1. A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.

2. Defenders can dive to pull flags, but cannot tackle, hold or run through the ball carrier when pulling flags. For the safety of the players, here is the clarification of the rule. If the defense is set then the ball carrier has the obligation to run around the defender. The defender however cannot try and impede the ball carrier by running at them and then blocking the ball carrier from moving by holding or extending their arms. The defender must only make an attempt to grab the flag. If they grab the player or grab the uniform of the player, the defender must first completely let go and then make an attempt to grab the flag.

3. If they grab the flag while holding onto the player or the players uniform then this will be called as holding against the defense.

4. It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball carrier’s possession at any time.

5. If a player’s flag inadvertently falls off during the play, the player is down immediately upon possession of the ball and the play ends.

6. A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in possession of the ball.

7. Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping the head, hand, arm or shoulder, or intentionally covering the flags with the football jersey.