There are more players in football than listed, however, we will mix flag football to fit our PE classes.
PART 1: Offensive Players
There are 11 players on offense at a time. Through a series of plays that involve passing and running the ball, they want to work their way down the field until they get into the end zone. The offense consists of:
Touchdown: a six-point score made by carrying or passing the ball into the end zone of the opposing side.
Fumble: when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (pulled flag) or scoring.
Interception: when a player on one team catches a ball from the quarterback instead of the intended receiver. When this is done, the player's team who had caught the ball, would get possession of it.
Down: The offensive team has 4 downs or plays to either score or gain 10 yards. ... If they don't gain 10 yards, after the fourth try, the opposing team gets possession of the football at the spot of the flag pulled. Each down is called by its name or number: First, second, third, and fourth down.
Flag Football Penalty Enforcement 5 YARD PENALTIES- The penalty is marked off 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and the down is repeated.
Offside (defensive), False Start (offense), both results in starting before the down is in play. Results in a dead ball and there should be no play. The penalty is marked off 5 yards from line of scrimmage and the down remains the same.
10 YARD PENALTIES- Offensive holding, Defensive holding, illegal blocking, illegal forward pass, pass interference (offensive or defensive), flag guarding, Tripping (defense) Stiff arming, lowering of shoulder, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct
** All of these penalties will be enforced from the spot of the foul and the down will be repeated.
PART 1: Offensive Players
There are 11 players on offense at a time. Through a series of plays that involve passing and running the ball, they want to work their way down the field until they get into the end zone. The offense consists of:
- Quarterback (QB) – The field general. He calls the plays, initiates action and handles the “snap.” He either hands the ball to the running back or passes the ball to a receiver. He may also run with the ball.
- Running Back (RB) – This player does it all. Lining up either behind or beside the quarterback, he runs, he catches, he blocks and he’ll even throw a pass from time to time.
- Offensive Line – There are five offensive linemen. In order from left to right, they are: the Left Tackle (LT), Left Guard (LG), Center (C), Right Guard (RG) and Right Tackle (RT). It is their job to either pass block for the QB so he has time to throw or run block for the RB or FB. Most of the time, with the exception of the Center “snapping” the ball to the QB, offensive linemen do not touch the ball.
- Wide Receivers (WR) – Wide receivers, for the most part, are known as pass catchers. They start the play split out wide from the rest of the formation, at or near the line of scrimmage and run pass routes awaiting a pass from the QB. On running plays, they will throw blocks and occasionally take a handoff.
- Tight End (TE) – This player is between a receiver and an offensive lineman. Generally, he lines up next to the LT or RT or he can “split out” like a wide receiver. His duties include blocking for both the quarterback and the running backs, but he can also run into the field and catch passes.
- PART 2: The Defensive Players
- Defensive Line – This is the first line of defense and consists of three or four players who line up opposite the offensive line. They are two Defensive Ends (DE) on either side and one or two Defensive Tackles (DT). Their job is to shed the blocks of the offensive linemen and pull flags of the ball carriers, usually running backs coming through the line or quarterbacks dropping back to pass.
- Linebacker (LB) – As the name implies, the Linebackers back the defensive line. Depending on the defensive alignment, there are usually three or four on the field. Outside linebackers (OLB) stand to the sides of the DEs and Inside linebackers (ILB) or middle linebackers (MLB) stand behind the DTs. LBs are usually responsible for shadowing RBs, TEs and sometimes WRs; rushing the passer; and pulling flags of ball carriers.
- Cornerback (CB) – Cornerbacks are usually the fastest player on the defense. They support the run, but spend most of their time covering wide receivers. This means they try to break up passes, pull flags of whoever catch passes, and try to intercept passes coming their way. There are usually two to four CBs on the field at a time.
- Safety (S) –They are usually responsible for covering TEs, RBs, and WRs and playing down the field but are often expected to come up in run support. The last line of the defense.
- Kicker (K) – The kicker is responsible for kickoffs and field goals.
- VOCABULARY
Touchdown: a six-point score made by carrying or passing the ball into the end zone of the opposing side.
Fumble: when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (pulled flag) or scoring.
Interception: when a player on one team catches a ball from the quarterback instead of the intended receiver. When this is done, the player's team who had caught the ball, would get possession of it.
Down: The offensive team has 4 downs or plays to either score or gain 10 yards. ... If they don't gain 10 yards, after the fourth try, the opposing team gets possession of the football at the spot of the flag pulled. Each down is called by its name or number: First, second, third, and fourth down.
Flag Football Penalty Enforcement 5 YARD PENALTIES- The penalty is marked off 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and the down is repeated.
Offside (defensive), False Start (offense), both results in starting before the down is in play. Results in a dead ball and there should be no play. The penalty is marked off 5 yards from line of scrimmage and the down remains the same.
10 YARD PENALTIES- Offensive holding, Defensive holding, illegal blocking, illegal forward pass, pass interference (offensive or defensive), flag guarding, Tripping (defense) Stiff arming, lowering of shoulder, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct
** All of these penalties will be enforced from the spot of the foul and the down will be repeated.