Buying guide for Best flag football sets
Adults and kids looking for recreational activities often turn to variations of popular sports that require less physical effort. Slow-pitch softball is a nice alternative to baseball or fast-pitch softball. Pickleball is a fast-growing alternative to tennis. Both open up these types of games to more people. And a flag football set provides a fun and safe alternative to tackle football.
While tackle football requires a lot of safety equipment and is expensive by comparison, flag football only requires a set of flags, field marking cones, and a football. Flag football is a nice introduction to the sport for younger players who might go on to play tackle football. For adults, flag football is easier and safer to play, and it’s a fun recreational game.
If you’re ready to give flag football a try in your backyard or local park, a good buying guide and product recommendations can help you find the right set.
How to buy the best flag football set
Components
Many flag football sets include a number of items in addition to flags and belts.
- Flags with connectors
- Belts to hold flags
- Bean bags to mark the line of scrimmage
- Cones to mark field boundaries
- Carrying bag
- Football, usually youth-size
If you only need flags and belts, you can save a bit of money by purchasing a set that only has those items.
Belts
Most belts are made of durable nylon webbing and are one-size-fits-most. Some belts have a loop so you can tuck in any extra portion of the belt without affecting the defenders’ ability to reach the flags.
Some belts have a D-ring connector. You wrap the belt through the D ring to secure it. Some belts use a plastic clip connector, which is easier for youngsters to use.
Flag connectors
Typical flag football sets have patches of hook-and-loop material that attach the flags to the belt, one patch on the belt and another on the flag. The patches hold the flag securely to the belt until a player pulls off the flag.
Some sets have rubber ball-and-socket connectors on the belt and flags. When a player pulls on a flag, the rubber ball pops out of the socket. These flag football sets typically cost more, but the materials are highly durable.
Did You Know?
The International Federation of American Football hosts the annual Flag Football World Championships.
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Features to look for in flag football sets
Flag colors
Most flag football sets come with two sets of flags in two different colors. All players on the same team wear the same color. (Players on each team often wear T-shirts or jerseys with matching colors too, but the shirts don’t have to match the flag colors.)
Number of players
To easily determine the number of players the set accommodates, check the number of belts. Ten belts mean five players per team.
Number of flags
Flag football sets list the number of sets of flags they contain, typically between 10 and 16. Ten sets of flags mean five sets of flags for one team (all containing the same color flags) and five sets for the other.
Most flag football leagues require each player to wear three flags on their belt (one on each hip and one at the back). Others only require players to wear two flags (one on each hip). It’s important to know how many flags you need per belt to follow league rules. Many inexpensive flag football sets only include two flags per belt. If you’re unsure how many flags per belt you need, purchase a set with three flags per belt.
The first football games with belts and flags likely occurred during World War II as American soldiers substituted flag football for tackle football to reduce the possibility of injury.
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How to play flag football
Although anyone can play flag football for fun, there are specific rules for official adult and youth leagues. The following is an outline of the basics of the game rather than a discussion of the specific rules because rules can differ from league to league.
Players per team: Each team can have four to nine players, but five to seven players are most common.
No kicking: No one kicks the ball in flag football. Teams do not attempt kickoffs, punts, or field goals.
Eligible receivers: All players on offense are eligible to receive a pass.
No contact: There is no tackling, holding, or blocking. Players may not purposefully make contact with each other.
Guarding a flag: Ball carriers can’t use their free hand to guard their flags or push away or hit the hand of a defender who’s trying to grab the flag.
No diving: Ball carriers can’t dive or jump to try to prevent a defender from taking the flag. They can jump to try to catch a pass, however.
“Tackling”: To record a “tackle,” the defensive player removes one of the flags from the belt of the player carrying the ball. The next play then starts from the point of this “tackle.” Defenders aren’t allowed to grab or hold the offensive player’s body before grabbing the flag.
Rushing limitations: Typically, offensive players are limited by who and from which position on the field they can rush the ball. These limitations encourage more forward passes.
How much do flag football sets cost?
Inexpensive
The cheapest flag football sets cost $10 to $20 for up to 12 belts. These sets are rarely made of high-quality materials, meaning they’re probably better for younger players who don’t play as roughly with them as adults. These sets usually have two flags per belt with hook-and-loop attachments and a D ring for tightening.
Mid-range
Average sets for flag football games cost $20 to $35 for up to 16 belts. These are made of durable materials that should work well for adults or children. These sets may have either two or three flags per belt with hook-and-loop fasteners and a D ring or plastic buckle for tightening. Some of these sets include field marking cones and bean bags for marking the line of scrimmage.
Expensive
The priciest flag football sets cost $35 to $60 for up to 20 belts. They might have two or three flags per belt with rubber ball-and-socket connectors. This is a more durable connector than hook-and-loop fasteners, making these sets a good choice for adults.
Did You Know?
When playing flag football in a league, adult players usually use a regulation-size football, while youth players use a smaller football. For recreational games, any size football is fine.
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Tips
- Hang the belts and flags to store them. Rather than stuffing the belts and flags in a duffle bag, hang them up between uses. You can use a tie or belt rack with multiple arms for holding the belts or hang them by the D rings on hooks on the wall.
- Dry the equipment before storing it. The flags and belts can get wet or muddy during practice and games. Dry the equipment thoroughly before storing it to prevent mildew and odors.
- Clean the hook-and-loop fasteners. Cleaning the fasteners occasionally will enable them to hold the flags tightly. Use an old toothbrush to remove mud and lint from the fasteners.
- Check for damage. After every few uses, inspect the equipment for tears and other damage.
FAQ
Q. Do I need a flag football set to play the game?
A. To play by the rules in league play, you need a set. If you want to play a similar game but without the flags, you can play touch football. However, playing with flags tends to be safer than playing touch football.
Q. What equipment does a child need to play flag football?
A. Kids don’t need padding like they do to play tackle football. They can simply wear comfortable workout clothes. Some kids wear running shoes and others wear football cleats. A mouthguard is a good idea in case of a collision with another player.
Q. How can I prepare my child to play flag football?
A. Using a football that’s appropriately sized for your child’s age, simply playing catch is a good way to start. Playing a game like tag can also be good preparation for playing flag football because the child learns how to avoid other players. If you have a flag football set, you can also practice the best ways to grab the flags.
Q. Can I alter the belt that comes with the flag football set?
A. No, it’s against the rules in most leagues to alter the belt other than to shorten it or to tuck in the end of a long belt. Some players might try to alter the belt by wrapping the flags around it so they don’t pull loose as easily, but this is illegal and can get a player ejected from the game.
