Gear
Flag football equipment
Flag football needs very little: no pads, no helmet. Here is what you do need, and what to look for.
- Must-haves (NFL FLAG)
- Belt + mouthguard
- Cleats
- No exposed metal
- Pads, helmet
- Not needed
- The ball
- Sized by age
The flag belt and flags
The belt holds the flags, one on each hip (some leagues use three). The rules are strict because the whole game depends on them:
- NFL FLAG: official NFL FLAG belts and flags only, and the flags can't be the same color as the shorts.
- IFAF: a tightly fixed belt with pop-sockets and two identical flags, 15 to 16 inches long and about 2 inches wide, never covered by the uniform. Youth and junior games may use other flags if the national federation allows it.
- NFHS high school: two popper-style flags on a belt (per Connecticut's summary of the rules).
The ball: which size for which age
| Ball | Who uses it | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Mini (NFL FLAG, red) | Players 6 and under | The smallest |
| Pee Wee (NFL FLAG, blue) | Ages 6 to 9; NFL FLAG 8U and 10U Girls tournaments | Smaller than Junior |
| Junior | NFL FLAG: 9 and up. IFAF: under-13 games | 10.25–10.75 in, 11–12 oz (IFAF) |
| Youth | IFAF: women's games and under-16 | 10.5–11 in, 12–13 oz |
| Regular | IFAF: men's and mixed games | 11–11.5 in, 14–15 oz |
Mouthguard
Required at all times in NFL FLAG and in high school (NFHS). IFAF "strongly recommends" one and lets national federations require it. Illinois (IHSA) doesn't allow decorated mouthguards.
Shoes and cleats
- NFL FLAG: no cleats with exposed metal, ever; some fields ban cleats altogether.
- IFAF: no metal cleats and none longer than half an inch.
- NFHS: no metal cleats.
Molded rubber cleats or turf shoes are the usual choice.
What to wear
- Jerseys tucked in if they hang below the belt (NFL FLAG), so they never cover the flags.
- Shorts or pants without pockets (recommended in NFL FLAG, required by IFAF; NFHS also bans belt loops).
- Jewelry and hats off; headbands and beanies are fine (NFL FLAG).
Allowed, not required
NFL FLAG allows soft-shell helmets and halos, gloves, elbow and knee pads, and secured sunglasses; braces with exposed metal are banned. IFAF doesn't allow helmets or headwear.
For coaches
- Cones for the field, the no-run zones and the 7-yard rush line.
- Pinnies or two jersey colors.
- A stopwatch (or a count) for the 7 seconds.
- Wristband play cards for the quarterback.
Questions
Do you need cleats for flag football?
They aren't required, but molded or rubber cleats help on grass. NFL FLAG never allows exposed metal, and IFAF bans metal cleats and any longer than half an inch.
What size football is used in flag football?
In NFL FLAG: the Mini for 6 and under, the Pee Wee for ages 6 to 9, the Junior from 9. IFAF uses a junior ball under 13, a youth ball for women and under-16, and a regular ball for men.
Do you need a mouthguard for flag football?
In NFL FLAG and high school (NFHS), yes, always. IFAF strongly recommends one.
Can you wear gloves in flag football?
Yes. NFL FLAG allows gloves, as well as elbow and knee pads and soft-shell helmets.