Opportunities After Youth Flag Football

Flag football has been a popular sport among youth leagues. Youth flag football has been used as a warm-up for tackle football or for kids who would like to play football without getting tackled. Flag football is not only growing at the youth level but at the collegiate and adult leagues. Flag football has grown because it gives adults the chance to play football competitively without the wear and tear from tackle football.

Collegiate flag football numbers has been growing every year in participation. Matt Nuesell is the Assistant Director for Recreational Sports at SUNY Cortland. He says “Flag Football has succeeded at Cortland because it allows all students the opportunity to participate with their friends, regardless of their skill level, with the feel of a real, competitive athletic contest”. Flag football at the collegiate level gives players that have played football in the past, the opportunity to play again. It’s the reason why collegiate flag football or adult leagues have the ability to succeed. Who doesn’t want to relive the glory days where you suit up in your jersey, go out on the field and make the game winning catch.

NIRSA is the National Intramural-Recreation Sport Association for the country. NIRSA holds regional and national tournaments in flag football annually. These tournaments bring teams from Division I, II and III to all play together in one tournament. These tournaments allow teams from a small school like SUNY Cortland play a Division I team like Ohio State. It’s a chance for players to bring their youth flag football skills out from the closet and play at the collegiate level. For more information on NIRSA’S Regional Tournaments and National Tournaments please visit their link at the bottom of the article.

No matter what people say about flag football, it’s a sport that is growing.  It allows adults to play without the wear and tear that tackle football puts on a body. It’s also great way to keep in shape while playing football. Whatever the reason for playing flag football, it no longer has to stop after a certain age.

Pictures taken by Matthew Nuesell (SUNY Cortland Intramural)

NIRSA’s Flag Football Home Page

http://www.nirsa.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Sports/FlagFootball/flag_football.htm

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