Flag Football Glossary
Glossary explained in plain English for parents learning Flag Football.
| Term | Plain-English Meaning | Example | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down | One try for the offense to run a play and move the ball. | The offense gains five yards on first down and then lines up for second down. | Try |
| Series | A set of downs the offense uses to reach a first-down marker or score. | The team has a new series after reaching midfield. | Set of downs |
| First down | A fresh set of downs earned by reaching the required line or zone. | A short pass crosses the first-down cone, so the offense starts over at first down. | New set |
| Line of scrimmage | The imaginary line through the ball where each play starts. | Players line up on their side of the line of scrimmage before the snap. | LOS |
| Snap | The action that starts the play when the center gives the ball to the quarterback or another player. | The center snaps the ball and then runs a short route. | Start |
| Flag pull | A defender stopping the ball carrier by removing a flag from the belt instead of tackling. | The defender pulls the runner's flag near the sideline and the referee spots the ball there. | Pull |
| Dead ball | A play that has ended and will restart from the next spot or instruction. | After the flag pull, the ball is dead and players return to the huddle. | Play over |
| Spot | The place where the official marks the ball for the next play. | The runner kept going after the whistle, but the spot is where the flag was pulled. | Ball spot |
| No-run zone | A field area where the offense must usually attempt a pass instead of a designed run. | Near the goal line, the team enters a no-run zone and calls a pass play. | Pass-only zone |
| Rush count | A count or delay that controls when a defender may rush the quarterback. | The rusher waits for the referee's count before crossing the rush line. | Blitz count |
| Rush line | A marked distance from the line of scrimmage where a rusher may need to start. | The rusher begins behind the seven-yard rush line. | Blitz line |
| Interception | A pass caught by the defense instead of the offense. | A defender catches the pass and runs the other way until a flag is pulled. | Pick |
| Turnover on downs | A possession change after the offense uses its allowed downs without reaching the target or scoring. | The offense fails on fourth down, so the other team takes over. | Change on downs |
| Handoff | A legal exchange where one offensive player gives the ball to a teammate. | The quarterback hands the ball to a running back who runs outside. | Give |
| Route | The planned path a receiver runs to get open for a pass. | The receiver runs a short route across the middle. | Pattern |
| Completion | A pass caught legally by an offensive player. | The receiver catches the ball inbounds for a completion. | Catch |
| Incomplete pass | A pass that is not caught legally and usually ends the down. | The ball hits the ground, so the pass is incomplete and the team lines up for the next down. | Incomplete |
| Flag guarding | An illegal action where the runner protects the flag from being pulled. | The runner swats a defender's hand away and is called for flag guarding. | Guarding |
| Illegal contact | Contact that is not allowed in flag football, such as tackling, blocking, pushing, or holding. | A defender grabs the runner's shirt instead of the flag and the referee calls illegal contact. | Contact foul |
| False start | An offensive player moves early before the snap when everyone should be set. | A receiver jumps forward before the snap and the referee stops the play. | Early movement |
| Offsides | A player crosses or lines up across the line of scrimmage too early. | A defender steps over the line before the snap and is called offsides. | Offside |
| Pass interference | Illegal contact or obstruction that prevents a fair chance to catch a pass. | A defender grabs a receiver before the ball arrives and draws pass interference. | PI |
| Delay of game | A penalty for taking too long to snap or restart after the official is ready. | The offense stays in the huddle too long and gets a delay of game warning. | Delay |
| Extra point | A short try after a touchdown for one or more additional points, depending on league rules. | After the touchdown, the team tries a one-point pass from a short distance. | Try;PAT |
| Small-sided | A youth format with fewer players on the field, such as 5 on 5, 6 on 6, or 7 on 7. | In 5 on 5, players often rotate through several positions. | Short-sided |