The sport has a strong amateur following with several national and international competitions each year sponsored by various associations but is most popularly played in America where it was invented.

[1][2] The game began as a recreational sport created for American military personnel to help them stay fit but was designed in a way that would help prevent them from becoming injured during wartime.

[3] The first known recorded history of flag football can be traced to Fort Meade, Maryland, USA, which is now generally accepted as the sport's birthplace.

Traditional American football rules are often eliminated or modified to reflect the more recreational nature of the game, the desire to avoid physical contact and injury, and the generally smaller number of participating players per side.

[9] The ability or inability of the quarterback to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage (LOS) by running is another rule subject to variation by the league.

[14] On October 9, 2023, the LA organizing committee officially proposed the inclusion of flag football as an event.

[15][16][17][18] On October 16, 2023, flag football and the organizing committee's other proposals for temporary events were approved at the 141st IOC Session.

[27][28] In 2023, as part of a retooling of the Pro Bowl—the NFL's all-star event—into a series of skills competitions, culminating with three flag football games as the final events.

[citation needed] In May 2020, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), in partnership with the NFL, announced the addition of flag football as a varsity sport for female student-athletes.

[35] In May 2022, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced that it would sponsor flag football as an emerging women's sport, starting in 2023.

[36][37] In June 2023, the Atlantic East Conference of NCAA Division III announced five of its seven member institutions would independently sponsor women's flag football in the spring of 2025, with support from the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles.

[38] In July 2024, Conference Carolinas of NCAA Division II announced that six of its 16 member schools would sponsor women's flag football, starting in the spring of 2026.

The Canadian Flag Football National Championships (FFNC) was established in 2007 to provide athletes with the opportunity to develop their skills and compete in national team competitions and eventually the Canadian Flag Football League (CFFL) which was established in 2019.

There are two main organizations: The adult-only Outlaw Flag League,[42] which run Tournaments from March to October, culminating in playoff and championships.