Introduction
In traditional American football, players tackle each other to the ground to make a play, but many people choose to play a version of the game that involves less human to human contact. It is called flag football.
In flag football, players usually wear a belt with flags that attach to it via Velcro or some similar method, or they simply attach flags to their clothing. The goal of the team playing defense is to remove a player's flag instead of tackling the player who is holding the ball. The removal of the flag shows that the player was stopped from making a play.
History
The history of flag football, sometimes referred to as touch football, can be traced back to the 1930s and 1940s when men on military bases decided to use the sport as a way to pass the time. In those days, American football was much more violent than the sport we know today. As a matter of fact, President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to ban the game in the United States after a number of players died or suffered horrific injuries. Because the military men did not want to get injured before performing their duties, they adopted a less violent form of the sport.
Soon flag football was all the rage in many American cities. Some believe that the soldiers brought the game with them when they returned to their homes. In the 1950's, recreational leagues begin to pop up all over the country. By the 1960's, the National Touch Football League was formed in St. Louis, Missouri. The League invented a universal set of rules for players to abide by.
By the 1970's, flag football was a huge hit on college campuses throughout the United States. Students began to form their own intramural teams. In 1979, the University of New Orleans even hosted the first ever National Collegiate Flag Football Championship.
Flag Football Today
In 1988, the United States Flag Touch Football League was formed, and in 1989, the United States Flag Football League Semipro was started. Players in various cities formed teams and while they were not paid a salary, they could win cash prizes. In 1991, the American Flag Touch Football League was formed.
By 1997, all of the various organizations decided to join together to from a pro league. This was called the Professional Flag Football League, Inc. By 1999, the league has a full season schedule and six regular teams from Buffalo, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; and Columbus, Ohio.
Today, the United States Flag and Touch Football League is home to a number of teams throughout the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The National Football League even holds a flag football Youth World Championship for kids, ages 12 to 14. Flag football has become popular in Europe and Asia as well.
Playing Flag Football
Because there are no official rules for flag football, different groups and organizations choose to play different forms of the game. Teams often vary from four to nine players. Some play with punters and kickers, while some do not. The size of the field is also an important variable; it can range from NFL-standard size to fields that are only 40 yards wide. Some teams allow linemen to catch the ball, while some do not. Others choose to outlaw blocking. Regardless of how a team chooses to play the game, flag football continues to be a popular part of non-professional American sports.
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