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8",{"type":8,"value":172,"toc":173},[],{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":174},[],"2027-02-26",[],{},"\u002Fschedule\u002F2027-02-26-week-8",{"description":11},"schedule\u002F2027-02-26-week-8","8","Q_sP7Yr0dSb6edqK5A3YtHQjPodDo_DnolliftFBIj4",{"id":184,"title":185,"body":186,"category":303,"description":191,"extension":15,"image":69,"imageAlt":69,"meta":304,"navigation":71,"path":305,"publishedAt":306,"seo":307,"slug":308,"stem":309,"summary":310,"__hash__":311},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fwhy-flag-football.md","Why flag football?",{"type":8,"value":187,"toc":295},[188,192,197,205,209,216,220,223,251,255,258,262,271,275,278],[189,190,191],"p",{},"Flag football is one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country, and it will be part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Here's why so many families in Englewood are choosing it.",[193,194,196],"h2",{"id":195},"its-non-contact","It's non-contact",[189,198,199,200,204],{},"There's no tackling or blocking, and defenders can't dive into the ball carrier. Instead of bringing the ball carrier to the ground, defenders ",[201,202,203],"strong",{},"pull a flag"," from their belt. There are fewer players on the field than in tackle football, and our rules strictly penalize rough play. It's football without the collisions.",[193,206,208],{"id":207},"everyone-touches-the-ball","Everyone touches the ball",[189,210,211,212,215],{},"With six players a side and no linemen, every player on offense is an eligible receiver, and any player can take a handoff. Our coaches follow a simple rule: ",[201,213,214],{},"everyone plays and everyone sits",". Your child won't spend the season on the bench.",[193,217,219],{"id":218},"it-builds-real-athletic-skills","It builds real athletic skills",[189,221,222],{},"Flag football develops:",[224,225,226,233,239,245],"ul",{},[227,228,229,232],"li",{},[201,230,231],{},"Speed and agility:"," cutting, spinning and changing direction to avoid flag pulls.",[227,234,235,238],{},[201,236,237],{},"Hand-eye coordination:"," throwing, catching and pulling flags.",[227,240,241,244],{},[201,242,243],{},"Football IQ:"," reading defenses, running routes and knowing the rules.",[227,246,247,250],{},[201,248,249],{},"Fitness:"," games are fast and players are always moving.",[193,252,254],{"id":253},"it-teaches-more-than-football","It teaches more than football",[189,256,257],{},"Our coaches focus on teamwork, sportsmanship and confidence. Players learn to respect opponents, teammates and referees, to win and lose with grace, and to support each other. Those lessons last long after the season ends.",[193,259,261],{"id":260},"its-for-everyone","It's for everyone",[189,263,264,265,270],{},"Boys and girls ages 5 to 17 play in our five divisions, grouped by age. No experience is needed. Teams are formed at ",[266,267,269],"a",{"href":268},"\u002Fnews\u002Fdraft-day-is-saturday-december-12","Draft Day",", so every team gets a fair mix of new and returning players.",[193,272,274],{"id":273},"it-fits-a-busy-family-schedule","It fits a busy family schedule",[189,276,277],{},"Games are played on Friday nights and run about 50 minutes, including timeouts and halftime. The league provides jerseys, shorts and flag belts, so you need little more than shoes, water and a mouthpiece.",[189,279,280,281,284,285,289,290,294],{},"Ready to play? Use the ",[201,282,283],{},"Sign up"," button on our ",[266,286,288],{"href":287},"\u002F","home page",", or check the ",[266,291,293],{"href":292},"\u002Ffaq","FAQ"," for more details.",{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":296},[297,298,299,300,301,302],{"id":195,"depth":12,"text":196},{"id":207,"depth":12,"text":208},{"id":218,"depth":12,"text":219},{"id":253,"depth":12,"text":254},{"id":260,"depth":12,"text":261},{"id":273,"depth":12,"text":274},"Guides",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fwhy-flag-football","2026-09-25",{"title":185,"description":191},"why-flag-football","news\u002Fwhy-flag-football","Non-contact, fast-paced and open to everyone: why flag football is a great sport for kids ages 5 to 17.","beh-SMlqfZqsXu9hBmB-uBjBheysTWg9N3FbF5CQoDs",{"id":313,"title":314,"body":315,"category":502,"description":319,"extension":15,"image":69,"imageAlt":69,"meta":503,"navigation":71,"path":504,"publishedAt":505,"seo":506,"slug":507,"stem":508,"summary":509,"__hash__":510},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fyour-first-practice-plan.md","Your first practice plan",{"type":8,"value":316,"toc":490},[317,320,324,355,359,364,367,371,383,387,390,418,422,425,429,432,436,439,443,469],[189,318,319],{},"New