Starting your own flag football program couldn’t be easier!!
Whether it is at your community centre, within your school or school division, or in rural areas and remote communities, anyone can get flag football running for your young athletes!
Flag football is a variation of tackle football, which everyone is familiar with, but does not require protective equipment and is a non-contact sport which may be more appealing to many young players.
It is also one of the fastest growing sports around the world! Why you ask? Flag football is a fast-paced game, easy to learn without the concerns sometimes associated with contact sports. Best of all it is incredibly fun and enjoyed by boys and girls alike!
Benefits of flag football!
Flag football has a lot to offer, from co-ed leagues to competitive tournaments. Here are five important benefits for kids playing flag football:
No Contact:
Flag football is a non-contact sport, meaning there’s no tackling or blocking. This creates an approachable atmosphere where kids can learn how to play and develop their skills without the physical contact.
Accessibility:
Flag football is an incredibly inclusive sport and opens the doors to many players, including female athletes and younger children.
Learn the fundamentals:
Flag provides a natural entry point into the world of football, creating opportunities for your child to learn, engage and grow with the sport. The basic fundamentals taught in flag football directly transfer to tackle, including catching, throwing, formations, routes, and defensive skills.
Learn teamwork:
Flag equips your child with the skills to build and grow their confidence levels both on and off the field.
It’s fun!:
Plain and simple, flag football is loads of fun. With fewer players on the field, there’s more engagement and a faster speed of play. Games are quick, competitive and every drive counts, especially in tournaments. It’s the version of football you loved playing in your backyard—why ever stop?
Equipment
All that is needed to get started playing flag football
– Footballs (appropriate size for the player ages)
– Cones or discs (to mark out the playing area)
– Two flags per player (either a flag belt or two individual flags)
– having pinnies or different color shirts for each team is helpful.
Shorts without pockets are usually required for safety reasons, but players can start with regular shorts. We recommend taping any pockets closed during game play to prevent fingers from getting caught on pockets.
That’s it! With minimal items you can start playing flag right away!
Resources
Organizing your League or program
Coaching flag football is not only fun, it proves to be very rewarding.
Anyone can coach flag football, even those with little to no experience or background in football. With very simple game rules along with all the tools you need to start coaching, anyone can step onto the field like a seasoned pro.
All you need to get started is the desire to have fun, while providing mentorship and teaching players about teamwork, sportsmanship and developing fundamental skills.
Get Coaching!
Coaching flag football is not only fun, it proves to be very rewarding.
Anyone can coach flag football, even those with little to know background in football. With very simple game rules along with all the tools you need to start coaching, anyone can step onto the field like a seasoned pro.
All you need to get started is the desire to have fun, while providing mentorship and teaching players about teamwork, sportsmanship and developing fundamental skills.
Get Officiating – be a flag referee!
Flag officials in Manitoba can take all required training online through Football Canada, and virtually through Football Manitoba for certain parts of the training. It costs nothing to become a trained or certified level One flag official.
Depending on where or when your season will start, Football Manitoba may be able to provide onsite referee training and mentorship to get your games running smoothly for an enjoyable season.
Referees can begin officiating as young as 15 years of age, however if your program includes players up to high school, the officials will need to be at least 1 year older than the ages they are officiating.
CLICK HERE HOW TO BE A FLAG OFFICIAL
