Flag Football Tips

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 - 10:00
Jason
Sr Marketing Manager

Football as a sport is vastly popular; that’s old news. It is an institution amongst not only Americans, but us Canucks as well. It’s an explosive sport that is so fun to watch and play, but it’s not just a bunch of people on a gridiron tossing around the pigskin. Football is a complex game; full of subtle rules and playing styles. With that in mind, it’s understandable that football can be intimidating for some, especially if you have not had much experience playing or watching the game.

At the CSSC, we realize that many of our players are new to the particular sport they are playing, and Flag Football is no exception. Yes, it’s different and simpler in comparison to traditional football, but it can still be difficult to just hop in the game without any experience or practice. With that in mind, we have developed a short but effective list of tips in the hopes of making Flag Football a little less intimidating for you first timers! Enjoy.

  • Fool Around: Early in the season, your team should experiment with various plays to see what works best. A few weeks into the season, determine what’s best for your team. Then concentrate on those plays throughout the rest of the season, which will serve you especially well once the league playoffs roll around for the coveted CSSC League Champ shirts!
     
  • Pulling the Flag: It might sound simple, but shifty opponents can often be difficult to catch. If you can get in front of the ball carrier, he or she will have to go around you, giving you more time to grab the flag. It’s also important not to stand flat-footed and wait for the ball carrier; meet them as early as possible to prevent them from building up too much momentum. Watch the hips of the ball carrier and not their feet or head. The hips will show which direction they’re heading, while other parts of the body might be used to fake you out in one direction or another. I guess you could say “the hips don’t lie!”
     
  • Catching a Pass – When catching a pass in flag football, it’s important to keep your eye on the ball at all times. As the ball heads in your direction, form a triangle with your hands using your index fingers and thumbs. Try to keep the ball away from your body while catching, and remember to tuck it close to your body after the catch to avoid fumbling.
     
  • Long Passes – While short passes are an effective way of moving down the field and demoralizing the opponent, long passes are also an excellent option on offense. Often, a series of short passing plays and rushes will cause the defense to be off-guard for the long bomb. Hail Mary!

So there you have it, a very short list of tips we hope will encourage you to play some Flag Football with us, or build your confidence. Laces Out!