FLAG fOOTBALL
WHAT IS FLAG FOOTBALL?
Flag football is the non-contact version of American Football. All players wear belts with flags attached at the hips. Instead of tackling, defenders pull one of the attacking player's flags to stop them. In this way, it is similar to rugby's ripper version, which many New Zealanders would be familiar with. Flag football has been played in the United States since as early as the 1920's, It was originally used to help full contact American Football players hone their skills during the off season.
With a lot of the structure, basic fundamentals and big plays, but with none of the big hits, flag football provides a safe, fun introduction for those looking to get into full contact American Football. However, it is also a great stand-alone game in it's own right, with a number of AFC's members primary focus being on the flag side of the sport. Globally, it is one of the fastest growing sports, with New Zealand seeing similar growth as the game continues to gain popularity here. Flag football is fast paced and easy to learn, but one of it's biggest appeals is the non-contact element, allowing anyone to be able to play. It doesn't matter if you are male or female, a youngster or someone getting on in years, everyone can enjoy this sport.
With a lot of the structure, basic fundamentals and big plays, but with none of the big hits, flag football provides a safe, fun introduction for those looking to get into full contact American Football. However, it is also a great stand-alone game in it's own right, with a number of AFC's members primary focus being on the flag side of the sport. Globally, it is one of the fastest growing sports, with New Zealand seeing similar growth as the game continues to gain popularity here. Flag football is fast paced and easy to learn, but one of it's biggest appeals is the non-contact element, allowing anyone to be able to play. It doesn't matter if you are male or female, a youngster or someone getting on in years, everyone can enjoy this sport.
AFC FLAG COMPETITIONS
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AFC runs a number of flag football competitions, catering to most age groups. All of our competitions are 5-a-side and follow similar rules (with a few slight modifications for our Junior competition).
The Extrastaff Senior Flag competition is held at North Hagley Park (near Carlton Corner) during the summer months from January through to early March. The competition is open to both men and women (15 years and over), with mixed teams welcome. The competition runs for 5-6 weeks and games are played on Saturday mornings. The Youth Flag Football Championship is for 14 to 17 year olds and is played as part of AFC's Youth programme (which also includes a full contact football competition). The flag component of the programme runs for 5 weeks and takes place at Marshland Domain on Friday nights during October. For more information on our Youth programme, click here. Our Junior programme provides flag football for boys and girls aged 10 to 14. The Canterbury Junior Flag Football Championship is played at Marshland Domain on Friday nights between January and March and runs for 7 weeks. For more information on our Junior programme, click here. |
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CLUB REPRESENTATIVE FLAG
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AFC is renowned for producing some of the best flag football players in New Zealand, so for those looking for player pathways, higher honours in flag football are possible. Each year, AFC select both a Senior Mens Flag and a Youth Flag representative side. These sides are known as the Canterbury Panthers. Selection in these teams is based on performance in AFC's local flag competitions.
Annually, various inter-club flag football tournaments are staged across the country, but by far the biggest tournament is at the end of the season, when the New Zealand Flag Football Championships are held. AFC has been sending a Senior Mens team to Nationals since 2020, achieving some good results, finishing runners up in both 2022 and 2023. The Canterbury Youth team made a successful debut in 2023, taking out the national title and then defended their title in 2024. |
NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVE FLAG
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Flag football also offers a pathway to represent New Zealand as well. The New Zealand Mako are the men's national flag football team and the Aotearoa Flag Ferns are the women's national side.
The best flag football players in New Zealand are invited to be a part of the men's or women's High Performance Unit (HPU). Selection to the HPU is based on performance at inter-club tournaments, trials and testing. From these HPU's, each national team is selected to travel and compete internationally at different tournaments, including the Flag Football World Championships. Flag Football is now also an Olympic Sport and will debut in Los Angeles in 2028. Over the years, we've been lucky enough to have many of our AFC Flag players selected to the national side, and currently have a few training as part of the HPU. AFC aims to continue this tradition by providing a clear pathway for young players to grow and develop in the sport, leading to representation at national level. |
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FLAG FOOTBALL RESOURCE CENTRE
For a quick tutorial on how to play flag football, click here to watch a short instructional video from USA Football.
AFC FLAG fOOTBALL RULES/GUIDE - PDF AVAILABLE
| flag_rule_book.pdf |
AFC SCHOOL ten Week UNIT PLAN FOR FLAG FOOTBALL - NZ Curriculum
| afc_flag_football_unit-compressed.pdf |
HISTORY OF FLAG FOOTBALL IN CANTERBURY
Flag football found its way to the University of Canterbury in 2008, via some students from Nelson. During the early days, various versions of the game were played, with the first organised competitions being held in 2010. In the following years, successive competitions were played annually as the game grew and new local teams were formed from outside the university. For more information on our history, click here.
UC Flag Football
Bowl Winners
-Pre AFC-
UC Bowl
(Championship Game)
2013
Hagley Gladiators beat Ilam Rebels
2012
Ilam Rebels beat UC Panthers
2011
UC Panthers beat Hagley Gladiators
2010
UC Apocolypto's beat UC Wolverines
Feel Good Bowl
(3rd vs 4th)
2013
UC Hawks beat UC Lions (Forfeit)
2012
Hagley Gladiators beat UC Rage
2011
Ilam Rebels beat UC Rampage
(Championship Game)
2013
Hagley Gladiators beat Ilam Rebels
2012
Ilam Rebels beat UC Panthers
2011
UC Panthers beat Hagley Gladiators
2010
UC Apocolypto's beat UC Wolverines
Feel Good Bowl
(3rd vs 4th)
2013
UC Hawks beat UC Lions (Forfeit)
2012
Hagley Gladiators beat UC Rage
2011
Ilam Rebels beat UC Rampage
