Local collegiate and high school football seasons may be on hold, but for Niwot Youth Sports flag football, it's nearly business as usual. Players ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade will grace the gridiron this fall at the Biff Warren Sports Complex on Nimbus Road.
The league will consist of three age divisions (kindergarten/first grade, second/third grade and fourth/fifth grade) with four teams per division. Practice started on Aug. 31, and games will be played on Sundays beginning Sept. 13.
NYS Director of Flag Football Adam Robinson said the feedback has been great from parents. "They're just excited to see the kids playing again," Robinson said.
The playing commenced on Aug. 29 with mask-wearing players from NYS and the nearby Twin Peaks Youth Sports meeting for an NFL combine style event at Dry Creek Community Park in Longmont. Robinson estimated over 30 NYS players came (just under half the league) and they were treated to an assortment of football skills stations monitored by local college and high school players.
"It was a big success, the kids had a blast," Robinson said. "...It was a good turnout and we met a lot of the new coaches and they walked the kids through (the drills)."
With approximately 70 players in the league, players will get plenty of playing time with about eight players per team. Each team will play six regular season games and at least two playoff games on Oct. 18 or "Super Bowl Sunday." For those middle-aged dads searching for a new outlet to serve their football fix this fall, recliners will not be provided and social distancing measures will be followed.
Low registration numbers likely associated with COVID-19 and other available fall sports have been a problem according to Robinson. To aid the league, NYS received about 20 transfer players from Twin Peaks Youth Sports.
NYS does have a significant outreach, however, even with its low number of participants. Robinson said the league only has a handful of Niwot kids and its players are more spread out through Hygiene, Erie, Frederick, Firestone, Longmont and Boulder.
As long as coaches desire more players, Robinson plans on leaving registration open until the first week of games. Sign-ups and further information can be found here.
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