NFHS Flag Football Rules (2026–27)

The Game in 60 Seconds

Before the First Snap

Neutral zone: The ball marks the offense’s line of scrimmage and is snapped from that spot. The defense’s line of scrimmage is one yard beyond the ball, creating the neutral zone.

Offensive players line up on or behind the ball. Defenders line up on or behind their line one yard away. Except for the snapper handling the ball, players cannot enter the neutral zone before the snap.

• Players: 7 per side. Every team must start with seven players on the field; play may continue with five if no eligible replacements exist.
• Field: State option — NFHS authorizes four configurations, all with two 10-yard end zones: 100×40 (80-yd field of play), 120×40 (100-yd FOP), 120×53⅓ (100-yd FOP), or 100×53⅓ (80-yd FOP) yards total. Zone lines divide the field of play every 20 yards.
• Game clock: Four 12-minute quarters. Halftime is a State option — NFHS range is 5–20 minutes; it may not exceed 20 minutes, and coaches may agree to reduce it to 5 minutes.
• Play clock: 25 seconds from the ready-for-play signal.
• Timeouts: Three per half (one minute each); unused timeouts do not carry forward.
• Equipment: Each player wears an unaltered flag belt with three same-solid-color flags — one at each hip, one at the tailbone. Flags must contrast with uniform bottoms. Mouthguard and pocketless uniform bottoms required.
• Contact: No tackling. Non-contact screen blocking is a legal part of the game.

The Big NFHS 7v7 Features

• Real declared punts that the receiving team can return.
• Any number of defenders may rush from any legal position on or behind their line of scrimmage — no waiting count required.
• The quarterback may run freely, with no QB-run cap.
• All seven offensive players are eligible to catch a pass on every play.
• Legal non-contact screen blocking lets offenses create open routes without grabbing or pushing.
• No no-run zones — any player may carry the ball anywhere on the field.

How a Drive Works

1. Start of possession: Each half begins at the own 14-yard line. After a try or a successful field goal (if adopted), the opponent ordinarily starts at its own 14, unless a still-trailing scoring team chooses one fourth-down play from its own 20 with its own 40 as the line to gain, as explained below. Turnovers, punts, and other changes of possession ordinarily begin at the resulting dead-ball spot, though touchbacks, the momentum exception, first touching, fourth-down outcomes, and accepted penalties can establish a different succeeding spot.
2. Zone-to-gain system: The field of play is divided into 20-yard zones by zone lines. An 80-yard field of play has four zones (interior zone lines at the 20, 40, and 60; the goal line completes the fourth zone); a 100-yard field of play has five (interior zone lines at the 20, 40, 60, and 80; the goal line completes the fifth zone). The offense gets four downs to reach or cross the next zone line, earning four new downs when it does. The next line to gain may be a 20-yard or 40-yard line depending on where the series starts and the field configuration.
3. Run, pass, or hand off: Any player may carry the ball anywhere. One forward pass per play must come from behind the neutral zone. Handoffs in any direction are legal when both players are behind the neutral zone before any possession change.
4. Immediate defensive pressure: Any defender may rush from any legal position on or behind their line of scrimmage. Rushers must go for the flags, not the body.
5. Screens are part of the game: Blockers may take position in a defender’s path — as long as they hold their ground and don’t reach out to create contact.
6. Play ends when: A flag is pulled from the belt; forward progress stops; any body part other than hand or foot touches the ground; a fumble or backward pass touches the ground.
7. Fourth-down decision: Reach or cross the next zone line, or declare a punt before the ball is made ready for play. A failed fourth-down run or pass gives the defense the ball at the dead-ball spot.
8. Score and restart: Touchdown = 6 pts. Try from 3-yd line = 1 pt; try from 10-yd line = 2 pts. If adopted by the state: place-kick try from 3-yd line = 1 pt; field goal during normal scrimmage = 3 pts. Safety = 2 pts, then the conceding team takes a scrimmage kick from its own 20-yard line.
9. New in 2026–27 — trailing-team retention: After a try or a successful field goal, if adopted, a scoring team that is still behind may choose one fourth-down play from its own 20-yard line instead of giving possession to the opponent. Its own 40-yard line is the line to gain, exactly 20 yards away. On an ordinary penalty-free play, that means one chance to gain at least 20 yards. Reach the 40 and the team earns a new series; come up short and the opponent takes over at the resulting spot after any penalty enforcement.
10. Late-game and overtime: A mercy (running-clock) rule is a State option — NFHS sets no default margin; the state decides the scoring deficit, whether the game ends or the clock simply runs, when it begins, and any exclusions (e.g., CIF-SS uses a 21-point second-half running clock, not in playoffs). Overtime is also a State option — NFHS provides no single default procedure; the state decides whether tied games continue and sets possession, scoring, and timeout rules (e.g., CIF-SS starts its first overtime from the opponent’s 20-yard line).

