What is flag football?

Flag football is American football without the tackling. Each player wears a belt with two or three flags. A play ends when a defender pulls a flag off the ball carrier, the carrier steps out of bounds, or the team scores. There are no pads and no helmets, and blocking and tackling are not allowed.

The international format, run by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), is 5v5. It's the format played at world championships and at the LA 2028 Olympic Games, and the main format UPAFA develops in Uttar Pradesh.

Flag football rules: the basics

  • Teams: five players on the field per side, with rolling substitutions.
  • Field: much smaller than a tackle football field — roughly 50 yards long and 25 yards wide, plus two 10-yard end zones. School grounds and football turf pitches work well.
  • Downs: the offence has a set number of downs to cross midfield, then a fresh set to score a touchdown.
  • Rushing the passer: defenders who rush the quarterback start from a set distance behind the line, which keeps the game fast and pass-led.
  • Scoring: a touchdown is worth 6 points, followed by a 1- or 2-point conversion attempt from close or longer range.
  • Contact: no tackling, blocking, or flag guarding. Ball carriers can't shield their flags with their hands or the ball.

Exact distances, timings, and competition rules follow the current IFAF flag football rulebook. UPAFA publishes the version used for state competitions on the Documents page.

Why flag football is growing in India

Flag football needs only a flag belt, a ball, and open ground, so a school or college can start a team for very little. It's safe for children because there's no tackling, and men, women, and mixed teams all play. Olympic status for LA 2028 has given the sport a clear performance pathway in India, through the American Football Federation of India (AFFI) and state associations such as UPAFA.

Flag football in Uttar Pradesh

UPAFA is the state governing body for flag football and American football in Uttar Pradesh. Players register once with UPAFA, are placed with their district association, and play through affiliated clubs. From there, district and state competitions are the route to national selection. Find clubs and contacts near you in Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Agra, Meerut, and other districts on the where to play page.

How to start a flag football team

  1. Get at least eight to ten players so you can rotate substitutes.
  2. Get flag belts, a few footballs, and cones to mark a field.
  3. Find a coach. UPAFA coach certification starts at Level 1 and covers fundamentals.
  4. Affiliate as a club through your district, using the district affiliation registration.
  5. Register each player with UPAFA so they're eligible for official competitions.

How to register for flag football

Create an account on upafa.in and complete the player registration. Choose flag football as your discipline and pick your district. Once approved, you'll get a UPAFA ID that anyone can check on the Verify page. Referees and coaches register the same way and can earn Level 1–3 certification.