Flag Football Glossary: Every Term Coaches and Players Should Know
A comprehensive alphabetical glossary of flag football terms covering offensive, defensive, and game-management vocabulary.
The Language of Flag Football
Whether you are a first-year coach or a player learning the playbook, this glossary covers the essential terms you will encounter on the field and in stat sheets.
A-D
Audible — A play call change made by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage after reading the defense.
Blitz — A defensive strategy sending additional rushers beyond the standard rush.
Bump-and-run — Brief legal contact with a receiver at the line before transitioning to coverage (not allowed in all rule sets).
Completion percentage — Completed passes divided by total attempts, expressed as a percentage.
Dead ball — Stoppage of play — flag pulled, out of bounds, incomplete pass, or whistle.
E-H
End zone — The scoring area at each end of the field.
Flag guarding — Illegally using hand, arm, or ball to prevent a flag pull. Dead ball at the spot.
Hot route — A pre-designated quick route triggered by a defensive blitz.
I-N
Interception — A pass caught by a defensive player.
Lateral — A backward or sideways pass, throwable by any player from anywhere.
Man coverage — Each defender covers a specific offensive player.
No-run zone — Areas where the offense must pass; running is not permitted.
O-R
Option route — A route where the receiver chooses direction based on defensive leverage.
Passer rating — A composite statistic evaluating QB performance based on completions, yards, TDs, and INTs.
Rush count — The seconds a rusher must wait before crossing the line of scrimmage.
S-Z
Sack — Pulling the QB's flag behind the line of scrimmage before the throw.
Touchback — Ball placed at a predetermined spot after certain changes of possession.
Vert — A straight-downfield route; also called a go or fly route.
West Coast offense — Philosophy emphasizing short, high-percentage passes — especially effective in flag football.
Yards after catch (YAC) — Yards gained after catching the ball before the flag is pulled. A critical stat in flag football where open-field elusiveness is paramount.
Zone coverage — Defenders guard areas of the field rather than specific players.