How to Become a Better Running Back in Flag

Flag football is a game that is just like regular tackle football, but without the tackling. Instead of tackling a person by physically bringing them down to the ground, defensive players "tackle" the ball carrier by grabbing one of the player's flags, which are placed near both hips. One rule ball carriers must mind is that they cannot flag-shield, where they use their own hands to keep the flags on their belt. Because of these different rules from regular tackle football, running backs in flag football should focus on a different set of skills to be better at the game.

Instructions

    • 1

      Learn to spin in a controlled way. Unlike tackle football where you can run over your opponents, flag football is a game based on agility and speed. In order to keep the defense from grabbing your flags, learn how to control spinning around when approaching defenders to give them a tougher angle to grab the flags.

    • 2

      Work on your hands. Much of the offense in flag football comes from the passing game because it catches the defense off guard, meaning that many running backs will be asked to catch balls out of the backfield. Making sure that you can catch balls is important to helping your team. In the same way, working on your hands in order to keep control of the ball and prevent fumbles while running is extremely important.

    • 3

      Learn blocking. Much of the running back's responsibility is making sure the quarterback is protected from the defense while he is setting up to pass. As such, when the running back does not have the ball, he often must stay in the pocket and block any defenders that are getting near the quarterback. Keeping a low center of gravity and using your hands to get in the way of the blocker is vital.

    • 4

      Practice your cutting abilities. Much like learning the spin move, learning how to cut back and forth in the open field is important in order to evade defenders and avoid having your flags pulled.

    • 5

      Improve your speed. The most important aspect of the flag football game is speed. By training on your sprints, you have a better chance at being quick enough to outrun the defense and become a dominant running back in your league.