Coming From NFL FLAG 5v5?

Key format differences at a glance. NFL FLAG leagues and tournaments may modify their own rules independently.

2026–27 Rule Changes

NFHS approved eight rule changes for 2026–27. Rule references are to the 2026–27 NFHS Flag Football Rules Book; all descriptions here are original SoCal Flag summaries.

Source: 2026–27 NFHS Flag Football Rules Book. Descriptions are original SoCal Flag summaries verified against the official rulebook; they do not reproduce rule text verbatim.

Field & Downs

NFHS authorizes four field configurations (State option); the end zones are a fixed NFHS baseline of 10 yards each in every configuration. The four options: 100×40 yds total (80-yd field of play), 120×40 yds (100-yd FOP), 120×53⅓ yds (100-yd FOP), or 100×53⅓ yds (80-yd FOP). Zone lines divide the field of play every 20 yards. The diagram below shows the 100×40 configuration.

Equipment

Flags & Belt

• Each player must wear an unaltered flag belt with flags securely attached before the snap.
• NFHS baseline: three flags, all the same solid color — one at each hip and one at the tailbone. Each flag must be at least 1½ inches wide by 14 inches long. Flags must contrast in color with uniform bottoms so they are clearly visible.
• State option for style and measurements — NFHS baseline is an unaltered belt with three same-solid-color flags, one at each hip and one at the tailbone; each flag is at least 1½ inches wide by 14 inches long. A state may choose another style or larger measurements but may never go below the NFHS minimum of 1½ × 14 inches.
• A player whose flag belt comes off during play due to a foul by the defense is not considered flagless. If it falls off without a foul, the play continues and the defender must make a one-hand touch between the ball carrier’s shoulders and knees to end the run.
• Intentionally removing a flag belt is a 10-yard illegal-flag-removal penalty. If the official separately judges the act flagrant, disqualification may also be imposed; consult the DQ table in the Common Penalties section for details.

Football

NFHS defines separate measurable girls/women’s and boys’ ball specifications, shown in the table. All NFHS balls must have a tan cover with laces and the required stripes. Starting in 2028, balls used in grade 9+ games must bear the NFHS authenticating mark. During the regular season, each team supplies at least one legal, referee-approved ball meeting NFHS measurements. For postseason or playoff competition, a state may require a particular compliant make or model (State option).

Source: 2026–27 NFHS Flag Football Rules Book. Each team provides at least one legal ball to the referee when officials assume authority; only referee-approved legal balls may be used during the game.

Required Equipment

• Mouthguard: An intraoral protector with occlusal (biting surface) and labial (front-lip side) protection and adequate posterior-tooth coverage. Must be in place during every live play. May not contain hazardous material or nonprotective attachments.
• Pocketless uniform bottoms: Shorts or pants must have no pockets, exposed drawstrings, or belt loops that could catch a flag.
• Jersey with number: Numbers 0–99. Front numeral minimum 6 inches tall; back numeral minimum 8 inches tall; contrasting color from the jersey. Jerseys must be tucked in. Home teams wear dark jerseys; visitors wear white (or contrasting light jerseys if both teams agree). These are NFHS baseline requirements, not a state option.
• Flag belt coverage: Clothing and hair may not cover the flag belt or flags at any time during live play.

