Pass interference in flag football
Yes, it is a foul in every rulebook here. The penalty changes by rulebook. Defensive pass interference gives an automatic first down in NFL FLAG, USA Flag, IFAF and college. High school makes it 10 yards with no automatic first down.
SoCal Fire Elite 7, Lakeview Lady Hawks 61st half2nd & 20 to midfieldBall on own 5
Example: NFL FLAG 5v5, girls' youth, NFL FLAG tournament
SoCal Fire Elite had 2nd down at its own 5, up 7-6. The defense was flagged for pass interference.
In NFL FLAG, the ball goes to the spot of the foul with an automatic first down. That moved SoCal 15 yards, to its own 20.
Watch: Logging a penalty (0:32)LC Legends 0, Harbor Point Mariners 7Q13rd & 4 (to the 20)Ball on own 16
Example: NFHS (girls' high school), high school (NFHS rules, treated as youth)
LC Legends had 3rd down at its own 16, needing 4 yards to reach the 20. The defense was called for pass interference.
In NFHS play, that is 10 yards with no automatic first down. Here the 10 yards carried them past the 20, so they got one anyway.
Watch: Logging a penalty (0:32)Kids bump into each other going for the ball. This rule teaches them to play the ball.
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
On the defense: the ball moves to where the foul happened, plus a first down. On the offense: 5 yards and the down.
NFL FLAG One-Way Field makes no change here.
USA Flag 5's
5v5 · Leagues and tournaments, all ages
On the defense: 10 yards from the line and a first down. On the offense: 10 yards and the down.
USA Flag 7's
7v7 · Leagues and tournaments, all ages
On the defense: 10 yards from the line and a first down. On the offense: 10 yards and the down.
NFHS (girls' high school)
7v7 · Sanctioned high school
10 yards. No automatic first down. Most big defensive fouls give one, but not this one.
Illinois (IHSA) makes no change here.
IFAF Flag Football
5v5 · International play
10 yards either way. Yards are marked off from the basic spot, the place the rules set for that kind of play. On the offense, it also costs the down. On the defense, it also gives a first down. It is the defender's job to avoid the receiver.
College Flag Football
7v7 · College, including NAIA women's
On the defense: a first down. Under 10 yards past where the play started, the ball goes to the foul. Otherwise it is 10 yards. On the offense: 10 yards from where the play started.
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 · 0:32Logging a penaltyThrow the flag
- BreakAway U lesson · 0:37Flagging the last playAttach a flag to a play
- BreakAway U guideHow to stat a flag football game
Who it's for
- Coaches & Teams: Stat your own games, free
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.
Related rules
- Is flag football a contact sport? Blocking and contact rules
- What is flag guarding? The rule and the penalty
- How many players are on a flag football team?
- Rushing the passer: the rush line and the 7-second rule
- What is a no-run zone in flag football?
- Can you jump, dive or spin 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.
- USA Flag 7's Rulebookv2026.2. Free from the publisher.
- IFAF Flag Football Rules2023, effective May 1, 2023. Free from the publisher.
- 2025-26 and 2026-27 College Flag Football Rules2025-26 and 2026-27. Free from the publisher.
- Get the official NFHS rulebookThe NFHS Flag Football Rules Book is sold by NFHS. The cells here answer one question each in BreakAway's words; the book is the rule.
Sources cited on this page
- NFL FLAG Official Playing Rules (NFL FLAG, Revised March 24, 2025)
- USA Flag 5's Rulebook (USA Flag 5's, v2026.2)
- USA Flag 7's Rulebook (USA Flag 7's, v2026.2)
- NFHS Flag Football Rules Book (NFHS, 2026-27)
- IFAF Flag Football Rules (IFAF, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
- 2025-26 and 2026-27 College Flag Football Rules (College, 2025-26 and 2026-27)