Why play Neighborhood Sports Flag Football?
Neighborhood Sports Flag Football program is the premier NFL Youth Flag Football recreational league for boys and girls, ages 4-16. Our league is an official program of the NFL and is sanctioned by USA football, the sport’s national governing body. Our directors have also served on the USA Football Youth Flag Football Committee assisting in the development of flag football coaching tools.
The program provides young players a fun and exciting opportunity to engage in non-contact, continuous action while learning lessons in teamwork. Players develops skills that will help them succeed on and off the field. The game is 5 on 5 flag football and teaches the basic skills of football running, passing, receiving and defending. Games involve non-contact rules that eliminate all forms of blocking and tackling. The program is played on a 50-yard playing field where participants may run or pass the ball. Teams start at their 5-yard line and have three downs to move the ball past midfield. Once a team has crossed midfield they receive a new set of three downs to score.
This is a Recreational League, score is kept, and teams practice once per week for up to 90 minutes and play games on Saturdays for 6 weeks. All teams make the playoffs held on week 7 (playoffs are single elimination with teams playing 1-3 games during the playoff tournament). All players receive a trophy, with the winning teams crowned "Super Bowl" Champions.
Advantages to Neighborhood Sports Flag Football
- Our program develops "skill position players". Many of our participants have gone on to start on their middle school, high school, and college teams.
- Quarterbacks learn how to make independent decisions and call plays. In our league, the quarterback does not have the option to run, placing more emphasis on recognizing and reading defenses and passing the football. The throwing windows are smaller, which aid in developing accuracy. A defensive blitz on any potential play help the quarterback develop footwork, mobility, and quick thinking under pressure.
- Wide Receivers/ Running Backs learn proper stance and start, hand placement, route terminology, running routes, reading defenses, how to create separation, catching in traffic and running after the catch.
- Our defensive players learn Linebacker, Defensive back, Safety, and Pass Rushing skills. Players on defense develop footwork, backpedaling, reading the quarterback, breaking on the ball, and catching interceptions. Players also learn man to man and zone coverage techniques.
- Our game greatly reduces the risk of injury associated with semi-tackle flag leagues that allow contact while including an element of flag. Playing non-contact flag football allows players to develop position skills that improve a player’s abilities. We support full tackle as the next step for players, but discourage players from playing in semi-tackle flag leagues that create confusion in game decision making, as a different mindset is required for each.
- With only 10 players per team and 5 on 5 games, players enjoy increased participation with playing time and touches on the football. Our 30 second play clock creates an up tempo game with many more plays and repetitions.
- We have many local flag football leagues (see league locations page). In many locations we offer a Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer league seasons.
- We sponsor a postseason Regional tournament in many locations for our leagues only. This is optional, but gives teams an opportunity to play teams from all Neighborhood Sports locations. Regional and National Tournaments are often available also through the NFL.
- Players can register individually, request to play with friends, or register as a team* (placement with friends or coach is not guaranteed). If you are registering as a team, by policy, Neighborhood Sports reserves the right to add participants to all groups of players or teams that do not come with a complete roster (10 players). Players register for Neighborhood Sports individually online or via paper. By policy, Neighborhood Sports unfortunately does not offer refunds after the start of the season.
RULES
Neighborhood Sports Flag Football Details
Practice
- One weekly practice 60 - 90 minutes. (Day, time, and field location set by head coach)
Gameday
- One game per week. (most leagues/seasons play games on weekends)
Field for Game Location
(find field for game on your local league page)
Equipment Provided
- Players receive quality, NFL team reversible jersey
- Matching game shorts (most leagues)
- Coaches receiveequipment bag, flags, and a league approved ball
Equipment Required or Suggested
- Mouth guard - Required
- Rubber cleats - Suggested
- If shorts not provided with league location, teams will coordinate matching attire (shorts, socks) to jersey. Shorts must not have pockets.