Flag football: rules and basic skills
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the origins, objectives and main rules to flag football.
Key learning points
- Move: the fingers slide down the outside of the ball to apply spin on the quarterback overarm pass upfield.
- Move: keeping your eye on the ball while sprinting, with hands in the air allows you to catch it before the defender.
- Think: tackles are made by pulling a flag (tag) from the ball carrier's waist in this non contact game.
- Feel: confidence comes from transferring skills from rugby and other invasion games to a new context.
- Connect: you can support each other by drawing on knowledge within the group of American football activities.
Keywords
Down - attempts or plays to advance the ball toward the opponent's end zone
Touchdown - scored when a player carries the ball into, or catches the ball within, the opponent's end zone, worth 6 points
End zone - the area of the field where scoring occurs
Common misconception
Pupils think they have 6 'downs/tags' like tag rugby or rugby league.
In flag football, teams only have 4 downs (or attempts) to advance the ball 10 yards or score. If they don't succeed within those 4 downs, the ball is turned over to the other team.
Teacher tip
If you don't have tag belts, use bibs tucked into the side of shorts. Encourage pupils to discuss their play in a huddle before performing the snap. When a player makes a tag, they can hold up the tag in the air to show the ball carrier when they have been tagged.
Equipment
1 bib per pupil, 30+ cones, tag rugby belt per pupil with 2 tags and10 American footballs.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.How long does a raider have on the defenders' side in Kabaddi?
Q2.How does a raider score 1 point in Kabaddi?
Q3.How do defenders work as a team in Kabaddi?
Q4.Which line does the raider need to cross to keep their points?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Who receives the ball from the snap and is responsible for the first throw?
Q2.Which sport is flag football based upon?
Q3.How many downs does a team get before a turnover takes place?
Q4.What is it called if you catch the ball in the end zone?
To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: Flag football: rules and basic skills, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: Flag football: rules and basic skills, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Invasion games: tactics and strategies in world games unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.