American football without the tackling — pulling a flag from the ball carrier's belt ends the play. Eight tools take you from confused to the sharpest eye in the room.
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Signals, reviews and respect: the officials decoded.
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American football without the tackling — pulling a flag from the ball carrier's belt ends the play. Five a side, small field, no line play, and far more throwing. It is the fastest-growing form of the game and will be at the Olympics.
The United States and Mexico are the strongest; Austria, Italy, Japan, Israel, Panama and Britain all compete seriously. Mexico in particular has a deep flag football culture.
Because there is no contact it is played by children from about six and by adults of all ages, and it is one of the most gender-balanced team sports in participation terms.
The United States and Mexico.
Flag football is emerging in South African schools as a low-cost, low-risk route into the American game, needing only a field and belts.
Flag leagues are growing fast — no pads, no tackling, all the plays.
A pass or spiral · A catch or a deflag · A route or double move · A juke or a cut · A rush or coverage play
Facts here are the best we could verify, and estimates say so. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and it gets fixed.
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