to coaching? You don't need a thick playbook to run a great first practice. Kids want to move, touch the ball and have fun. Here's a simple plan you can adjust to your division's age and attention span.",[193,321,323],{"id":322},"before-practice","Before practice",[224,325,326,337,343,349],{},[227,327,328,331,332,336],{},[201,329,330],{},"Know the rules."," Read the ",[266,333,335],{"href":334},"\u002Frules","rules"," so you can teach the game the way it's played at our field.",[227,338,339,342],{},[201,340,341],{},"Bring gear:"," footballs, flag belts, cones and water.",[227,344,345,348],{},[201,346,347],{},"Learn names first."," Kids play harder for a coach who knows their name.",[227,350,351,354],{},[201,352,353],{},"Recruit a helper."," A second adult makes stations possible.",[193,356,358],{"id":357},"the-plan","The plan",[360,361,363],"h3",{"id":362},"_1-dynamic-warm-up","1. Dynamic warm-up",[189,365,366],{},"Jogging, high knees, butt kicks, side shuffles and backpedals across the field. Finish with a few short sprints. Keep everyone moving; no standing in long lines.",[360,368,370],{"id":369},"_2-flag-pulling","2. Flag pulling",[189,372,373,374,377,378,382],{},"Pair players up. One jogs and cuts while the other closes in, breaks down, and pulls a flag with both eyes on the hips. Swap roles often. Talk about the rules: ",[201,375,376],{},"no grabbing jerseys, no holding, no diving into the ball carrier, and no pulling flags off players without the ball",". See ",[266,379,381],{"href":380},"\u002Fnews\u002Fteaching-flag-pulling-and-avoiding-flag-guarding","Teaching flag pulling and avoiding flag guarding"," for more.",[360,384,386],{"id":385},"_3-skill-stations","3. Skill stations",[189,388,389],{},"Split into small groups and rotate:",[224,391,392,398,404],{},[227,393,394,397],{},[201,395,396],{},"Throwing:"," grip, step toward the target, and follow through. Short distances first.",[227,399,400,403],{},[201,401,402],{},"Catching:"," hands up, thumbs together for balls above the chest, pinkies together below. Look the ball in.",[227,405,406,409,410,413,414,417],{},[201,407,408],{},"Snapping and handoffs:"," center-to-QB snaps between the legs, then clean handoffs behind the line. Remind players there are ",[201,411,412],{},"no pitches or laterals"," in our league, and ",[201,415,416],{},"no handing off to the center"," on the first handoff.",[360,419,421],{"id":420},"_4-routes-and-a-few-simple-plays","4. Routes and a few simple plays",[189,423,424],{},"Teach two or three basic routes (a quick out, a slant and a go route) and put them into a couple of plays your team can run all season. Simple and repeated beats complicated and confused.",[360,426,428],{"id":427},"_5-scrimmage","5. Scrimmage",[189,430,431],{},"Finish with 6 on 6 or small-sided games. Rotate positions so every player gets a turn at quarterback, receiver, rusher and defensive back. Call out rules as they come up: the 7-yard rush line, the 7-second pass clock and the no-run zones.",[360,433,435],{"id":434},"_6-huddle-up","6. Huddle up",[189,437,438],{},"End on a positive note. Recognize effort and good sportsmanship, and give a clear reminder of the next practice and game.",[193,440,442],{"id":441},"tips-that-make-a-big-difference","Tips that make a big difference",[224,444,445,451,457,463],{},[227,446,447,450],{},[201,448,449],{},"Short and active beats long and perfect."," Avoid long lines and long talks, especially with younger kids.",[227,452,453,456],{},[201,454,455],{},"Everyone plays, everyone sits."," Start building that rotation in practice.",[227,458,459,462],{},[201,460,461],{},"Praise effort out loud,"," and correct quietly and specifically.",[227,464,465,468],{},[201,466,467],{},"Keep parents in the loop"," with a quick message after each practice.",[189,470,471,472,478,479,484,485,489],{},"For more ideas, NFL FLAG has free ",[266,473,477],{"href":474,"rel":475},"https:\u002F\u002Fnflflag.com\u002Ffootball-drills",[476],"nofollow","drills"," and ",[266,480,483],{"href":481,"rel":482},"https:\u002F\u002Fnflflag.com\u002Fflag-football-plays",[476],"plays",". Adapt them for 6 on 6 and our no-pitch rule. And read our ",[266,486,488],{"href":487},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcoaching-guidelines-for-the-new-season","coaching guidelines"," before the first game.",{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":491},[492,493,501],{"id":322,"depth":12,"text":323},{"id":357,"depth":12,"text":358,"children":494},[495,496,497,498,499,500],{"id":362,"depth":31,"text":363},{"id":369,"depth":31,"text":370},{"id":385,"depth":31,"text":386},{"id":420,"depth":31,"text":421},{"id":427,"depth":31,"text":428},{"id":434,"depth":31,"text":435},{"id":441,"depth":12,"text":442},"Coaches",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fyour-first-practice-plan","2026-09-24",{"title":314,"description":319},"your-first-practice-plan","news\u002Fyour-first-practice-plan","A