Start here

The flag football field

Updated November 3, 2026 · 3 min read

A flag football field is much smaller than a tackle field. NFL FLAG and the Olympic (IFAF) game both use 25 yards by 70, end zones included: about a quarter of a tackle field. Here is every line on it and what it's for.

NFL FLAG: 25 × 70 yd
IFAF (Olympic): 25 × 70 yd
End zones: 10 yd deep
No-run zones: 5 yd each

The NFL FLAG field

NFL FLAG option A: 25 × 70 yards with two 10-yard end zones. Volt strips are the no-run zones: 5 yards before midfield and before each goal line. Numbers mark the 5 and the 10.

Goal lines 50 yards apart, midfield halfway between them.
Option B for smaller spaces: 25 × 64 yards with 7-yard end zones.
Drives start on the offense's own 5-yard line. Tries are snapped from the 5 (1 point, pass only) or the 10 (2 points).
Rushers start 7 yards from the ball; leagues often mark it with a cone.
6U to 8U leagues drop the no-run zones in regular-season play. NFL FLAG's own web page lists 30 × 70; the rulebook says 25.

The IFAF (Olympic) field

IFAF: a 50 × 25 yard field of play plus two 10-yard end zones. No-run zones only in front of each goal line.

The same overall size as NFL FLAG, 70 × 25 yards; with the safety area around it, the space is 76 × 31 yards.
Crossing the middle earns a new series of 4 downs.
The 1-point try is snapped at the 5, inside the no-run zone, so it has to be a pass.
IFAF's 7-on-7 game uses a 50 × 30 yard field; beach flag (4 on 4) uses 25 × 25 yards plus 10-yard end zones.

The high school (NFHS) field

One NFHS option, as Connecticut's summary describes it: 80 × 40 yards plus two 10-yard end zones. No no-run zones. States choose from several sizes.

NFHS lists field options of 120 × 240, 120 × 300 and 160 × 300 feet, each with two 30-foot end zones; for 2026–27 states may also adopt a smaller 300 × 160 foot option.
There are no no-run zones. Instead of a line to gain, teams reach a "zone to gain": the next 20- or 40-yard line.
States add exceptions: Washington, for example, plays on 50 × 30 yards.

Compared

	NFL FLAG	IFAF (Olympic)	NFHS high school
Overall size	25 × 70 yd (or 25 × 64)	25 × 70 yd	State option, e.g. 40 × 100 yd
Between the goal lines	50 yd	50 yd	40, 60 or 80 yd
End zones	10 yd (7 on the small field)	10 yd	10 yd (30 ft)
No-run zones	Before midfield and each goal line	Before each goal line	None
Rush line	7 yd off the ball	7 yd off the ball	None: 1 yd off the ball
Try spots	5 (1 pt) and 10 (2 pts)	5 (1 pt) and 10 (2 pts)	3 (1 pt) and 10 (2 pts)

Set up a field with cones

Pace out the length: 70 yards end to end (or what your space allows; younger kids often play on less).
Mark the corners and the two goal lines 10 yards in from each end.
Mark midfield, then the no-run zones: 5 yards before midfield on each side and 5 yards before each goal line.
Add cones at the 5 and the 10 on each end for the extra-point tries.
For practice, put a cone 7 yards off the ball so rushers learn where to start. See the Rush Lane drill.

Questions

How big is a flag football field?

In NFL FLAG and IFAF (Olympic) play, 25 yards wide and 70 yards long, including two 10-yard end zones. NFL FLAG also allows 25 × 64 with 7-yard end zones. High-school (NFHS) fields are bigger and the state picks the size.

How does it compare with a tackle football field?

A tackle field is 120 yards long (with end zones) and 53⅓ yards wide. A 25 × 70 flag field is a little more than a quarter of that, so leagues often fit several flag fields on one tackle or soccer field.

Where are the no-run zones?

In NFL FLAG, the 5 yards before midfield and the 5 yards before each goal line. IFAF only has the ones before the goal lines, and high-school NFHS rules have none.

Where do you kick off?

You don't. In NFL FLAG and IFAF there are no kickoffs: each drive starts on the offense's own 5-yard line.