Is flag football in the cards for the Cochrane Minor Football Association?

Cochrane football commissioner Dean Lang believes it could be and he’s interested in hearing from people who would like to make it a reality.

Currently, the association offers tackle football for atoms, peewees and bantam age youth, but Lang says flag football is growing in popularity and believes it's something they also could also provide.

“I’d like to see it start in Cochrane, but we need somebody to step up and do it,” says Lang.

Lang sees it as a way to keep youth involved in the sport when their tackle teams are full, as they normally are for their younger groups, or for those who enjoy the game but don’t like the contact aspect of the sport.

“Maybe contacts not for them but it's a chance for them to get involved with the game. There are a lot of people looking at flag football.”

“With flag football, the kids are still running, they’re still touching the ball, they’re running their pass patterns, they’re blocking a bit and enjoying the sport.”

Lang says youth tackle football numbers are down across Canada but flag football leagues are starting to take off in a number of centres. That includes Calgary.

What may be spurring the interest is concern over concussions. There’s a growing movement in some American States to ban tackle football for those under 12 years old.

In 2016, USA Football reported there was an 8.7 per cent growth in flag football for youth ages 6 to 14, compared to 1.9 per cent for tackle football.

In Canada, Football Canada actively promotes the sport in conjunction with its provincial associations. There are regional, national and international opportunities. Earlier this month, Canada’s women’s flag football team won the bronze medal at the IFAF world championship in Panama City.

Lang encourages anyone interested in helping to establish a flag football league to contact Cochrane Minor Football at admin@cochranefootball.com.

Minor league play underway

In the meantime, play is underway for the three Cochrane Lions football teams.

While the peewees had to make a few cuts to make their roster cap, the biggest concern is the overflow of atoms players.

About 60 youth wanted to join the atom program, says Lang, but only 40 could be accommodated. Only the bantams came in slightly below the cap with 32 players.

Minor football is looking at the possibility of expanding to two atoms teams next season, he says, to meet the demand.

The Bantam Lions won their Aug. 25 season opener against the Hilltoppers, 19-0, in Calgary Bantam Football Association play. Their next game is against the Raiders on Sept. 1.

The Peewee Lions take on the Colts, Sept. 4.