Flag football rules change often and vary by state, league, conference, and tournament. This guide summarizes the published rules each Blitz Board Stats preset is based on, shows what your state or league may change, and links to the official sources.
Rules at a glance
High school (NFHS)
- 7 players on the field. A team may continue with 5 only if it has no substitutes.
- Four 12-minute quarters. Some states play halves instead.
- 3 timeouts per half, starting in 2026-27.
- First downs are earned by reaching the next zone line, not by gaining 10 yards.
- Tries: 1 point from the 3-yard line or 2 points from the 10.
College (women's)
- 7 players on the field, 80 x 40 yard field.
- Four 12-minute quarters for NCAA programs. NAIA and NJCAA play four 15-minute quarters starting in 2026-27.
- The NCAA added women's flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026. The NCAA does not write the playing rules.
Youth (NFL FLAG)
- 5 players on the field.
- Possession starts at the offense's own 5. The offense has 4 downs to cross midfield, then 3 downs to score.
- Tries: 1 point from the 5 (pass only) or 2 points from the 10 (run or pass). A defensive return of a try is worth 2 points.
- Mercy rule: the game ends at a 35-point lead in league play or 28 in tournament play.
What your state or league may change
These settings are marked "Varies by competition" in the app:
- Field layout (NFHS allows four official layouts)
- Quarters or halves, and halftime length
- Overtime procedure
- Kicked tries and field goals
Available presets
Field sizes are goal line to goal line, plus the end zones listed.
| Preset | Players on the field | Game length | Field | Overtime | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school (NFHS) | 7 | Four 12-minute quarters. Some states use halves | Default: 80 x 40 yards plus two 10-yard end zones. Your state may use another official NFHS layout | Set by your state association | NFHS Flag Football Rules Book, 2026-27 |
| College (women's) | 7 | Four 12-minute quarters. NAIA/NJCAA: four 15-minute quarters starting 2026-27 | 80 x 40 yards plus two 10-yard end zones | Varies by competition. Confirm with your conference | 2026 Collegiate Women's Flag Football Rules (RCX Sports); NAIA/NJCAA Collegiate Flag Football Rules Book |
| NFL FLAG (league) | 5 | Two 24-minute halves | 50 x 25 yards plus two 10-yard end zones | Check with your league | NFL FLAG Official Playing Rules |
| NFL FLAG (tournament) | 5 | Two 12-minute halves | 50 x 25 yards plus two 10-yard end zones | Extra-point rounds, then a yardage tiebreaker, until there is a winner | NFL FLAG Official Playing Rules |
| Custom | You choose | You choose | You choose | You choose | Your league or tournament rules |
Find your official rules
- High school: NFHS flag football rules and your state association's adoptions
- College: 2026 Collegiate Women's Flag Football Rules and the NAIA/NJCAA rules book
- Youth: nflflag.com
Before game day
- Your rules come first. If your state, league, conference, or tournament uses different rules, those rules apply.
- Confirm before kickoff. Coaches and organizers are responsible for checking settings against their official rules.
- Field size locks once the game starts. This keeps field position and yardage accurate.
Report an outdated rule
If a preset does not match current rules, email ops@blitzboardstats.com with:
- The preset name (for example, High school or College)
- The setting that looks out of date
- The correct rule, with a link to or copy of the official source
- Your state, league, conference, or tournament, if the rule is specific to it
We check every report against the official source. If confirmed, we update the preset and the "Last reviewed" date. Games already played keep the settings they were played under, so past stats stay accurate.
Disclaimer
Presets are provided for convenience. They are not official rulebooks and may not reflect the most current rules or the rules of your competition. Blitz Board Stats is not responsible for game outcomes, eligibility decisions, or disputes resulting from preset settings.
Blitz Board Stats is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the NFHS, the NFL, NFL FLAG, RCX Sports, the NCAA, the NAIA, the NJCAA, or any state association. Rulebook names are used only to identify which rules a preset is based on.