This fall, the City of Rockville will introduce its first-ever NFL FLAG youth football league, a coed, non-contact program for kindergarten through eighth grade that aims to encourage participation and skill development in the sport.
According to the City of Rockville: This autumn, the city will launch its first-ever NFL flag football league, giving young athletes in Rockville a new option to get active and learn the basics of football. The popularity of flag football is rising quickly nationwide, especially among girls. Last year, Montgomery County Public Schools began a trial program for girls’ flag football at all 25 of the county’s high schools. In 2028, the sport is also scheduled to make its Olympic debut.
Girls’ flag football has been approved as a varsity high school sport in 14 states. With 42,955 players, it was the 12th most popular sport for females in the 2023–24 school year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Nearly 500,000 females between the ages of 6 and 17 participated in flag football in 2023, according to NFL FLAG.
Boys and girls in kindergarten through eighth grade are welcome to participate in Rockville’s league, which offers a fast-paced, non-contact format that encourages skill development, collaboration, and sportsmanship. As part of the registration process, participants will get an official NFL FLAG reversible jersey and flag belt.
The season will consist of one weekly team practice and six weeks of weekend games from early September to late October. Kindergarten/first, second/third, fourth/fifth, and sixth through eighth grade levels will be used to organize the divisions. Boys and girls will compete in different divisions if possible.
From novices to seasoned athletes, the league welcomes players of all skill levels and strives to offer a secure, welcoming environment for confidence-boosting and game learning.
The NFL FLAG program will provide training materials to volunteer coaches, who are needed. To guarantee constant and equitable play, certified, paid referees will officiate every game. For more information, contact [email protected] or 240-314-8620.
On Thursday, August 14, registration will open for Rockville’s recreation programs, which include leagues for children’s and adults’ sports. To learn more and sign up for league play, go to rockvillemd.gov/recreation/sports.
