NFL FLAG vs USA Flag rules: what's different
The big differences are first downs and restarts. NFL FLAG gives you 4 downs to cross midfield and 3 to score. It has 2 no-run zones per drive. In USA Flag, midfield is the only first down. After most turnovers, the new offense starts at its own 5. USA Flag has one no-run zone, before the goal line.
SoCal Fire Elite 0, Lakeview Lady Hawks 01st half4th & 3 to midfieldBall on own 22
Example: NFL FLAG 5v5, girls' youth, NFL FLAG tournament
SoCal Fire Elite faced 4th down at its own 22, 3 yards short of midfield. A 7-yard pass got them across.
In NFL FLAG, crossing midfield earns a new set of 3 downs to score. They scored on the 3rd one.
Watch: Creating a game (0:33)Northshore Storm 0, LC Legends 01st half4th & 9 to midfieldBall on own 16
Example: USA Flag 5's, adult women
Northshore faced 4th down at its own 16, still 9 yards short of midfield. A 16-yard pass carried them across.
In USA Flag 5's, midfield is the only first down. Crossing it gave them 4 new plays to score.
Watch: Creating a game (0:33)Leagues and tournaments may use different rulebooks. Your team may play both in one season.
Updated · cited to the official rulebooks · Compare every ruleset
Side by side
| Rule | NFL FLAG 5v55v5 | USA Flag 5's5v5 | USA Flag 7's7v7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Players on the field | 5 a side. The rulebook never states a count, but its rules talk about 5 eligible players. NFL FLAG's rules page allows up to 10 on a roster. | 5 to start. After an injury, a team may drop to 4. Never fewer. | 7 to start, with at least 7 on the roster. After an injury, a team may drop to 4. Never fewer. |
| Field size | 30 x 70 yards. That includes two 10-yard end zones. The line to gain is at midfield. | 25 x 70 yards. That is a 50-yard field plus two 10-yard end zones. Smaller fields are allowed. | 25 x 70 yards, the same as the 5v5 book. That is a 50-yard field plus two 10-yard end zones. Smaller fields are allowed. |
| No-run zones | 2 on every drive: the 5 yards before midfield and the 5 yards before the goal line. No running plays across the line there. League play skips them for 8U and younger. | Just 1: the 5 yards before the goal line. Every play there must be a pass, even after a handoff. Leagues may drop it for beginners. | Just 1: the 5 yards before the goal line. Every play there must be a pass, even after a handoff. Leagues may drop it for beginners. |
| Downs and first downs | 4 downs to cross midfield. Then 3 downs to score. | 4 plays to cross midfield, then 4 to score. Midfield is the only first down. | 4 plays to cross midfield, then 4 to score. Midfield is the only first down. |
| Turnover on downs | Short of midfield on 4th down, the other team takes over at that spot. Past midfield without a score, the other team starts at its own 5. | The other team starts at its own 5. That is true for every change of possession except an interception. | The other team starts at its own 5. That is true for every change of possession except an interception. |
| Punts | No kicking. On 4th down (or 3rd) the coach calls punt or play. A punt gives the other team the ball at its own 5. | We found no punt rule. If you don't cross midfield, the other team gets the ball at its own 5. | We found no punt rule. If you don't cross midfield, the other team gets the ball at its own 5. |
| Touchdown and extra point | Touchdown: 6. The try after it: 1 point from the 5 (pass only) or 2 from the 10 (run or pass). You call your choice. Changing it costs a timeout. | Touchdown: 6. The try after it is 1 point from the 5 or 2 from the 10. From the 5 it must be a pass, since that is the no-run zone. From the 10 you may run or pass. | Touchdown: 6. The try after it is 1 point from the 5 or 2 from the 10. From the 5 it must be a pass, since that is the no-run zone. From the 10 you may run or pass. |
