The world of sports, as well as the ways in which we play are as vibrant, diverse and evolving as the stellar athletes that compete within them. This attitude of evolution and reinvention is most evident in the meteoric rise of flag football nationally and internationally as a recognized sport. Even the National Football League (NFL) has rallied its support behind flag football as a way to make football accessible regardless of age, size or gender, culminating in the launch of the NFL FLAG league in 1994. The NFL’s “Flag Football for All” article emphasizes how flag football is one of the world’s fastest growing sports, played in over 100 countries across spanning youth to adult and collegiate level leagues.

Flag football is in many ways more practical and inclusive, especially as a way to allow women to play football much more easily. It can be played in pretty much any environment with a decent amount of space, such a field or a gym. Due to its focus on non-contact and its cost-saving capabilities, it makes sense why schools and recreational leagues are finding ways to add flag football to their offerings.

How to Play Flag Football

Breaking down to basics, Flag football translates American Football into a non-contact form. Each team on the field has five players. Games have 15-to-25 minutes halves, depending on league. The clock keeps going except for injuries, halftime and timeouts. The team who wins the initial coin toss begins on its five-yard line and has four plays to get through midfield for a first down.

If after three tries the starting offense has not advanced past first down, they can punt or they can try once more for midfield. If at that point they still fail to cross, the opposing team wins possession from the spot of the ball. If the offense crosses midfield, they have three plays to make a touchdown. Scoring differs a bit from tackle football, in that a touchdown is six points, a safety is two and team can choose to try either a one-point conversion from the five-yard line or a two-point conversion from the 10-yard line after scoring a touchdown.

Life University Plants its Flag for Flag Football

Life University (Life U) is making history with forming one of the first collegiate Women’s Flag Football teams, as well as being the first to provide scholarships for the sport. Life U is currently being honored in the Chick-Fil-A Hall of Fame for these efforts in a table display highlighting emerging sports. The 2024 Inaugural team is coached by Head Coach Zach Desmarais. Desmarais is a familiar face in the flag football community, inducted into the NIRSA Flag Football Hall of Fame, a 3x National Flag Football Champion, 2x National Flag Football MVP,  4x National Flag Football All-American, 4x Georgia State Flag Football Champion, and a 3x Georgia State Flag Football MVP, Desmarais is ready to use his extensive playing and coaching background to guide the inaugural flag football team at Life University.

So far the 2024 inaugural team has had its shares of wins and losses as they gain their footing in this fast-paced sport. The Life U Running Eagles are eager to welcome them into the fold and help them emerge confident and victorious.