Flag Football Study Guide - Catherine M. McGee Middle School ...

McGee Middle SchoolPhysical EducationFlag Football Study GuideHISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL• The game of American football has been played since the mid-1800's. The first College game occurredbetween Princeton and Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869. And the professional game has been played in someform since 1895.• The game of Touch and Flag Football has been around nearly as long as tackle football. The firstremembrance of organized Touch and Tail Football being played was in the 1930's. Flag football wasdeveloped on military bases in the early 1940's as a recreational sport for military personal.• Recreationalleaguessoondevelopedinthelate40'searly50's.Theywerepatternedaroundthesoftballleagueformatandthegameweknowandlovetodaywasborn.Asafreshmanin1973atWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louis,Iwasintroducedtotouchandflagfootball.AtthattimeSt.Louisalreadyenjoyedalonghistoryoforganizedleagueplay.St.Louisisthebirthplaceofthefirstnationalflagfootballorganization‐theNationalTouchFootballLeague.Itwasformedinthe1960'sandhasplayedanationalchampionshipgamesince1971.Italsoproducedthefirststandardizerulebookandit'sHallofFameforflagfootballplayershasbeenadoptedbuyothernationalorganizations.SCORING• Touchdown – 6 Points• Point After Try (PAT) – 1 Point• Two Point Conversion – 2 Points• Safety – 2 Points• Field Goal – 3 PointsCLASSROOM RULES• Extra Point – Player attempts to hit the basketball backboard with a pass from the center circle.• Two Point Conversion – Player attempts to make a basketball with the football by throwing the ballfrom the center circle.• Every player must take a turn at center and wide receiver.• A player must count to five Mississippi in order to go after the quarterback.• Both flags must be worn at your sides with your shirt tucked underneath.• Only one flag has to be pulled off to be considered downed.KEY TERMS• DOWN: One possession – One “try”• RUNNING BACK: A player that normally runs with the ball.• RECEIVER: A player who normally catches the ball.• QUARTERBACK: A player who normally throws the ball.• CENTER: A player who normally hikes/snaps the ball.• LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: This is an imaginary line on the field where the ball starts.• OFFSIDE: Movement or contact across the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Five yardpenalty.• COMPLEDED PASS: When a receiver catches a pass intended for them.• FUMBLE: The loss of control of the ball during possession.• INCOMPLETE PASS: When the receiver fails to catch the ball that was intended for them.• INTERCEPTION: When a defensive player catches any kind of pass that was intended for anoffensive player.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PASSING THE FOOTBALL:• Tryhavingaverylightgrip,asgrippingtoohardwillcausedecreasedballcontrolandcanaffecttherelease.• Holdtheballupnearyourrightearifyou'reright‐handed,orleftearifyou'releft‐handed.• Keepyoureyesonthetarget,yourshouldersclosetoparalleltotheintendedtargetandyourpivot/plantfootpointingnearlyatthetargetyouintendtothrowto.• Makethethrowingmotioncircular,aboutahalfcirclefromtoptofinish;thinkofcentripetaleffect,withthereleasebeingatthetopofthearc.• Shiftyourweightnearlyevenlyatrelease.• Usetherotationofyourshoulderstimedwellwiththethrowingmotionofyourarmtogeneratethetorqueneededtoachievemaximumvelocityonyourthrows.• Findyourreleasepoint.• Practicethrowingwith50%orlesseffort‐thereleaseisveryimportant.FUNDAMENTALS OF CATCHING THE FOOTBALL:• Keep your eyes on the ball at all times.• Extend your arms toward the ball, as the ball approaches, so your hands meet it at the furthest possiblepoint.• Make a triangle with both hands, palms facing away from your body.• Catch the ball, letting it get about halfway between your hands before clamping down on it with all yourfingers.• Proceed to tuck the ball away, under your arm on the opposite side of any defenders.• Now that the ball is caught, run with it (football game), throw it back (playing catch), or whatever thegame you're playing requires you to do.• Make sure that you see in your mind catching the pass.FUNDAMENTALS OF HIKING THE FOOTBALL:• Placeyourhandstogether,withthebottomofyourpalmstouchingeachother.youshoulduseconsiderablepressurewhenpushingyourpalmstogether.• Chooseyourtophand.Thisshouldbeyourthrowinghand.• Moveyourthumbstogethersoyourthumbknucklesaretouching.Now,moveyourtopthumbdownsothatthetoppartofyourthumb(withonewiththefingernailonit)isbetweenthetwoknucklesonyourbottomthumb.Thisistohelpgetyourhandsclosertogether,andhelpsalotingettingthesnap.• Holdyourhandsinthisposition(itshouldlookalittlelikeanopenclamonitsside)whileplacingthemunderthecenter'sbutt.Yourtophandshouldbepositionedprettyfarunderneaththecenter,butnottoofar.Youshouldfindapositionyouandyourcenterfeelmostcomfortablewith.Bendingyourkneesalsohelpstogetthesnap.• Spreadyourhandsapartwhilemaintainingcontactatthebottomofyourpalmsandatyourthumbs(asexplainedinstep3).• Pushupfirmlywithyour'bottomhand'whilemakingsureyourhandsarestillspreadenoughtogettheball.Makingsuretopushupwithyourbottomhandandnotyourtophandisthemostimportantpartofgettingthesnap.• Calloutyoursnapcountloudlyandclearly,andbereadytogetthesnaponthe'h'ofyourfinal'hut'.• ORyoucanputyourpalmstogether(don'tleavespacebetweenthemoritmightbounceofforgothroughyourhands)• Putagoodamountofpressurebythetipofthecenter'scupsoheknowswhereyourhandsare