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Here's what to know to prepare for this season of flag football

nick butler, cherry hill courier-post
·4 min read

It’s football season again.

Flag football, that is, and as the West Jersey Football League moves into its second season of girls flag football, the sport continues to expand.

Two dozen teams will now play in the league and organizers hope the NJSIAA will eventually welcome it as a sanctioned sport at all public high schools. (The sport is in pilot status for at least the next two seasons.)

Flag football is very similar to standard American football with some variations in the rules — no tackling is the obvious one — but still just as demanding. The NJSIAA classifies it a strenuous sport.

So, here’s what you need to know about girls

flag football to make the most of the upcoming season:

Kingsway's Katelyn Mason runs the ball during a girls flag football game between Kingsway and Hammonton played at Hammonton High School on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
Kingsway's Katelyn Mason runs the ball during a girls flag football game between Kingsway and Hammonton played at Hammonton High School on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Girls flag football teams in South Jersey

The league had 14 teams competing last season. This spring, about a doze more have joined the ranks.

The teams in the league now are:

  • Kingsway

  • Cedar Creek

  • Hammonton

  • Washington Township

  • Camden

  • Absegami

  • Mainland

  • Timber Creek

  • Eastside

  • Oakcrest

  • Egg Harbor Township

  • Pennsauken

  • New Egypt

  • Millville

  • Ocean City

  • Woodbury

  • Willingboro

  • Middle Township

  • Delsea

  • Collingswood

  • KIPP Norcross

  • Cape May Tech

  • Pleasantville

  • Cherry Hill West

  • Ewing

  • Mastery Charter, last season’s champion

How is flag football played?

There are plenty of differences between flag football and regular tackle football. Here are some of the differences and distinctions:

  • There are seven players on the field instead of eleven.

  • There is no tackling. Instead, players must remove the ball carrier’s flags to end a play.

  • The game is played in two 24-minute halves.

  • After a touchdown, teams have the options to go for 1, 2 or 3 points, each by moving the ball into the end zone again. One point is earned by scoring from the 3-yard line; two-point attempts start at the 10-yard line; and three-point attempts are made from the 20-yard line.

  • Fields can be as small as 40 yards not including the end zones.

  • The clock runs for the first 23 minutes of the half unless there is a timeout. The clock will stop in the final minute of each half for a variety of reasons including a score, incomplete pass, out-of-bounds call, first downs, change of possessions and more.

  • Quarterbacks will always receive the ball in shotgun formation.

  • There is no diving for extra yardage pickups.

  • There is no such thing as an ineligible player downfield.

  • There are no fumbles.

  • Quarterbacks cannot throw the ball out of bounds to save yardage to avoid a sack.

  • Teams have to say if they are punting the ball. During the punt, teams cannot move until the kick is away. The ball becomes dead if it hits the ground.

When will flag football be a full sport?

"The plan is to become an NJSIAA sport as a pilot in 2025 and sanctioned sport in 2026. As far as the NCAA, I am not sure at this point, but it is a start with the NJSIAA adding it" said June Cioffi, Athletic Director of Kingsway Regional High School.

Flag football is growing in popularity across the country and high school sanctioning could open up college opportunities for players. The NFL recently made their annual Pro Bowl game a flag football event and the sport will be in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"It is actually being played at the collegiate level (already albeit the NAIA and NJCAA levels) and only a matter of time before the notoriety follows along with it. We’ve all seen many talented female athletes in lots of sports and this one will be no different I expect as it continues to grow, we are going to see some big jumps fast for girls that perform at an extremely high level" said Cherry Hill West Head Coach Justin Arabia.

"Each school is treating it differently for this year. At Kingsway, we treat flag football as a sport as they practice every day just as our other spring sport and the expectations are the same for the girls" Cioffi said.

Cioffi's group aren't the only ones taking the time to prepare for games.

"We prepare as any team would prepare for a season and games we focus on individual skills and build upon them in a group setting. We watch film, run, catch, throw and work on flag pulling. We simplify and focus on the core fundamentals of the game but also address speed development, strength and agility within those components" said Arabia.

Do you have a news tip about flag football in South Jersey? Contact Nick Butler to share your story.

Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, the Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times covering community news in South Jersey. Have any tips or stories? Reach out to NButler@Gannett.com. Subscribe to stay in the loop

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: How to be a flag football fan in South Jersey