simple, ready-to-run practice for first-time coaches: warm-up, skill stations and a scrimmage, built around our home field rules.","kGbAH_ldWXHbcCAJwL1aNa4-QPs1eU3SZidP8Z1HwSc",{"id":512,"title":513,"body":514,"category":303,"description":608,"extension":15,"image":609,"imageAlt":610,"meta":611,"navigation":71,"path":612,"publishedAt":613,"seo":614,"slug":615,"stem":616,"summary":617,"__hash__":618},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fpositions-explained-where-will-my-child-play.md","Positions explained: where will my child play?",{"type":8,"value":515,"toc":603},[516,523,527,537,543,549,555,559,569,575,581,585,588,594],[189,517,518,519,522],{},"In flag football, there are no linemen. Every player on the field can be part of the action, and positions overlap a lot more than in tackle football. We play ",[201,520,521],{},"6 on 6",", and every player gets a starting position on offense or defense.",[193,524,526],{"id":525},"offense","Offense",[189,528,529,532,533,536],{},[201,530,531],{},"Quarterback (QB)."," Takes the snap and passes or hands off on every play. The quarterback has ",[201,534,535],{},"7 seconds"," to throw and can't run the ball unless the defense rushes and the rusher crosses the line of scrimmage. Good quarterbacks stay calm under pressure and communicate well.",[189,538,539,542],{},[201,540,541],{},"Center."," Snaps the ball between their legs to the quarterback, then becomes a receiver and runs a route. Every play starts with the center, so a clean snap matters.",[189,544,545,548],{},[201,546,547],{},"Running back."," Takes handoffs behind the line of scrimmage and runs, or catches passes. There are no pitches or laterals in our league, so every exchange is a direct handoff. A player who takes a handoff can also throw from behind the line.",[189,550,551,554],{},[201,552,553],{},"Receivers."," Run routes to get open and catch passes. Every player on offense is an eligible receiver, including the quarterback after a handoff.",[193,556,558],{"id":557},"defense","Defense",[189,560,561,564,565,568],{},[201,562,563],{},"Rusher."," Starts at least ",[201,566,567],{},"7 yards"," from the line of scrimmage and chases the quarterback after the snap, trying to pull the quarterback's flag for a sack or block the pass. In our league, any number of defenders can rush. In the 7U Division, defenders can't rush unless there's a handoff in the backfield.",[189,570,571,574],{},[201,572,573],{},"Defensive backs (cornerbacks)."," Cover receivers, defend passes, and pull flags after a catch.",[189,576,577,580],{},[201,578,579],{},"Safety."," Plays deepest in coverage and is the last line of defense, stopping anyone who gets loose.",[193,582,584],{"id":583},"why-kids-move-around","Why kids move around",[189,586,587],{},"At this age, playing several positions helps kids learn the whole game and find what they enjoy. Fast players might shine as receivers, steady throwers at quarterback, and kids who read the field well at safety. There's no \"right\" body type for flag football. Speed, agility and hustle matter far more than size.",[189,589,590,591,593],{},"Our rule is that ",[201,592,214],{},", and coaches make sure each player gets real time on the field.",[189,595,596,597,602],{},"Want to go deeper? NFL FLAG has a ",[266,598,601],{"href":599,"rel":600},"https:\u002F\u002Fnflflag.com\u002Fflag-football-rules\u002Ffootball-positions",[476],"detailed positions guide",". It's written for 5 on 5, but the roles are the same.",{"title":11,"searchDepth":12,"depth":12,"links":604},[605,606,607],{"id":525,"depth":12,"text":526},{"id":557,"depth":12,"text":558},{"id":583,"depth":12,"text":584},"In flag football, there are no linemen. Every player on the field can be part of the action, and positions overlap a lot more than in tackle football. We play 6 on 6, and every player gets a starting position on offense or defense.","\u002Fuploads\u002Fcenter-snap.jpg","A young center crouches over the ball, ready to snap, as a defender waits across the line under the stadium lights",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fpositions-explained-where-will-my-child-play","2026-09-26",{"title":513,"description":608},"positions-explained-where-will-my-child-play","news\u002Fpositions-explained-where-will-my-child-play","Quarterback, center, receiver, rusher, safety: a quick guide to the positions in our 6-on-6 game, and why kids move around.","oHT1sQFTqoemabSqInxexEl_all8kT5yRSsIqRLIzX0",1791132560654]