Section 8: Safety Considerations
Flag Football is intentionally non-contact, which substantially reduces injury risk relative to tackle football. NFHS still requires: mandatory mouthguards (at most state-association levels), pre-participation physical examination, certified athletic trainer recommended on-site for varsity games, and AED availability at competition venues. Concussion protocol per NFHS Concussion Rule: any player exhibiting signs of concussion is removed from play and may not return without medical clearance. Flag-guarding penalties are designed to prevent unnecessary defender-offense collision during flag pulls. Heat acclimatization protocols per NFHS Heat Acclimatization Guidelines apply to August/September starts.