By Stacy Case
Although many of us are just now in the midst of making our summer vacation plans, remember that flag football season is just around the corner as well.
In fact, for more than 40 years, the Coral Springs Flag Football Club has taken to the three gridirons at Mullins Park, and continues to offer recreational play for boys and girls from about age 7-14.
This year should be no different than those in the past, as CSFFC still welcomes players of all abilities to participate in its three different age divisions of play.
“Flag football, our league included, teaches kids about sportsmanship, teamwork and respect,”says Mike Gorelick, who is in his second year as the CSFFC president and is in his 10th year on the Board of Directors. “It also gives the kids a chance to make new friends who they may not ordinarily meet at their school, and it’s an environment for the whole family to enjoy.”
In 2017, the CSFFC had nearly 250 players spread amongst its 20 teams. And while many other neighboring leagues may offer their participants 7-on-7 or 8-on-8 play, Coral Springs provides a more original football environment with its 11-on-11 format.
“I say our league is more like real football without the pads while still taking all of the safety precautions,” Mike adds. “In fact, many of our players go on to high school and are able to play tackle football because they haven’t sustained the traditional injuries, such as concussions, and they (will have) learned the 11-on-11 play with the typical organized football rules.”
And with its three different age classifications (freshmen, juniors and seniors) each division has its own draft.
But before the drafts get underway, each participant must undergo an evaluation, which helps to insure a better balance of team ability and talent to give the best chances of success. Each player must participate in the league-specific drills, which include running, throwing, passing, catching and agility skills. Evaluations are scheduled for sometime in late May, in which specific dates/times are listed on the website for each age division.
Registration has already begun for CSFFC and will conclude on evaluation day.
Then, once the registrations, evaluations and drafts have concluded, the league prepares for its opening day festivities. Last year, the league had its inaugural jamboree, in which each team in all divisions participated in abbreviated games, while other event-goers had the opportunity to participate in raffles, contests and soak in the old-fashioned family football atmosphere.
Pre-season practices begin in early August with games starting right around the first week of school, followed by double-elimination playoffs, then an all-star game and Superbowl in each division in mid-November.
“Our goal is the same every year; to have some new experiences,” says Mike, on behalf of himself as well as the other half dozen or so CSFFC Board Members. “We always want more kids to come out here and play, but sometimes that gets challenging because they play so many other sports on a year-round basis.”
Despite the battle against other sports commitments that these local gridders may have, Mike continues to be optimistic that the registration will keep growing, regardless.“If 2017 was any type of indicator of how our league may be going forward, then we should be pretty good.”
For more info see ad on opposite page or visit csffc.org
