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Flag football equipment rules

Every player wears a flag belt. Most rulebooks require a mouthguard. Jewelry comes off. Shoe rules vary, and some fields ban cleats. The right ball depends on age.

The right gear keeps kids safe and avoids penalties. Check your bag before game day.

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Updated · cited to the official rulebooks · Compare every ruleset

Flag belts and flags

  • NFL FLAG 5v5

    NFL FLAG's own belts and flags, which players bring themselves, in a color different from their shorts. At tournaments every team wears the belts handed out at check-in.

    NFL FLAG §III.1, §III.8, §III.9; Tournament Play 1

  • USA Flag 5's

    A snug belt with pop sockets holds 2 matching flags, a flag on each hip. Flags hang free and contrast with the shorts. Each flag is about 2 by 15 inches. Length is 15 to 16 inches. Width runs from 1.9 up to 2.1 inches.

    USA Flag 5's R1-4-1, R1-6-1, R1-6-2

  • USA Flag 7's

    A snug belt with pop sockets holds 2 matching flags, a flag on each hip. Flags hang free and contrast with the shorts. Each flag is about 2 by 15 inches. Length is 15 to 16 inches. Width runs from 1.9 up to 2.1 inches.

    USA Flag 7's R1-4-1, R1-6-1, R1-6-2

  • NFHS (girls' high school)

    Each state association picks the flag style and size, as long as it meets the book's minimum. The minimum itself (Rule 1-5) has not been read here.

    NFHS Table 1-7 #11

  • California (CIF)

    2 flags, one per hip, that contrast with the shorts. Flags can be up to 2.5 by 16 inches. Only youth-size clips are allowed.

    CIF item 11

  • IFAF Flag Football

    A snug belt with pop sockets holds 2 matching flags, one on each side. Flags must contrast with the pants. Each is 15 to 16 inches long and 1.8 to 2 inches wide. In senior games a flag must come off with no more than 100 newtons of pull. In all other games the limit is 50.

    IFAF 1-3-1c, 1-3-2

  • College Flag Football

    A one-piece belt with no knots and two pop flags, one on each hip. Each flag is 14 or more inches long and 1.75 or more inches wide.

    College 1-4-4

Ball

  • NFL FLAG 5v5

    Game balls should fit the age group. NFL FLAG supplies them. At 2026-27 regional tournaments, 8U, 8U Rec and 10U Girls use the black peewee ball. Every other division uses the white ball.

    NFL FLAG §III.1, §III.9NFL FLAG regionals Footballs

  • USA Flag 5's

    Men's and coed games use the adult ball (14 to 15 ounces). Women's games and junior games (ages 14 to 17) use the ball the book calls youth (12 to 13 ounces). Youth games (13 and under) use the junior ball (11 to 12 ounces), and under-8 games a peewee ball. A bigger ball is always allowed, a smaller one never.

    USA Flag 5's R1-5-1, R1-5-2; Definitions, Age Groups

  • USA Flag 7's

    Men's and coed games use the adult ball (14 to 15 ounces). Women's games and junior games (ages 14 to 17) use the ball the book calls youth (12 to 13 ounces). Youth games (13 and under) use the junior ball (11 to 12 ounces), and under-8 games a peewee ball. A bigger ball is always allowed, a smaller one never.

    USA Flag 7's R1-5-1, R1-5-2; Definitions, Age Groups

  • NFHS (girls' high school)

    A state may require a specific ball for its postseason. The book's ball size rule (1-3-1) has not been read here.

    NFHS Table 1-7 #6

  • California (CIF)

    Tan or brown, laced, leather or composite, sized to NFHS 1-3-1, and inspected before the game. Each CIF section picks the playoff ball.

    CIF item 6

  • IFAF Flag Football

    Men's and mixed games use the regular ball (14 to 15 ounces). Women's and under-16 games use the youth ball (12 to 13 ounces). Under-13 games use the junior ball (11 to 12 ounces). Youth balls need not be leather.

    IFAF 1-2-1, 1-2-2

  • College Flag Football

    12 to 14 ounces at 10 to 13 psi. Women's balls measure 26 to 27 inches around the long way, men's 27.75 to 28.25. Each team brings at least one legal ball.

    College 1-3-1

Mouthguard

Shoes and cleats

Jewelry and headwear

Shorts, pants and jerseys

Eyewear

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Questions.

In NFL FLAG, USA Flag and college, yes. IFAF strongly recommends one but does not require it.

Related rules

Official rulebooks

Sources cited on this page

  1. NFL FLAG Official Playing Rules (NFL FLAG, Revised March 24, 2025)
  2. USA Flag 5's Rulebook (USA Flag 5's, v2026.2)
  3. USA Flag 7's Rulebook (USA Flag 7's, v2026.2)
  4. IFAF Flag Football Rules (IFAF, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
  5. 2025-26 and 2026-27 College Flag Football Rules (College, 2025-26 and 2026-27)
  6. NFHS Flag Football Rules Book (NFHS, 2026-27)
  7. 2026 CIF By State Adoption (NFHS Rule 1, Table 1-7) (CIF, 2026-27, posted on cifstate.org August 13, 2026)
  8. 2026-2027 NFL FLAG Regional Tournament rules and FAQ (NFL FLAG regionals, 2026-27 circuit, web page as of October 19, 2026)
  9. Flag Football Rules Changes 2026, as posted by the CIF Southern Section (NFHS changes (CIF-SS copy), Dated February 24, 2026; posted August 3, 2026)

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