5v5 flag football positions
A 5v5 offense has a center and a quarterback. The other three are receivers. The defense uses rushers, defensive backs and a safety. Rulebooks rarely name positions. Teams set their own.
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Updated · cited to the official rulebooks · Compare every ruleset
Who lines up where
USA Flag 5's
Offense: one center, one quarterback, three receivers.
NFL FLAG 5v5
The center must be on the line. No more than 4 players can be on it. The quarterback must be off it.
IFAF Flag Football
The line needs no set number of players. On offense each player is a snapper, runner or receiver; on defense, a blitzer, rusher or defender.
Offense
Quarterback
Takes the snap on every play, then hands off or throws. Usually the player who carries the play call to the huddle.
The player who takes the snap can't run the ball past the line. They have 7 seconds to throw. That limit ends once they hand off or pitch.
The first player to hold the ball after the snap. May only cross the line with it after handing off and getting it back, or by catching a pass.
The first player to hold the ball after the snap. Cannot run past the line unless another player had the ball first or a defender touched it in the air.
Center (snapper)
Snaps the ball back to the quarterback, then usually releases into a pass route as a receiver.
The only player who must be on the scrimmage line. The quarterback may not hand, pitch or lateral to the center first (no center sneak).
Snaps the ball and may then go out for a pass, but may not take a handoff (no center sneak).
Called the snapper. The snap does not have to go through the legs, and the snapper may not take a forward handoff.
Wide receiver
Runs pass routes to get open and catch the ball. A 5v5 team often has two or three on the field.
Any player can catch a pass. That includes the quarterback after a handoff or pitch.
Anyone who doesn't snap or take the snap is a receiver or back. They can get a handoff or catch passes.
Running back
Lines up in the backfield, takes a handoff and runs, throws, or slips out as a receiver.
Handoffs, pitches and laterals must happen behind the line. The player who gets one can still throw forward from behind the line. No runs are allowed in the no-run zones.
May take one or more handoffs behind the line and then run or throw from behind it. No runs in the 5 yards before the goal line.
Defense
Rusher (blitzer)
Goes after the quarterback to pull a flag for a sack or hurry the throw.
Up to 2 players can rush. Each raises a hand before the snap and starts at least 7 yards off the ball. They must go right at the snap. After a handoff or pitch, any defender may rush.
Called a blitzer: up to two, at least 7 yards back with a hand raised, who must rush straight away. A defender who crosses the line legally without signaling is a rusher.
Same as USA Flag. Up to 2 players can signal and blitz from more than 7 yards back. Other defenders who cross the line legally without a signal are rushers.
Defensive back
Covers receivers, either one player each (man to man) or an area of the field (zone).
Safety
Plays deepest, as the last line against long passes and anyone who breaks free.
Stat it in BreakAway
From 5v5 and 7v7 to NFL FLAG and your own house rules, if you play it, BreakAway can stat it. See how rulesets work
- BreakAway U lesson · 0:54Managing your rosterThe one-time setup you never repeat
- BreakAway U lesson · 0:44Logging a completionFour taps and a drag
- BreakAway U guideHow to stat a flag football game
Who it's for
- Coaches & Teams: Stat your own games, free
Pick your ruleset. Stat the game.
Start from a curated list of presets. Change any rule for your team, league or tournament. Field and downs, how the game's organized, scoring, punts and turnovers, overtime. Saved to your team for the next game. Tap to use it and you're ready to stat. Real stats, generated as you go.
A completed pass, logged in seconds.
Questions.
Not directly in NFL FLAG. USA Flag and IFAF allow it only after the ball comes back.
Related rules
- 7v7 flag football positions
- How many players are on a flag football team?
- Can the quarterback run in flag football?
- Rushing the passer: the rush line and the 7-second rule
- What is a no-run zone in flag football?
- How many downs in flag football?
- Every rule, every ruleset, side by side
Official rulebooks
- NFL FLAG Official Playing RulesRevised March 24, 2025. Free from the publisher.
- USA Flag 5's Rulebookv2026.2. Free from the publisher.
- IFAF Flag Football Rules2023, effective May 1, 2023. Free from the publisher.
Sources cited on this page
- USA Flag 5's Rulebook (USA Flag 5's, v2026.2)
- NFL FLAG Official Playing Rules (NFL FLAG, Revised March 24, 2025)
- IFAF Flag Football Rules (IFAF, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
- NFL FLAG Football Positions (NFL FLAG positions, Web page as of October 19, 2026)