The focus of this portion of our web guide is on both flag football and touch football, both popular variations of the same classic game.
Flag football restricts physical contact by pulling flags off a player's belt, while touch football allows for more physical play as long as it doesn't cross boundaries set by referees.
Both sports are variations of traditional American and Canadian football that emphasize skill, strategy, and teamwork while reducing physical contact. Both sports offer accessible and inclusive opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels but differ in rules, gameplay, equipment, and development.
Both flag and touch football are adaptations of tackle football, aiming to reduce the risk of injury and increase accessibility. They eliminate the need for protective gear, allowing participants to play recreationally without the physical intensity of traditional football. In both sports, the primary objective is for the offensive team to advance the ball downfield and score touchdowns, while the defensive team attempts to prevent scoring. Key skills such as passing, catching, running, and defensive positioning are central to both games.
The most notable difference between flag and touch football is how the play is stopped during defensive action. In touch football, the play ends when a defensive player physically touches the ball carrier, typically with one or two hands. In contrast, flag football uses flags attached to a belt worn by players; the play stops when a defensive player successfully pulls a flag from the ball carrier's belt. This adds a layer of strategic complexity to flag football, as players often need to position themselves precisely to reach the flag.
Equipment further differentiates the two. Touch football requires no specialized gear, whereas flag football requires flag belts for each participant. Additionally, flag football tends to have more structures, rules, and governing organizations, while touch football is commonly played informally, with several variations.
As flag football expanded, organizations formed to establish standardized rules and promote the sport globally. The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) governs flag football worldwide, organizing major tournaments such as the Flag Football World Championship. USA Football oversees flag football programs in the United States, focusing on youth development and community engagement. Various leagues cater to different demographics, including recreational, competitive, and youth leagues. The National Football League (NFL) has also embraced flag football, hosting initiatives like the NFL Flag Program to introduce the sport to young players.
The accessibility and inclusivity of flag football have contributed to its rapid growth. The game requires minimal equipment, can be played on various surfaces, and accommodates players of several skill levels. The sport has gained international attention in recent years, with IFAF developing programs and competitions on several continents. Flag football has been designated a discretionary event for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It is the first time any gridiron football code has been a full part of an Olympic program, further solidifying its status as a global phenomenon.
While touch football is more similar to street football, another football variant, flag football stands out for its unique use of flags, structured leagues, and expanding global presence. From its origins in military recreation to its potential as an Olympic sport, flag football continues to grow as an inclusive sport.
Topics relating to either flag football or touch football are appropriate for this category, including organizing bodies, leagues, or informational sources.
Recommended Resources
Established in 2017, the AFFL is a semi-professional flag football league. League players are not paid during the season, and most are primarily amateurs, but cash prizes are awarded to tournament winners, although there is discussion of launching a pro league. The game is played with seven players on a side, with no kicking or tackling. An introduction to the league is provided, along with game rules, news, videos, a mobile application, social media, and contacts.
https://affl.com/
Begun as a small community initiative driven by a love for the game and a vision to make sports accessible to everyone, Flag Football Life sponsors youth leagues, adult leagues, and competitive tournaments, catering to players of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned players. Its youth programs emphasize skill development, teamwork, and enjoyment of the game, while its adult leagues provide a platform for social interaction and competitive play. Contacts are posted.
https://flagfootballlife.com/
One hundred percent free to create, download, and share, with no sign-in or sign-up required, this free online tool empowers coaches to create effective strategies without the bother of downloads or subscriptions. Simply drag and drop players, draw routes, and visualize plays with ease. It includes an intuitive interface and customizable options; a team logo can be included, and plays can be downloaded in high-quality PNG or PDF formats for printing or sharing.
https://flagfootballplaydesigner.com/
The GFFL is a professional league dedicated to advancing the sport of flag football worldwide, creating opportunities for athletes, and promoting the sport at all levels. The league is also preparing for flag football's inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics. It features tournaments and other competitions, as well as its teams, staff, and partners. A contact form is available for inquiries, and an online shopping area offers official GFFL gear representing league teams.
