NFHS Committee Sets High School Flag Football Rules

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is releasing an official flag football rule book this May.

The NFHS Flag Football Rules Committee gathered in January to develop guidelines, a first for the fastest-growing high school sport.

Tyler Cerimeli, director of athletics and officials with the Arizona Interscholastic Association, chaired the 11-member committee. Bob Colgate, NFHS director of sports and sports medicine and editor of the NFHS Flag Football Rules Book, was also on board.

“The committee reviewed various other rules codes in place for flag football, including rules currently used in several state associations,” Colgate said. “After much discussion, while the committee decided to use some parts of other rules codes to develop the first NFHS Flag Football Rules Book, the group wanted to develop rules that best fit our game at the high school level.”

The committee used the NFHS Football Rules Book for reference based on what is relevant to flag football. The members then added specific elements for the sport, leaving out sections that do not pertain.

The FHS Flag Football Rules Book is for both boys and girls who compete in flag football. With the growing amount of females entering the sport, the committee felt an urgent need to establish national playing rules.

The number of girls playing flag football has more than doubled from 2022-23 to 2023-24.

“The NFHS is excited about this new sports opportunity – particularly for girls,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS. “Flag is a sport of inclusivity. “The popularity of flag football – for boys and girls – has been growing at the youth levels for the past 10 years. In 2023, about 500,000 girls ages 6-17 played flag football – a 63 percent increase since 2019. At a higher level of competition, more universities are beginning to offer flag football for girls, which will certainly enhance the appeal for girls playing the sport at the high school level.”

There are currently 14 state associations that have sanctioned girls’ flag football teams, and 18 states with independent programs. Among the NFHS-sanctioned teams include the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The NFHS Football Rules Book features two key elements, the number of players on a team and the size of the field. The rules are based on 7-on-7 games and provide options for field size.

“The committee feels strongly that 7-on-7 is the most appropriate starting point for high school flag football while acknowledging the potential for 5-on-5 modifications to be considered in the future,” Cerimeli said. “Flag football is seeing tremendous and rapid growth across the country.  The committee has created a rules book that we believe will foster that growth and is reflective of the specific needs of high school flag football.”

Flag football is the 18th sport the NFHS has written national rules for. The print and digital versions of the flag football rule book will be released in May 2025.