Flag football Flag football is a version of American football or Canadian football where the basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game ( often called " tackle football " for contrast ) , but instead of tackling players to the ground , the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier ( " deflagging " ) to end a down . Variations . Chiefly because there is no dominant sanctioning organization for the sport , the game has mutated into many variations : 9 - man , 8 - man , 7 - man , 5 - man , and 4 - man on a side ; coed or single - gender ; with kicking and punting and without ; with point - after conversions ( including some with 1 , 2 , and 3 point tries ) or without ; and field sizes that vary from full CFL size , NFL size ( 120 yards long by 53 yards wide ) , to fields a third that size . An important distinction is whether linemen are allowed to catch passes ( " Eligible Linemen " ) or , as in the CFL / NFL , are not allowed to do so ( " Ineligible Linemen " ) . Flag ( and touch ) football may also be divided into " contact " or " non - contact " , depending on whether or not blocking is allowed ; if allowed , blocking is usually restricted to the chest . In non - contact flag football , there is no blocking , usually no linemen , and if there are linemen they can not use their hands to block an opponent . In some leagues defensive players may not get in the way of a runner ; they can only attempt to grab the flag without impeding the path of the runner . Offensive players are not allowed to hand block defensive players to prevent them from grabbing the flag . In contact flag football there are typically linemen blocking only around chest area . The ability or inability for the quarterback to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage by running is another rule subject to variation by league . Competition . The sport has a strong amateur following and several national and international competitions each year sponsored by various associations . International . The International Woman ' s Flag Football Association , otherwise knows as the IWFFA , hosts 8 on 8 flag football tournaments and flag football trainings across the world with participants from the United States , Canada , Mexico , Sweden , Norway , Finland , Denmark , Iceland , Scotland and several other nations . The organization is the largest organization for women and girls in the sport of flag football . The most active tournament is held each February in Key West , Florida , called the Kelly McGillis Classic where over 90 women and girls teams participate in 8 on 8 , semi - blocking contact flag football . There are no restrictions to for girls and women to play . The International Flag Football Festival ( IFFF ) organizes the World Cup of Flag Football featuring teams from the United States , Mexico and several other nations . The International Federation of American Football ( IFAF ) organizes the IFAF Flag Football World Championship every two years since 2002 . North America . The United States Flag and Touch Football League ( USFTL ) has a number of smaller organizations spread out over the US . Located in Ohio , this league supports a number of teams from the Mid Atlantic , NorthEast , and Midwest states . On the west coast XFLAGFOOTBALL has over 15 leagues throughout Southern California and Hawaii . In the south , FlagFootballX hosts many of the largest 5on5 cash tournaments , located in Dallas , TX . Texan Flag Football hosts many large tournaments and leagues in the Houston area as well . TAAF hosts a yearly 8on8 State Championship at a rotating location throughout Texas and a couple other events throughout the year . FlagSpin lists all of Texas and the bordering states tournaments in one location to browse but does not host their own events . The NFL conducts their own Youth World Championship for children 12 – 14 years of age . Held in different nations around the world . It is five man no contact football played between ten countries . Previous NFL Flag Football World Championships have been held in Beijing , Cologne , Mexico City , Tokyo , Toronto , and Vancouver . The NFL has also at times sanctioned " Air It Out " competitions aimed primarily at its fans in which tournament - winning teams were allowed to compete against retired NFL All - Pros . Many universities around the continent have flag football divisions and leagues . Europe . Flag football competition in the United Kingdom is organized by the BAFA Community Leagues . At a senior level as of 2011 , it is played by fifteen teams divided into two regional conferences , North ( Scotland ) , and South ( England & Wales ) with the top teams qualifying for playoffs at the end of the season . The league also organizes teams competing at youth and cadet levels . Flag matches in the UK are played with five players on each side with no contact , and are officiated according to the IFAF flag football rules with a few minor variations . In Germany , both 5 vs 5 and 9 vs 9 are played . While the former is played with no contact in a wide range of leagues and ages , the latter is played as per the above mentioned " contact " rules , with blocking to the chest being allowed . Most teams playing 9 vs 9 Flag Football are organized into two conferences within the DFFL ( Deutsche Flag Football Liga ) and compete for the DFFL Bowl . Asia . In Korea , the biggest tournament is the National Flag Football Tournament held by the Korean Flag Football Federation ( KFFF ) . It attracts up to 20 teams , from middle school students to adults . In Indonesia , there is the Indonesian Flag Football Association , or IFFA . IFFA was established on February 14 , 2009 as a continuation of its predecessor , the Indonesian Flag Football League , that had been defunct since 2001 . IFFA is divided into a minor and major league , and a yearly draft is held for the players who are moving up from the minors . Currently , the IFFA major league comprises six men ' s teams , and is in its fifth season . The current season ( 2012 – 13 ) will conclude with the playing of the championship game , The Senayan Bowl . This is scheduled for April 6 , 2013 at the Senayan Sports Complex in Jakarta . Basic rules . The specific rules of flag football vary widely by league , though all share in common their replication of the rules of traditional American football with tackling replaced by flag - pulling . Traditional American football rules are often omitted or simplified to reflect the more recreational nature of the game , desire to avoid physical contact and injury , and the generally smaller number of participating players per side .