.
As mentioned, they need to move the ball down the field to score touchdowns, but without the intense physicality of tackles and blocks, which makes the game different from regular football. This different form of football is all set for its Olympic debut in the LA Games in 2028.
Flag football rules
Typically, flag football games last around 40 to 60 minutes, compared to regular football, which goes up to 90 minutes plus added time. However, it depends on the specific league rules and format. Games are usually divided into two halves, each lasting between 20 to 25 minutes, with a halftime break of 5 to 10 minutes between the two halves. The game clock often runs continuously, except for specific stoppages such as timeouts, injuries, or penalties. Some leagues also have a stop-clock format, which is only used during the last few minutes of each half to allow for strategic play.
A few famous leagues that have an impressive fan following are the European Flag Football League, the US Flag Football League, and National Flag Football, as well as the Flag Football World Championship Series, which is extremely popular and serves as a world championship event. It will be interesting to see how much attention the flag football event gets during its Olympic debut.
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