When I started working for the PFFL in 2009, I had no prior experience with flag football. The main presumption that I made about the game of flag is that the sport is just a watered-down version of traditional tackle football.

Seven years later and my perception of flag football has undergone a complete 180. I now understand that the flag game is predicated on a cerebral comprehension of the rules combined with competitive physical execution. Simply put, flag football is a REAL sport that requires REAL effort.

Nevertheless, as demanding of a sport as flag football is, the sport remains a fun recreational activity for the entire family.

At the youth level, flag football is an excellent sport for parents to sign their kids up for because the lack of contact allows children to learn the rules and strategies of football while avoiding the high incidence of concussions that is part-and-parcel of tackle football. In addition to being less physically demanding, flag allows young players of varying athletic ability to contribute on a successful team. For example, if a parent has a child that is big for his or her age and physically uncoordinated, then that child can use the gift of size to rush opposing quarterbacks.

As for the adults who are looking for something to do on Sundays before NFL games start, flag football is the ultimate way to prepare for the big game. Between the bulletin board material that the league’s media team disseminates through its articles and interviews and the opportunity for former high school and collegiate athletes to scratch the itch, you know the itch that Michael Jordan famously talked about when he came out of retirement in 1995, the anticipation for each game is on steroids.

Realistically if you’re a parent who still has the will and skill to play the flag game and you have children who need to be introduced to team sports then you could kill two birds with one stone by signing up the whole family for the Adult and Youth leagues.

Don’t think...JUST DO IT!