Youth flag football league expanding for sophomore season

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Sherwood Park’s youth flag football league is gearing up for its second season and after a remarkable start last spring, organizers are projecting major growth.

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“Our first season was incredible, we more than doubled our expected numbers for our season. It was a smashing success in all aspects,” said Lori Ekdahl, league organizer for Sherwood Park Youth Flag Football League (SPYFFL).

With 24 teams and 240 players in the inaugural season, SPYFFL organizers are anticipating that this spring will grow to 40 teams comprised of 500 players.

Growing to add two new divisions in the 2025 season, the league will welcome players from four to 17, adding a 16- and 17-year-old division and a foundations program called Touchdowns for Tots for youngsters turning four before the end of the year.

The decision to expand comes at the request of parents whose kids were aging out of the 14- and 15-year-old division but still wanted to play. In its first season, the youngest division was open to kids five to seven, but many of the five-year-olds were still too small to compete with the older kids and handle the size of the ball.

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“Instead of coming onto the field and playing a game, we’ve built a progressive program for them to participate next to the big kids, so they still get that ‘play like the pros’ feel, but in a way that is more suitable for their size,” explained Ekdahl.

Touchdown for Tots aims to teach the youngest players the fundamental movement skills needed to learn and play the fame.

A recreation league, practices and games run through May and June, with games held on Saturdays. Emphasizing skill and athletic development along with learning the game, the league is co-ed, though girls are given the option to request an all-girls team at registration. Though last year there were not enough numbers to have an all-girls team, Ekdahl said growing the game for girls is a big goal for Sherwood Park Youth Flag Football League.

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“It’s growing at the high school level and if these girls can start getting into the game now, they’ll be practically pros by the time they hit high school,” said Ekdahl.

Announcing a new partnership with Edmonton based Flag Like a Girl, the league is looking to attract more female players and offer girls more opportunities to get involved.

“Don’t hesitate, come out. You don’t need anything, you don’t need a single skill, you don’t need equipment other than running shoes to come out and try and play. The game is for everybody and I’m confident once you come out and try it, you’ll be hooked,” Ekdahl said when asked what she would say to any girl interested in joining.

Registration for the Spring 2025 season opens Monday, Jan. 13 and the 10- to 11-year-old and 12- to 13-year-old divisions will be capped with a waitlist put into place. Last season, those divisions featured six teams each, but the 2025 season capacity has doubled to allow 12 teams in each of those divisions.

With a flat fee of $240, players receive an NFL jersey, shorts, flag belt, practice t-shirt, mouthguard, insurance, and photos in addition to the guidance of certified coaches and referees.

For more information and to register for upcoming season, visit sherwoodparkyouthflagfootball.com.

tmacleod@postmedia.com

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