| Rushing the passer and sacks | Up to 2 rushers, each with a hand raised. They start at the 7-yard rush line. Anyone may rush after a handoff or pitch. The passer has 7 seconds. A sack is pulling the quarterback's flag behind the line. No rushing in league play for 8U and younger. | Up to 2 blitzers, each 7 or more yards back with a hand raised. Anyone may rush after a handoff. The 7-second clock ends only on a handoff or pass. A sack is pulling the quarterback's flag behind the line. | Up to 2 blitzers, each 7 or more yards back with a hand raised. Anyone may rush after a handoff. The 7-second clock ends only on a handoff or pass. A sack is pulling the quarterback's flag behind the line. |
| Blocking, screening and contact | No blocking or screening. No holding the ball carrier or running through them. | No blocking or screening: 10 yards and the down. The rulebook also explains shielding and aiming. | No blocking or screening: 10 yards and the down. The rulebook also explains shielding and aiming. |
| Pass interference | On the defense: the ball moves to where the foul happened, plus a first down. On the offense: 5 yards and the down. | On the defense: 10 yards from the line and a first down. On the offense: 10 yards and the down. | On the defense: 10 yards from the line and a first down. On the offense: 10 yards and the down. |
| Game length and clock | League: two halves of 15 to 25 minutes, set by the league. The clock stops only for injuries, halftime and timeouts. Each team gets one timeout per half, 60 seconds long. Play clock: 40 seconds. Tournament: two 12-minute halves on a running clock. Play clock: 25 seconds. Three 30-second timeouts a game. | League: two 20-minute halves. Play clock: 30 seconds. Each team gets 2 timeouts of 30 seconds per half. For 18 and over, stopping the clock in the last 2 minutes is suggested. Tournament: halves of 12, 15 or 20 minutes, by age. | League: two 20-minute halves. Play clock: 30 seconds. Each team gets 2 timeouts of 30 seconds per half. For 18 and over, stopping the clock in the last 2 minutes is suggested. Tournament: halves of 12, 15 or 20 minutes, by age. |
| Overtime | Played in rounds. Round 1: one play each. Go for 1 from the 5 or 2 from the 10. Round 2: you must go for 2. Round 3 on: one play from your own 5, and most yards wins. An interception return is worth 2 and ends round 1 or 2. | League: each team gets a drive from midfield. Then come 1-point tries from the 5. Tournament: one play each. Go for 1 from the 5 or 2 from the 10. | League: each team gets a drive from midfield. Then come 1-point tries from the 5. Tournament: one play each. Go for 1 from the 5 or 2 from the 10. |
| Mercy rule | League: the game ends at a 35-point lead. Tournament: 28. | The game ends at a 30-point lead, with no try. The league clock rule also says a 30-point lead means a running clock. | The game ends at a 30-point lead, with no try. The league clock rule also says a 30-point lead means a running clock. |
Scroll the table sideways for every rulebook. Each citation jumps to its source below.
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 · 0:33Creating a gameOpponent, stat level, details
- BreakAway U lesson · 0:31Turning it over on downsShort on 4th? It flips
- BreakAway U guideHow to stat a flag football game
Who it's for
- Leagues & Tournaments: Run the event on one system
In the glossary
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.
No. NFL FLAG ends a league game at a 35-point lead and a tournament game at 28. USA Flag ends the game at 30.
Related rules
- 5v5 vs 7v7 flag football: the rules that change
- High school vs NFL FLAG: what changes
- IFAF vs NFL FLAG rules: what's different
- 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.
- USA Flag 7's Rulebookv2026.2. Free from the publisher.
Sources cited on this page
- NFL FLAG Official Playing Rules (NFL FLAG, Revised March 24, 2025)
- NFL FLAG Flag Football Rules (NFL FLAG rules page, Web page, as of October 6, 2026)
- USA Flag 5's Rulebook (USA Flag 5's, v2026.2)
- USA Flag 7's Rulebook (USA Flag 7's, v2026.2)
- NFL FLAG Important Rule Changes (NFL FLAG changes, Effective fall 2024 league and tournament seasons)