How to keep score in flag football
Keeping score in flag football is simple once you know what each play is worth and how downs move the ball. This guide covers the point values, how a possession works, who keeps score, and how to track it cleanly — whether you're using a scoresheet or an app.
- A touchdown is worth 6 points in most rule sets, including NFL FLAG.
- The extra-point try is usually 1 point from a shorter line or 2 from a longer line.
- A safety is worth 2 points.
- Track score, the current down, and the clock together — that's where paper gets hard.
- Your league's rulebook is the final word; point values and try distances vary.
What each play is worth
Most flag football leagues, including NFL FLAG, use these values. Always confirm against your own rulebook, since youth, 7v7, and adult leagues sometimes adjust them.
| Play | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Touchdown | 6 | Carry or catch the ball into the end zone. |
| Extra point (short) | 1 | Played from a closer line — the 5-yard line in NFL FLAG, where it must be a pass. |
| Extra point (long) | 2 | Played from a farther line — the 10-yard line in NFL FLAG, run or pass. |
| Safety | 2 | Ball-carrier is downed in their own end zone. Who gets the ball next varies by league. |
| Defensive try return | 2 | In some rule sets, the defense can return an intercepted extra-point try. |
How a possession works
Scoring follows possession, so it helps to know how the ball moves. In NFL FLAG, the offense starts at its own 5-yard line with four downs to cross midfield, then gets three downs to score. Cross the line and you keep the ball; come up short and it turns over. Other leagues change the number of downs, so check yours. NFL FLAG also ends a regular-season game when one team leads by 35 points (28 in tournaments) and records a forfeit as 35-0. See our flag football rules explained guide for downs, no-run zones, and rushing in detail.
Who keeps score
In rec games, the referee often keeps score along with the clock and downs. Larger games add a dedicated scorekeeper or a second official so no one person is tracking everything at once. Decide this before kickoff, and make sure both teams can see the running score to avoid disputes.
- NFL FLAG Official Playing Rules (PDF, revised March 2025) - the rulebook the NFL FLAG details in this guide come from.
- NFL FLAG rules overview - the official summary of field, downs, scoring, and timing.
NFL FLAG is one ruleset among many. School, church, intramural, adult, and 7v7 leagues often change these numbers, and your own league's rulebook always wins.
Paper vs. an app
A paper scoresheet — team names, a running total, and the period — is enough to record the final score. What paper can't do well is keep the down, the clock, the timeouts, and a play-by-play in sync at game speed. That's where mistakes and arguments creep in.
A purpose-built flag football scoreboard app handles all of it together: tap to score, the play log records what happened, and you can undo a mis-tap instantly. With ReadyRef, the running score is also shareable, so parents and fans can follow the game live from anywhere.
Common scorekeeping mistakes
- Forgetting the extra-point choice. A 1- and 2-point try aren't the same — log which one was attempted.
- Losing track of the down. The score is easy; the down is what gets missed mid-drive.
- No record to settle disputes. Without a play log, a contested score becomes one person's memory against another's.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a touchdown in flag football?
A touchdown is worth 6 points in most flag football rule sets, including NFL FLAG. After it, the scoring team attempts an extra point.
How do extra points work in flag football?
In NFL FLAG, the team declares its try: 1 point from the 5-yard line, which must be a pass, or 2 points from the 10-yard line, which can be a run or a pass. A defense that intercepts the try can return it for 2 points. Exact distances vary by league, so check the rulebook.
Can you keep score on paper in flag football?
Yes. A simple scoresheet with each team, the running total, and the period works fine. The hard part is tracking downs, the clock, and a play-by-play at the same time, which is why many referees use a scoreboard app.
Let the scoreboard do the math
ReadyRef keeps the score, clock, downs, and play log in sync — with one-tap undo and a live, shareable scoreboard for everyone watching.