5 Tips to avoid Flag Football Injury

With the off-season injury to star wide receiver Steve Smith, in flag football I thought it would be perfect to write a post on injuries in Flag Football. Most flag football injuries occur for several reasons. One cause with any "weekend warrior" style sport is conditioning. Some type of pre-season conditioning program with a focus on strength and stretching should be under taken. It also should go without saying that if you have been a "couch potato" and now decide that you can get out there and compete, pay a visit to your local doctor.

We all can use a checkup before we hit the field. Another risk is the exposure-related injuries; Like extreme heat that can lead to heat exhaustion or worse heat stroke. Cold related injuries can bring forth the same conditions if you are layered up and not properly hydrated.

Flag-Football is not usually played as a contact sport, but there are leagues where light contact is encouraged and played out. So the more exposure to contact the risk of injury increases. I have witness some very severe hand, head, and knee injuries all from seven man no-contact leagues

So the following tips should help you with an injury-free season.

1. Participate in a pre-season strength and stretch program.

2. Pace yourself, if you have been in-active for a period of time, take your time.

3. Warm-up and stretch 30 minutes prior to game time.

4. Have the proper equipment, like a mouth guard to prevent oral injuries.

5. No shorts with pockets should be worn, shorts with pockets leads to broken fingers.

Bonus Tip - The field can also cause injury, check the field for any glass, divots, holes, or just trash period.

Have a Good Season

Run da Ball - The art of the run in flag football

Pass....Pass...Pass.....

Flag Football is all about the wide open, misdirection passing game. So line play can be downright boring and frustrating. This is because you cant use your hands to block. In seven man screen flag football the screen is just what it says, you screen your blocker with your feet. Eight and nine man football is a little different you are able to full extend your arms and block. So you would think that when playing seven man why would you run the ball. The answer is simple, in seven man all defenses are looking for the pass. Some good teams from the start of the game will place Linebackers and safeties directly in most passing lanes. The run will keep them guessing and thinking, and we all know once a defense starts to think and not react it increasing the chances of the offense. So you ask what is the art of the run?. Here you go

The first thing you want to do is get in a two point stance with your feet about shoulder width apart. Placement of the feet is important. Running to the outside to the right you want to place your right foot forward with your left slightly back. This will allow a good seal screen once the play starts to help the runner get a quick jump to the outside. Even two yards matter in Flag Football. If running to the outside then it is left foot forward and right foot back.

The trick to this is when the play starts you have to move with short quick steps and place yourself in front of the oncoming rusher. If you followed the above foot placement then you should be in a position to either bump or limit the penetration of the rusher. Once in front of the rusher use your leverage and weight to guide or turn the blocker in the direction you want. The key here is to keep a slight bend to your stance and move into the blocker.

The greatest thing about the run is this, once the play goes forward and you provide a good block and most times the run will catch the defense off guard. This will open up the next most under used play/weapon on any flag football team. That is the pitch. Always run behind the runner providing an outlet for the pitch. So you can see playing the blocking position is not that bad

Hall of Fame Flag Football

Funny segment from ESPN Mayne event on flag football featuring Jerry Rice. Very Funny enjoy.