The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE profile of flag football continues to increase in the country and a new initiative will now focus on youth development.

The Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) will debut its Bahamas Youth Flag Football League on September 17 at the Winton Rugby Field.

The league is designated to be a co-ed league for boys and girls, aged six to 17 years.

BFFL President Jayson Clarke said the league sought to capitalise on the popularity of the adult leagues throughout the country and offer new opportunities to aspiring players.

“I think the biggest factor in getting the youth league up and running was the fact that we saw the potential opportunities for the young kids.

“While the adult league is going on there are scores of young kids playing at the field and then when we look at it, those opportunities for those kids who have the knowledge of football, it allows them to be better positioned for scholarships, education and possibly a professional career.

“Looking at those things and using football as a tool to help them develop those skills and develop the discipline that comes with learning a sport we saw the need to capitalise on this opportunity,” he said.

“The potential for a youth league is always great because parents are always looking to get their kids involved in something. I do see this league taking off very quickly, even though we will try to manage its growth. Of course volunteers will always be a challenge but we do  see a similar potential at the youth level and hope to see a similar success as we have had at the adult level,” he said.

Opening day and registration takes place this Saturday at the Winton Rugby Centre from 2-4pm. The registration fee is $35.

Interested persons can email the BFFL with interest at bahamasflagfootballleague@gmail.com and registration forms will be forwarded.

The league will also serve as a feeder system for the BFFL and future national teams.

“By nature of our own adult league we have already found several volunteers who will assist us with coaching the kids. The system is set up in such a way that kids as young as six up to adults can play once this is started.

“The youth league is bracketed in groups and that also can serve as a feeder league into our adult programme,” Clarke said. “The hope is always that teams will adopt teams within the youth league and let it also serve as a mentoring option for adults to mentor and coach the kids and build strong relationships amongst them.

“The kids will not only get the counselling from their parents but from others who can play a significant role in their lives.”

The Abaco Youth Football Association is currently the lone youth development league playing flag football.

The sport could also be on its way into the school system.

The National Sports Secretariat, jointly headed by the Ministers of Education, Science and Technology and Youth, Sports and Culture, recently announced that they were broadening their base to include more National Sports Championships this year for High School Sports.

The National Sports Secretariat, formed in 2015, will be hosting a series of National Championships for the third consecutive year.

But according to Evon Wisdom, the Sports Unit Director for the Ministry of Education, they have extended the programme to several new sports – including flag football.