Skip to main content

Register for a BreakAway demo for your team or organization here

Book a Call
Get the App

What is a no-run zone in flag football?

A no-run zone is a part of the field where you have to pass. NFL FLAG has two in each drive: 5 yards before midfield and 5 yards before the goal line. USA Flag and IFAF have one, the 5 yards before the goal line.

Lakeview Lady Hawks 0, SoCal Fire Elite 71st half2nd & goalBall on opp 3

Example: NFL FLAG 5v5, girls' youth, NFL FLAG tournament

A 13-yard run put Lakeview 3 yards from the end zone, trailing 7-0. Inside the 5, NFL FLAG allows no running plays.

So Lakeview had to throw. After an incompletion, it scored on a 3-yard pass.

Watch how to stat it in the BreakAway app: Logging a rushWatch: Logging a rush (0:40)

Bay City Blaze 14, Northshore Storm 192nd half3rd & goalBall on opp 3

Example: IFAF Flag Football, unknown level (treated as youth)

Trailing 19-14, Bay City had 3rd down at the opponent's 3. In IFAF play, any snap on or inside the 5 must be a pass play.

Bay City threw for the touchdown and took a 20-19 lead.

Watch how to stat it in the BreakAway app: Logging a rushWatch: Logging a rush (0:40)

Near the goal line, you need a passing play ready. Plan it before game day.

Updated · cited to the official rulebooks · Compare every ruleset

By ruleset

What each rulebook says, in our words, with the rule to check it against. A blank cell says why it is blank.

  • NFL FLAG 5v5

    5v5 · Youth leagues and tournaments

    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.

    NFL FLAG §IV.1, 3; §X.5; §XVIII

    NFL FLAG One-Way Field makes no change here.

  • USA Flag 5's

    5v5 · Leagues and tournaments, all ages

    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.

    USA Flag 5's R1-7-1, R1-7-2, R4-2-3

  • USA Flag 7's

    7v7 · Leagues and tournaments, all ages

    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.

    USA Flag 7's R1-7-2, R4-2-3

  • NFHS (girls' high school)

    7v7 · Sanctioned high school

    Not checked yet. This rule is in a part of the 2026-27 NFHS book we have not read. The book's penalty list has no no-run foul.

    Illinois (IHSA) makes no change here.

  • IFAF Flag Football

    5v5 · International play

    The 5 yards in front of each goal line. If you snap on or inside the 5, you must throw a forward pass. Running there costs 5 yards and the down.

    IFAF R2-1-4; R7-1-3f

  • College Flag Football

    7v7 · College, including NAIA women's

    We found no no-run rule in this rulebook, so this is left blank.

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

Who it's for

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.

Stat it free in the appPrefer paper?Free stat sheet
iPhone

A completed pass, logged in seconds.

Questions.

Not that we found. The college rulebook has no no-run rule. The high school answer is in the card above.

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)

Your rules. All the stats.

Statting is free.

Stat it free in the appSee Stats