As flag football continues to surge in popularity across the country, including recently being named as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, the NFHS Flag Football Rules Committee has met for the first time to address eight changes to the initial rules developed last year.
According to the NFHS, the most substantial change undertaken by the committee was to “allow the team trailing in score to keep possession of the ball following a try. If it so elects, the trailing team would take possession of the ball, fourth down at its own 20-yard line.”
This update to the rules is meant to mirror the play of tackle football, which allows the scoring team to attempt an onside kick.
“Following thorough experimentation in multiple states, the committee is excited to introduce flag football’s version of an onside kick,” said Tyler Cerimeli, chair of the NFHS Flag Football Rules Committee and director of athletics and officials for the Arizona Interscholastic Association. “This will allow a team that is trailing the opportunity to run a high-risk play in order to retain possession and facilitate a potential comeback.”
The following rules were also adjusted by the committee:
- Restarting the play following a safety
- New options for the size of the playing field
- The allowance of instant replay during postseason games
- The option to play seven-person flag football with as few as five players
- New definition for hurdling (an attempt by a player to hurdle with one or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent who is contacting the ground with no part of their body except one or both feet)
- Increasing the total number of charged time-outs per half from two to three
- Clarifying what cannot be done to the ball in player possession
According to the NFHS, 17 states currently sanction girls’ flag football and six additional states plan to vote on its inclusion in 2026.