Permitted & Restricted Items

• Cleats: Permitted. NFHS specifies approved cleat construction and materials as a baseline requirement. Check the current NFHS equipment rules for allowed cleat types.
• Gloves: Generally permitted if they bear visible NOCSAE/SFIA certification. Exception: unaltered plain-cloth cold-weather gloves without certification markings are permitted. Gloves must not have protruding hardware.
• Eyewear: Permitted if the referee judges them safe and not likely to cause confusion; eyewear is not universally permitted as a matter of right and remains subject to official discretion.
• Knee pads & forearm protection: Knee pads are required to cover the knee and are worn under the uniform. Forearm protection that meets the applicable NFHS specification is permitted.
• Hard hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or upper-arm equipment: Permitted only if covered with at least ½ inch of slow-recovery closed-cell foam or an equivalent padding material to protect other players.
• Jewelry: Prohibited during play. Fixed NFHS exceptions: a medical-alert item may be taped to the body; a religious item may be worn if it is non-abrasive, non-metallic, and taped or worn under the uniform.
• Electronics & cameras: No electronic devices may be worn by players during live play. Cameras attached to a player’s body or equipment are prohibited on the field.
• Hard/unyielding equipment (casts, braces): Permitted only when covered with at least ½ inch of slow-recovery closed-cell foam padding to eliminate danger to other players.

Timing & Scoring

Game Clock

• Four 12-minute quarters. One-minute intermissions follow the end of the first and third quarters; during each intermission teams change ends of the field while retaining the current down, spot, and line-to-gain. Halftime is a State option — NFHS range is 5–20 minutes; it may not exceed 20 minutes, and coaches may agree to reduce it to 5 minutes.
• The clock stops on scores, safeties, kicks, touchbacks, a new series (first down), incomplete passes (inside final two minutes), a ball carrier going out of bounds (inside final two minutes), granted timeouts, accepted fouls, and other dead-ball events. It restarts on the snap or on the ready-for-play signal depending on the stoppage type.
• Final two minutes of either half: At the first dead ball at or after 2:00 remaining, the official gives a two-minute warning and the clock stops. Inside those final two minutes the clock also stops on each incomplete pass and each ball carrier going out of bounds. After stoppages in these final two minutes, the restart depends on the type of stoppage: some restart on the snap (e.g., after an incomplete pass or a ball carrier going out of bounds), while others restart on the ready-for-play signal (e.g., after an official timeout or a measurement). After an accepted foul committed inside the final two minutes, the offended team may be entitled to choose when the clock restarts.
• A mercy (running-clock) rule is a State option — NFHS sets no default scoring margin. The state chooses the deficit, whether the game ends or the clock simply runs, when it begins, and any exclusions. The state association determines which events stop or restart its adopted running clock.
• Overtime format is a State option — NFHS provides no single default procedure. The state decides whether tied games continue and sets possession, scoring, and timeout rules for overtime.

Play Clock

• 25 seconds from the ready-for-play signal. Failing to snap in time is delay of game (5 yards).
• The 25 seconds restart after each timeout, after a penalty, or when the official indicates a new ready signal.

Timeouts

• Each team gets three one-minute timeouts per half.
• Unused timeouts do not carry over to the next half.
• Officials may call a timeout for injury, equipment issues, or unusual circumstances.

Scoring

Only the offense may score during a try; a change to defensive-team possession immediately ends the try. New in 2026–27: After a try or a successful field goal, if adopted, a team still trailing may choose one fourth-down play from its own 20 rather than relinquish possession. Its own 40 is the line to gain, so an ordinary penalty-free play requires at least 20 yards. Reach the 40 and it earns a new series; come up short and the opponent takes over at the resulting spot. This is one play, not a fresh four-down series. Availability in overtime depends on the state-adopted overtime procedure.

Running & Passing

Formation, Snap & Motion

• Seven players per side. All seven offensive players are eligible receivers.
• At the snap, one offensive player must be positioned on the line of scrimmage to snap the ball. The snap must immediately leave the snapper’s hands and touch another offensive player or the ground.
• The snap receiver must be at least two yards behind the line of scrimmage.
• One player may be in motion before the snap. That player must not be moving toward the opponent’s goal line at the moment of the snap; motion parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage is always legal, but so is any direction that is not toward the opponent’s goal line.
• After any shift, all players must be set for one full second before the snap.

