NFL FLAG 5v5 Rules Explained

Start of game

• Captains meet at midfield.
• The visiting team calls the coin toss.
• The winner chooses offense or defense.
• The loser chooses direction.
• There is no defer option.
• Teams switch sides for the second half.

After crossing midfield, the offense has three downs to score. If it does not score, possession changes and the opponent starts a new drive at its own 5-yard line.

The rulebook lists two standard field layouts. Both create the same 50-yard live field between the end zones — 25 yards on each side of midfield — and only the end-zone depth changes.

• Midfield is the line to gain for a first down.
• Stepping on a boundary line is out of bounds.
• Officials spot the ball in the middle of the field before ready-for-play and no closer than 10 yards to a sideline.
• Some tournaments and events use one-way field modifications, so confirm event-specific field rules.

Gear in NFL FLAG is simple, but a few details matter at check-in.

Game length, the play clock, and timeouts differ between the regular season and tournaments.

Overtime

Scoring is straightforward, but the conversion rules are where new parents and players get tripped up.

• Teams must declare a 1- or 2-point try after a touchdown.
• Changing the PAT decision requires a timeout where allowed.
• Coaches, officials, and the scorekeeper should verify the score before leaving the field.

Safeties are one of the places where different rulebooks can sound more complicated than they are. In most common 5v5 situations, the practical result is the same, but the rulebooks explain it differently.

Knowing when a play is over helps everyone follow the action. The ball becomes dead and the play ends when any of these happen:

• The ball hits the ground.
• The ball carrier's flag is pulled.
• The ball carrier steps out of bounds.
• A score or safety occurs.
• The ball carrier's knee, shin, leg, forearm, or arm touches the ground.
• A flag falls out on its own.
• A player gains possession while already missing one or both flags.
• The seven-second pass clock expires.
• An official blows an inadvertent whistle.
• The ball carrier dives, jumps, or hurdles to advance.

There is one helpful exception: diving is allowed when a player is trying to catch a pass or pull a flag — it is only illegal when a ball carrier uses it to gain extra yards.

• Ball spot: The ball is spotted where the ball is when the runner's flag is pulled, not where the runner's feet are.
• No quarterback runs: The quarterback may not directly run the ball across the line of scrimmage.
• Handoffs, pitches, and laterals: These are allowed behind the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed, pitched, or lateraled behind the line, the 7-second pass clock is off and any defender may rush.
• No center sneaks: The quarterback may not immediately hand, pitch, or lateral the ball to the center as the first exchange. If your league allows the center to become involved later in the play, confirm the exact rule with the organizer before game day.
• No-run zones: When the offense is in a no-run zone, the ball must be passed beyond the line of scrimmage.
• No jumping, leaping, or hurdling: Players may not jump, leap, or hurdle to advance the ball.
• Spins and jump cuts: These can be legal when used to avoid a flag pull, as long as the runner does not create contact or guard the flag.
• No blocking or screening: Offensive players may not block, screen, or run interference for the ball carrier.
• Running alongside the ball carrier: Once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage, offensive players cannot run alongside the ball carrier to shield flags or create interference.
• Flags and jerseys: Flags must be accessible, and jerseys should not cover or obstruct the flags.

• One forward pass: The offense gets one forward pass per play.
• Pass from behind the line: A forward pass must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.
• Catch beyond the line: The pass must be caught beyond the line of scrimmage unless a defender touches it.
• Intentional grounding: The quarterback may not intentionally throw the ball away to avoid a sack.
• Shovel passes: A shovel pass is legal if it is forward, thrown from behind the line of scrimmage, and received beyond the line.
• 7-second pass clock: The quarterback has 7 seconds to release the ball unless the ball is handed, pitched, or lateraled behind the line.
• Eligible receivers: All players are eligible receivers.
• Quarterback as receiver: The quarterback can become a receiver only after a legal handoff, pitch, or lateral behind the line.
• Completed catch: A receiver needs possession with one foot or another body part in bounds.
• Simultaneous possession: If the offense and defense catch the ball at the same time, possession goes to the offense.
• Interceptions: Interceptions are live and may be returned.

• Rush line: A rusher must start at least 7 yards from the line of scrimmage.
• Number of rushers: Up to two defenders may rush the quarterback.
• Identifying rushers: Rushers should raise a hand before the snap so officials and the offense can identify them.
• Immediate rush: A rusher must rush immediately. A delayed rush is not allowed.
• No required rush: The defense does not have to rush.
• After a handoff, pitch, or lateral: Once the ball is handed, pitched, or lateraled behind the line, any defender may cross the line of scrimmage.
• Age and event differences: Younger regular-season divisions may use no-rush rules, while tournament divisions may allow rushers in younger age groups.
• Illegal rush: Starting inside the 7-yard marker or rushing late can be called as an illegal rush.
• Encroachment: A defender who crosses the line of scrimmage early can be called for encroachment.
• Roughing the passer: Contact with the passer's arm or body can be roughing the passer.
• Sack: A sack occurs when the quarterback's flag is pulled behind the line of scrimmage.
• Safety: If the quarterback is sacked in the offense's own end zone, it is a safety for the defense.

