If you are a first year coach of a flag football team you will need a flag football playbook that is appropriate for both the age level and the number of players you are coaching. Most youth flag football teams have more players on the field the younger the kids are. As the kids get older and advance into middle and high school flag football becomes much more “wide open” of a game and there are usually fewer players on the field.
It is the norm that for player starting out from the ages 4-10 (grammar and grade school) that the number of players allowed on the field at one time, per team, will be between 7 or 8. Once the players reach middle school you can expect to see the number of players on the field to drop to 5 or 6. In high school and above it is becoming more common to see 4 man flag football teams.
It goes without saying that the game is much different depending on how many players are allowed on the field at a time. The rules are very different where in the 4,5 and even some six man leagues EVERY player is an eligible receiver or ball carrier. Your playbook needs to be specific to your rules and it starts with the number of players on the field for each team.
The 4 man Flag Football Playbook and 5 Man Flag Football Playbook available on this site are written where every player is an eligible receiver and ball carrier. The 6 man Flag Football Playbook, 7 Man Flag Football Playbook and 8 Man Flag Football Playbooks available are standard football with only limited eligible receiver and ball carriers.
Take time and make sure you get the correct playbook and you job will become much easier.