Carrying the Ball

• Any player may run the ball anywhere on the field. No no-run zones.
• The quarterback may run on any play, any number of times per series.
• A runner is down when a flag detaches or when any body part except a hand or foot touches the ground. The ball is spotted at its forward-most point at that instant.
• If a flag belt falls off without a foul, the play continues. A one-hand touch on the torso (shoulders to knees) ends the run.
• No flag guarding: a runner may not use a hand, arm, or the ball to contact a defender and deny flag access. Penalty: 10 yards — generally from the end of the run, or from the foul spot when the foul occurs behind the end of the run; special goal-line/end-zone enforcement is possible. The same down is repeated after enforcement unless enforcement or the advance reaches the line to gain and awards a new series. (Shielding with the body alone, without contacting an opponent, is not flag guarding.)
• No hurdling: a player may not attempt to leap with feet or knees foremost over an opponent in the runner’s path who is not in a prone or supine position. Spinning and diving are not automatic fouls.
• No stiff-arming.

Handoffs & Backward Passes

• A backward (lateral) pass is legal at any time from any position on the field.
• A forward handoff (handing the ball ahead) is legal when both the player handing it and the player receiving it are behind the neutral zone before any change of possession.
• A fumble that touches the ground is dead at that spot. Either team may recover a fumble in the air before it touches the ground.
• A backward pass that touches the ground is dead at the landing spot. A backward pass caught in the air is live.

Forward Passing

• One forward pass per play, released from behind the neutral zone.
• No second forward pass on the same play.
• No forward pass released from beyond the neutral zone.
• No forward pass after a change of possession during the down.
• A legal catch: possession before the ball touches the ground, at least one body part in the field of play, continued control through an act common to the game, and—when going to ground—through completion of the catch.
• Simultaneous catch: offense retains the ball.
• Interception: the ball is live. The intercepting team may return it. The pick ends the offensive possession.
• Intentional grounding is a foul: deliberately throwing to an area with no eligible receiver to avoid a loss of yardage or to conserve time. Penalty: 5 yards from the spot of the throw, plus loss of down. Exception: the player directly behind the snapper may immediately spike a clean snap (one that was not muffed or grounded) directly into the ground to stop the clock; this is not intentional grounding.

Rushing & Blocking

Rushing the Passer

• Any defender may rush from any legal position on or behind their line of scrimmage. No limit on the number of rushers; no required depth or waiting count.
• Rushers must go around offensive players — not through them.
• No tackling, no body-to-body contact while attempting a sack. The rusher’s goal is to pull the flag, not contact the body. Slight incidental contact that occurs during a legitimate flag-pull attempt is not automatically a foul; contact without a legitimate attempt is illegal personal contact.
• Roughing the passer protection applies after a legal forward pass thrown from behind the neutral zone. A rusher who contacts the passer’s throwing arm or head, bats the ball from the passer’s arm, or makes avoidable contact after the release commits roughing the passer (10 yards + automatic first down). Unavoidable contact immediately after release is not automatically a foul. Contact with a player who releases a backward pass, throws from beyond the neutral zone, or is contacted before the pass is away may instead be illegal personal contact.

Screen Blocking

• Non-contact, position-based screen blocking is legal. A legal screener may move in the opponent’s same direction or path while maintaining an established position, but may not move toward the opponent to initiate or create contact.
• A blocker may not initiate contact, lean into a defender, grab, hold, or push.
• No extending arms, hands, elbows, or legs to impede an opponent.
• Blockers must give a moving opponent a reasonable opportunity to stop or change direction before taking a set position in that path.
• Illegal screen block: 10 yards (see Rule 10 spot guide in the Common Penalties section below).

Holding & Contact Fouls

• Defensive holding: grabbing or holding an offensive player without the ball. Penalty: 10 yards (see Rule 10 spot guide in the Common Penalties section below — generally the previous spot during a pass, end of run beyond the line); the same down is repeated after enforcement unless enforcement or the advance reaches the line to gain and awards a new series; no automatic first down.
• Illegal personal contact: unnecessary or excessive physical contact beyond a legal flag-pull attempt (tackling, running through the ball carrier, body contact). Penalty: 10 yards, first down.
• No player may use hands, arms, or legs to create contact while blocking or defending.