https://globalflagfootball.footballshift.com/
International Federation of American Football
The IFAF is the international governing body for the sport of American football and is responsible for all regulatory competition, performance, and developmental aspects of the game on a global level. This includes the Senior Men's World Flag Football Championship, the Senior Women's World Flag Football Championship, and the Continental Flag Football Championships. The organization's history and profile, governance, events, and football operations are stated.
https://americanfootball.sport/
International Women's Flag Football Association
The IWFFA is the umbrella organization for female flag football around the world. The organization offers flag football tournaments for girls and women in North America, Scandinavia, Central America, Asia, and the Caribbean, as well as flag football clinics and training for players, coaches, and officials to any group wanting to develop female flag football. Scheduled tournaments, clinics, awards, rules, and contacts are posted. Various. media resources are included.
https://iwffa.com/
Headquartered in Alexandria, Louisiana, the non-profit organization provides opportunities for youth to participate in recreational sports, community outreach, and life skills education. Affiliated with programs like Junior NBA Basketball and NFL Flag Football, its site highlights its programs and resources, including its flag football program, registration, field status, and NFL Flag gear. Information on how to play flag football is provided, along with instructions for becoming a coach.
https://www.thejcwfoundation.org/
National Flag Football is a prominent organization offering youth flag football leagues across the United States. They provide opportunities for kids to learn and play flag football in a safe and fun environment. Their leagues, tournaments, and other resources can be found on their website. Leagues are listed by state or multi-state region, and other resources include parent and coach resources, schedules, tournaments, standings, discounts, and financial aid offerings.
https://www.nationalflagfootball.com/
The National Football League and its teams have promoted and sponsored flag football leagues in the United States as a youth sport, branded as NFL Flag. In February 2025, the NFL announced that the NFL was considering launching a pro Men's and Women's flag football league. NFL Flag has since expanded, with NFL Flag Canada and NFL Flag International. Its benefits, partners, parent resources, coaching resources, and league organizing information are provided. A calendar of events is included.
https://nflflag.com/
In operation for over thirty years, the league was initially known as the Museum of Comparative Zoology Football League because its field was in front of that museum, taking its current name in 1997, although it is most commonly known by its acronym, OFL. Based in the Boston, Massachusetts area, a profile and history of the league, basic play, the rules for the offense and defense, and awards are acknowledged. A team randomizer provides a means of dividing teams in pick-up sports.
https://touchfootball.net/
United States Flag and Touch Football League
The USFTL is a non-profit organization that serves as a governing body for flag football in the United States. It organizes tournaments and championships, including the annual "Super Bowl of Flag Football," held over the Martin Luther Day holiday weekend in Kissimmee, Florida. Upcoming events are featured on the organization's website, along with team rankings and results, with national ranking points awarded to all teams that play in the USFTL Sanctioned Tournament of League.
https://usftl.sportngin.com/
United States Flag Football Association
Founded as the United States Touch and Flag Football Association in 1976; however, by 1980, the "touch" division had dwindled to just two states sending entries, so the organization dropped "Touch" from its name in 1981. The USFFA remains focused on only one version of flag football (8-man, eligible, no down-field blocking), and its National Championship program is built on that single version. The history and an overview of the organization are provided, along with its rulebook and membership.
https://usffa.org/
Previously known as the Flag Football World Championship Tour, USA Flag is actively involved in championing the sport of flag football for Olympic inclusion. It also operates the largest flag football tournaments in the world. Founded as an event marketing company in 2015, the Flag Football World Championship Tour was built by former players whose goal was to unite the sport under a single brand. Its leagues, tournaments, rules, rankings, and sponsorships are featured.
https://usaflag.org/
The WPFL is a professional platform for 8-woman contact flag football. Created to bridge the gap between amateur and professional levels, the league offers competitive women players a chance to showcase their skills and talents at a professional level. The goal is to become one of the most competitive pro sports leagues in the United States. An introduction to the league and its partners and staff is provided, tournament schedules are set forth, and an online contact form is available.
https://womensproflag.com/
