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Flags flown on a beach.
Because of their ease of signalling and
identification, flags are often used in sports.
>> In American and Canadian football,
referees use flags to indicate an error has been
made in game play. The phrase used for such an
indication is flag on the play. The flag itself is a
small, weighted handkerchief, tossed on the field at
the approximate point of the infraction; the intent
is usually to sort out the details after the current
play from scrimmage has concluded. In American
football, the flag is usually yellow; in Canadian
football, it is usually red.
>> In auto and motorcycle racing, racing
flags are used to communicate with drivers. Most
famously, a checkered flag of black and white
indicates the end of the race, and victory for the
leader. A yellow flag is used to indicate caution
requiring slow speed and a red flag requires racers
to stop immediately. A black flag is used to
indicate penalties.
>> In Association football (soccer), linesmen
carry small flags along the touch lines. They use
the flags to indicate to the referee potential
infringements of the laws, or who is entitled to
possession of the ball that has gone out of the
field of play, or, most famously, raise the flag
overhead to indicate an offside offence. Officials
called touch judges use flags for similar purposes
in both codes of rugby.
>> In addition, fans of almost all sports
wave flags in the stands to indicate their support
for the participants. Many sports teams have their
own flags, and, in individual sports, fans will
indicate their support for a player by waving the
flag of his or her home country.
>> Capture the flag is a popular children's
sport. |