Punts & Kicking

Declared Punts

• A team may declare a punt on any down, most often used on fourth down. The declaration must be made before the ready-for-play signal.
• After the declaration, the receiving team has an opportunity to substitute.
• Once declared, the kicking team must execute the kick. The declaration may only be withdrawn if a timeout is called, the period ends, or an accepted penalty permits redeclaration.
• Every kicking-team player except the kicker must be stationary when the kick is made. The kicker receives the snap and must kick within five seconds.
• A declared punt is a real kick — not a possession change by rule. The receiving team may attempt a return.
• The receiving team may also let the ball roll dead.
• Blocked punts: The result depends on whether the kick crossed the neutral zone, whether it was caught in the air before touching the ground, the down number, and the applicable possession rules. A loose ball that touches the ground is dead immediately at that spot. Whether the kicking team may recover a blocked punt depends on where and how it is blocked; consult the officiating crew for the specific ruling.

Kick Outcomes

• Touchback: A non-scoring scrimmage kick is dead the moment it breaks the plane of the receiving team’s goal line; there is no end-zone return on a non-scoring scrimmage kick. The receiving team starts at its own 14-yard line.
• Out of bounds: If the kick goes out of bounds untouched between the goal lines, the receiving team takes possession at the corresponding inbounds spot at that yard line (centered on the field unless state-adopted hash marks apply).
• First touching: If a kicking-team player is the first to touch the kicked ball beyond the expanded neutral zone, before any receiving-team player has touched it and before the ball comes to rest, the receiving team may choose to take possession at the spot of first touching rather than the dead-ball spot. Blocking fouls behind the line and offsetting penalties can affect this choice.
• Kick-catch interference: While a scrimmage kick is in flight beyond the neutral zone, a kicking-team player may not commit any of three prohibited acts: (1) touch the ball, (2) touch a receiver, or (3) obstruct a receiver’s path to the ball — subject to NFHS exceptions. The offended team has three choices: (1) accept the play result; (2) take the ball with a first down after a 10-yard gain from the foul spot; or (3) accept a 10-yard penalty from the previous spot and replay the down.

After a Safety

• After conceding a safety, the conceding team takes a scrimmage kick from its own 20-yard line.
• The kick starts a new possession for the receiving team.

Common Penalties

Plain-English guide to the most common 2026–27 NFHS penalties, grouped by team. Rule 10 determines the exact enforcement spot when play context matters; the “Measured from” column shows the general principle.

Offensive Penalties

Defensive Penalties

Team, Sideline & Disqualification

Sideline progression: first infraction is a warning; second is 5 yards; third and subsequent violations are 10 yards each.

State Association Options

NFHS Table 1-7 reserves exactly 20 choices for state associations — deliberate flexibility built into the national rules, not unofficial modifications. The table below shows every item: the NFHS baseline or range, and what the state then decides. Everywhere on this page where you see State option, the value comes from this table.

Verify the choices your state has made by checking your state high school association’s published materials or event packet.

Items not on this list are NFHS baseline rules that apply in all states: quarter length (12 minutes), own-14 starting position, jersey numbers (0–99; 6-in. front / 8-in. back), mouthguard specification, cleat rules, and all penalty yardages.

Advanced Game Situations

Edge cases and unusual plays, explained in plain English.

NFHS vs. CIF-SS

NFHS is the national baseline. CIF-SS (California Interscholastic Federation — Southern Section) is one specific state-section application of NFHS rules for girls flag football in Southern California, covering Orange County, Inland Empire, Ventura County, and most Los Angeles County schools. CIF San Diego Section and LA City Section administer separate girls flag football programs; check their section for local rules.

For a complete deep-dive into CIF-SS rules, see the CIF-SS Girls Flag Football Rules guide.

CIF-SS data from the CIF-SS 2026–27 Girls Flag Football Season Preview. Verify with your school or CIF-SS before game day. CIF San Diego and LA City are separate sections with separate rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Sources

When exact wording matters, use these primary sources. The NFHS rulebook is a paid publication — it is not freely available here.