Center’s NFL Flag Football breaks record

The Anna Maria Island Community Center’s NFL Flag Football program broke a new record last week. After five nights of tryouts, the Center formed 33 co-ed flag football teams of ages 5 to adults. Thirty-three teams in a league is the most ever formed for one season, breaking the old record of 30 teams previously held by the last 2010 fall soccer season. This program is now the largest athletic program offered at the Center.

The Community Center runs the only NFL Flag Football program in Manatee County. Unlike tackle football, flag is a non-contact fast paced game with its own set of playing rules. Similar to Little League baseball, the National Football League governs play, allowing organizations like the Center to register youth and adults into their own leagues. By going through the NFL, each player receives a replica NFL team jersey, a flag, and agrees to play by the flag rules of the league. In return, the Center pays the NFL a registration fee for every participant.

The popularity of this sport has been growing yearly since its introduction to the Island in 2006. Over 260 players are now part of history in the making. Forming the leagues are: 11 adult teams; four 13-16 year old teams; 10 10-12 year old teams; three 8-9 year old teams; and five 5-7 year old teams.

Practices will be going on for the next 3 weeks. Games begin the first week of January, running nightly and on Saturdays. The season will conclude in March with a playoff format and Super Bowl game for the majority of the leagues. With all these teams playing on the Island, there will be plenty of football action for every armchair quarterback and football fanatic to watch.