Player safety
Play smart. Speak up. Take care of each other.
The rules prohibit tackling and blocking, but flag football is still an athletic game with running, cutting, jumping, falls, fast-moving players, and occasional contact. Good rules, attentive adults, properly fitted equipment, and players who report symptoms early all help reduce risk.
Required gear
Mouthguard on every play
A player without a properly fitted mouthguard may not enter the game.
When something feels wrong
Stop and tell an adult
Players should report pain, dizziness, confusion, vision changes, breathing trouble, or simply not feeling right.
Possible concussion
No same-day return
When concussion is suspected, the player is finished for the day and needs appropriate medical clearance before returning later.
What the risks look like in plain language
Players accelerate, stop, change direction, reach for flags and passes, and share space with teammates and opponents. They can slip, fall, collide, be struck by the ball or another player, or be affected by heat, weather, exertion, equipment, or field conditions. Possible injuries range from bruises, strains, and sprains to broken bones, dental or eye injuries, concussion, other head or neck injuries, allergic reactions, heat illness, and other serious medical events.
The rules prohibit tackling, blocking, screens, stripping, and intentionally dangerous contact. Those rules reduce avoidable contact; they cannot make any sport risk-free. Players must follow official instructions, use safe technique, and tell an adult promptly about an injury or symptom rather than trying to play through it.
If a player appears hurt or ill, game staff may keep the player out when continued play appears unsafe. Personnel may provide reasonable assistance only within their actual training and may call 911 or emergency medical services when appropriate. GPFF will try to reach the parent and listed emergency contact, but urgent care will not be delayed while someone is being reached.
Recognize · remove · recover
A concussion does not always involve being knocked out
Symptoms can appear after a bump or jolt to the head—or a hit to the body—and may develop later. Headache, dizziness, nausea, balance trouble, confusion, slowed responses, unusual behavior, vision problems, light or noise sensitivity, or a player saying “I don’t feel right” should be taken seriously.
- 1. Remove now A player with a possible concussion stops immediately and does not return that day.
- 2. Watch and evaluate The family should follow CDC guidance and obtain evaluation from an appropriate healthcare professional.
- 3. Return gradually Later return requires written clearance from a licensed healthcare professional qualified to evaluate and manage concussion and completion of any required progression.
Get emergency help. Call 911 or go to an emergency department after a head or body impact for danger signs such as a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizure, slurred speech, weakness or poor coordination, one pupil larger than the other, increasing confusion or unusual behavior, or increasing drowsiness or inability to wake.
Protective gear
Mouthguards are the only player-supplied protective item GPFF currently requires. Eye protection and soft headgear are family choices, subject to fit, condition, and the referee’s safety review.
A properly fitted mouthguard
Every player must have a mouthguard in place before entering a play. A mouthguard helps reduce dental and oral injuries; it does not prevent concussion. Replace one that is damaged, loose, or no longer fits, and ask a dentist or orthodontist about the right design for braces.
American Dental Association mouthguard guidance →Sports eye protection
Secure sports eye guards are permitted but not required. Ordinary glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses are not protective sports eyewear. Families choosing eye protection should look for securely fitting sports goggles with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses. A child who needs prescription lenses or has an eye condition should ask an eye-care professional for guidance.
National Eye Institute sports-eye-safety guide →Soft flag-football headgear or head wraps
Properly fitted soft-shell headgear or a protective headband is permitted but not required. Laboratory-tested products differ in impact performance, and no headgear makes a player concussion-proof. It is an added layer only—not permission to initiate contact or ignore symptoms.
Independent flag-football headgear ratings →These educational links are not product endorsements. No protective product prevents every injury. Equipment must fit securely, remain in good condition, and contain no exposed metal, sharp edge, or other feature the referee considers dangerous. A referee may keep unsafe equipment off the field.
A simple game-day checklist
- Before leaving: confirm the player feels well enough to play and pack a fitted mouthguard and water.
- Health information: keep parent and emergency contacts current and give GPFF only the allergy, medication, restriction, or response information needed for game-day safety.
- Weather: dress for conditions, hydrate before and during activity, and speak up about dizziness, weakness, cramping, breathing difficulty, or overheating.
- At the field: report hazards, damaged gear, pain, head impacts, and unusual symptoms promptly to a coach, referee, or game staff member.
- After the game: continue watching for symptoms that can appear later and seek medical advice when something does not seem right.
Safe adults and communication
Adult-player interactions must be open and observable. Direct electronic communication with a player must include a parent or guardian or another authorized adult. Grooming, sexualized conduct, hazing, corporal punishment, abuse, inappropriate physical contact, and recording in restrooms, changing areas, treatment areas, or other private spaces are prohibited.
Call 911 for an immediate emergency. A concern about suspected child abuse or neglect may be reported directly to the Connecticut DCF Careline at 1-800-842-2288; no report to GPFF is required first.
Connecticut parent guidance →