Football Skill Levels
What Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced mean in football.
Read all three and pick the one that fits you best. If you match one level well and the next only partly, pick the lower one. A team at the right level is more fun than one where you're stretched.
Note: Means flag football: non-contact, with flags pulled instead of tackling.
You're probably a Beginner if you…
- Are new to flag football, or have only thrown a ball around casually
- Catch easy passes but drop harder ones
- Are still learning to pull flags without grabbing the player, and to protect your own
- Are learning the rules: downs, no-run zones, rushing the quarterback
- Run toward the ball rather than a set route
You're probably Intermediate if you…
- Have played a season or more of flag or touch football
- Catch most catchable passes, including on the move
- Run basic routes (slants, outs, curls) when they're called
- Pull flags reliably, and keep your own most of the time
- If you play quarterback, throw a spiral accurately over short to medium distances
You're probably Advanced if you…
- Played high school, university or competitive flag or tackle football
- Run sharp routes and get open against tight coverage
- Read defences, and play zone or person-to-person coverage
- Change speed and direction quickly to avoid flag pulls
- If you play quarterback, read the defence and throw accurately downfield