What is impeding the rusher?

• Established path: Before the snap, a legal rusher has a path to the quarterback.
• No moving into the path: Offensive players cannot move into that path and disrupt the rusher.
• Stationary offensive player: If an offensive player is already stationary in that path, the rusher must avoid contact.
• Moving after the snap: If an offensive player moves after the snap and interferes with the rusher's path, officials can call impeding the rusher.
• Rusher breaks the path: If the rusher breaks their path to the quarterback, the offense is no longer impeding the rusher on that path.
• Why it gets called: Because 5v5 has no blocking or screening, players who are not getting the ball still need to know where the rusher is coming from.

• Legal flag pull: A defender can pull the flag only after the ball carrier has possession.
• Diving for flags: Defenders may dive to pull a flag, but they cannot tackle, hold, or run through the ball carrier.
• No stripping: Defenders cannot strip or knock the ball out.
• Flag falls out: If the ball carrier's flag falls out, the player is down.
• Receiving with one or zero flags: If a player with one or zero flags gains possession, the play is dead.
• No pulling flags from players without the ball: Defenders cannot pull flags from players who do not have possession.
• Flag guarding: Flag guarding includes using a stiff arm, dropping the head, shoulder, arm, or ball, or using the jersey to cover or protect the flags.

• Center: The center must be on the line of scrimmage.
• Players on the line: Up to four offensive players may line up on the line of scrimmage.
• Quarterback: The quarterback must line up off the line.
• Snap: The snap must be one continuous motion between the center's legs.
• Motion: Only one player may be in motion at the snap.
• Motion direction: Motion must be parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage.
• Shifts: Shifts are allowed if all players reset and are set for one second before the snap.
• False start: Motion that simulates the snap can be called a false start.

NFL FLAG takes conduct seriously, on the field and on the sideline:

• Intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or other unsportsmanlike acts can lead to ejection.
• Offensive or confrontational language is not allowed.
• Coaches and fans are responsible for their own conduct and their team's.
• Ball carriers must make an effort to avoid defenders who have established position.
• Defenders must allow receivers a free release and cannot run through the ball carrier.

Two unsportsmanlike penalties on the same person can lead to disqualification, so it pays to keep emotions in check and model good behavior for the kids.

• Defensive penalties usually add yardage and often result in an automatic first down.
• Offensive penalties usually lose yardage and often include a loss of down.
• Spot fouls are enforced from where the foul happened; other fouls are enforced from the line of scrimmage.
• Officials decide whether contact is incidental or illegal.

Defensive spot fouls

Offensive spot fouls

Defensive penalties

Offensive penalties

Penalty names and enforcement can vary across NFL FLAG, USA Football 5’s, and IFAF. The tables below focus on the situations families, players, and coaches are most likely to hear during a 5v5 game.

Offensive Penalties by Rulebook

Defensive Penalties by Rulebook

• Basic idea: Pass interference happens when a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player's chance to catch a forward pass.
• Same right to the ball: Offensive and defensive players both have a right to play the ball, but they cannot illegally restrict the opponent's chance to catch it.
• Defensive pass interference examples:
  • Playing through the receiver's back.
  • Grabbing the receiver's arm.
  • Hooking the receiver.
  • Cutting off the receiver's path with contact.
  • Making contact without playing the ball.
• Offensive pass interference examples:
  • Pushing off to create separation.
  • Blocking downfield before the pass.
  • Blocking a defender near the intended receiver while the ball is in the air.
• Usually not pass interference:
  • Incidental contact.
  • Tangled feet.
  • Light hand contact that does not restrict the catch.
  • Contact on a clearly uncatchable pass.
• NFL FLAG 5v5 enforcement: Defensive pass interference is a spot foul and automatic first down. Offensive pass interference is enforced against the offense with loss of down.

Because leagues and tournaments often tweak the official rules, run through this quick checklist with your coach or organizer before the first whistle:

• Is this regular season or tournament format?
• Are they using the full NFL FLAG rulebook or modified local rules?
• Which field layout is being used?
• Are one-way field rules in effect?
• What is the play clock?
• What is the timeout format?
• Are rushers allowed in this age group?
• Are the no-run zones enforced exactly as written?
• What equipment is required at check-in?
• What is the overtime format?
• Where is the official event rule link?

For related guides, see our tournament rules, 7v7 rules, beginner's guide, and rules FAQ.

These links are useful when a league, tournament, school, or international event uses a different 5v5 rule set than standard NFL FLAG.

• USA Football 5's Rulebook ↗

  A formal 5v5 rulebook used by USA Football programs and events.

• IFAF Rules Page ↗

  International flag football rules used for global competition pathways.

• NFL FLAG Tournament Rules ↗

  Tournament-specific NFL FLAG rules and event procedures.