Two events
6 teams each
Separate men’s and women’s events · LA28 confirmed
LA28 · First-time fan guide
What to Expect at LA28 Flag Football
See the play. Know the moment.
A quick field-side guide to flag football: where the boundaries are, what the offense is trying to do, and how the LA28 tournament moves toward the medals.
Game length
2 × 20 minutes
Two halves · LA28 confirmed
Field length
70 yards
Total field, end zone to end zone · LA28 confirmed
Current baseline
Up to 5 players
IFAF 2023 rules; not confirmed final LA28 rules
Start with the space
A field built for quick decisions
The field is 70 yards end to end: 50 yards of play, plus a 10-yard end zone at each end.
Yard markings, left to right
1020MIDFIELD2010
5-yard no-run zones: one sits immediately before each goal line. The offense uses the zone before the goal line it is attacking; a forward pass must be attempted when the snap starts there.
IFAF 2023 rules
- Yard markings
- From left to right: 10, 20, midfield, 20, 10
- End zones
- 10 yards at each end; 70 yards total
- Field of play
- 50 yards, with midfield at the center
- No-run zones
- 5 yards immediately before both goal lines. The offense uses the zone before the goal line it is attacking; a forward pass must be attempted when snapped there.
Diagram follows the IFAF 2023 field dimensions; proportions are illustrative.
A play, in three beats
Watch the flags, then the space
The offense wants to move the ball toward the end zone. Flag football is non-contact: the defense stops a ball-carrier by pulling the flag, not by tackling.
- 01 · Snap
The offense starts its attempt with a snap.
- 02 · Advance
A pass or run moves the ball downfield, except in the no-running zone.
- 03 · Stop or score
A pulled flag ends the ball-carrier’s advance; reaching the end zone scores a touchdown.
Current IFAF 2023 rules
Four chances.
One end zone.
This is a clear starting point for following the action—not a promise of the final Olympic rulebook.
Up to 5
Players per team on the field under these rules.
4 downs
Advance beyond midfield to earn a new series of four downs; then use four downs to score.
6 points
A touchdown. After it, choose a one-point try from 5 yards or a two-point try from 10 yards.
20 + 20
LA28 currently confirms two 20-minute halves.
Hypothetical · current IFAF 2023 rules
A drive, from first down to seven.
A team crosses midfield within its first four downs and earns a new series of four. Later in the drive, it scores a touchdown worth 6, then makes the one-point try from 5 yards: 7 points total.
Illustrative sequence only; the eventual LA28 rulebook may differ from current IFAF 2023 rules.
Current LA28 progression
Six teams.
Two medal games per event.
Men’s and women’s events are separate. For each event, the current format moves from preliminaries into a four-team semifinal bracket.
Men’s event
- 016 teams
- 02Preliminaries
- 03Top 4 advance
- 04Semifinals
- 05Bronze / gold
Semifinal losers play for bronze; winners play for gold.
Women’s event
- 016 teams
- 02Preliminaries
- 03Top 4 advance
- 04Semifinals
- 05Bronze / gold
Semifinal losers play for bronze; winners play for gold.
What does one LA28 session include? The current schedule lists three games in a preliminary session and two in a semifinal or medal session. Across the event, that is 14 sessions over eight days.
Explore the scheduleTournament progression and session details reflect current LA28 information and are subject to change.
Your sideline cheat sheet
Keep your eyes on three things.
The flags tell you when a run ends. The midfield line tells you whether a new series is earned. The end zone is where six points are waiting.
For the details behind the guide