The best from the NFC and AFC play the Pro Bowl winner in flag football. But what are the rules, number of players and field size in the non-contact style of football?

Back to Roots is the name of the game for the NFL’s elite. The Pro Bowl Games pit the best of the AFC and NFC against each other in flag football.

But how does the non-contact game that introduces kids to football differ from the contact or collision sport of American football?

An overview of the rules as played in the Pro Bowl Games

Playing Field

• length 50 yards

• two end zones of 10 yards each

• No Run Zone between the 5-yard line and the goalline

• The only first down is at the centre line

Playtime

• 20 minutes – divided into 2x 10 minutes

• 2 minute warning before half-time break and end of game

• Each team has two time-outs of 30 seconds each

• Continuously running clock that stops only in the last two minutes of each half – and a score

• 25 second play clock

Score

• 7 vs 7 + one centre each

• 27 players from the complete squad of each Conference participate

• Offensive linemen – with the exception of the centres – are not used, the same applies to defensive linemen, long snappers, punters and kickers

Squad AFC

• QB Derek Carr (LV), Trevor Lawrence (JAX), Tyler Huntley (BAL)

• RB Nick Chubb (CLE), Josh Jacobs (LV), Derrick Henry (TEN)

• WR Davante Adams (LV), Stefon Diggs (BUF), Tyreek Hill (MIA), Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)

• TE Mark Andrews (BAL), Dawson Knox (BUF)

• FB Patrick Ricard (BAL)

• OLB Matthew Judon (NE), Matt Milano (BUF), Bradley Chubb (MIA)

• ILB C.J. Mosley (NYJ), Roquan Smith (BAL)

• CB Pat Surtain II (DEN), Sauce Gardner (NYJ), Xavien Howard (MIA), Marlon Humphrey (BAL)

• S Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT), Derwin James (LAC), Jordan Poyer (BUF)

• RS Jamal Agnew (JAX)

• ST Justin Hardee (NYJ)

• C Ben Jones (TEN), Mitch Morse (BUF)

Cadre NFC

• QB Kirk Cousins (MIN), Geno Smith (SEA), Jared Goff (DET)

• RB Dalvin Cook (MIN), Saquon Barkley (NYG), Christian McCaffrey (SF)

• WR Terry McLaurin (WAS), Justin Jefferson (MIN), CeeDee Lamb (DAL), Amon-Ra St Brown (DET)

• TE T.J. Hockenson (MIN), George Kittle (SF)

• FB Kyle Juszczyk (SF)

• OLB Micah Parsons (DAL), Danielle Hunter (MIN), Za’Darius Smith (MIN)

• ILB Demario Davis (NO), Fred Warner (SF)

• CB Jaire Alexander (GB), Jalen Ramsey (LAR), Trevon Diggs (DAL), Tariq Woolen (SEA)

• S Quandre Diggs (SEA), Talanoa Hufanga (SF), Budda Baker (AZ)

• RS KaVontae Turpin (DAL)

• ST Jeremy Reaves (WAS)

• C Frank Ragnow (DET), Tyler Biadasz (DAL)

Gameplay

• At the start of the game, as well as after halftime and each score, the ball shall be placed at the 5-yard line

• The team on offence now has four attempts to reach the first down line to gain at the halfway line

• If it succeeds, it has four more attempts to reach the end zone

• Tackles do not occur – a play ends when the flag is ripped from the belt

• The flag must not be covered, must always be within reach of the defender

Distribution of points

• A touchdown scores six points

• 1 Point Conversion: at the 5-yard line

• 2 Point Conversion: at the 10-yard line

• Safeties and conversions carried back for 2 points

A selection of rules

• All passes must be thrown forward and cross the line of scrimmage

• The quarterback may not run with the ball unless it has been handed to him after the snap

• The play is over when the ball touches the ground, the offensive player’s flag is ripped from his belt, the player in possession of the ball steps out of bounds, or the ball carrier touches the ground with any part of his body

Penalties

• As in contact football, there are numerous penalties such as pass interference, holding, offside and the like. In addition, there are flag football specific ones like:

• Flag guarding: The ball-carrying player prevents the defender from ripping off his flag

• Stripping: The defender knocks the ball out of the hand of the ball-carrying player – he has to tear off his flag to stop him

• Illegal Flag Pull: The defender rips the flag off the opponent before the attacker has control of the ball