YORKTON - A new football program will launch in Yorkton in mid August.
For the first time Yorkton Minor Football is offering flag football to players ages five, six and seven.
“One of the things we’ve seen with some of the bigger cities; Saskatoon, Regina is that they’ve been having flag football for a long time,” said YMF spokesperson Jason Boyda, adding it seemed like the right time to add it here.
Certainly, the flag game is gaining some profile with it being an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in 2028, and other international events.
“Flag football has really grown to become a competitive game,” said Boyda, who noted it has always been a goal of YMF to provide the foundation to opportunities in the sport, and this addition just builds on that.
Offering flag football for young players also helps develop some of the basic skills that are an asset when they make the switch to tackle football such as passing and catching, which Boyda noted will simply strengthen the foundation of football in Yorkton.
“It will help our athletes develop the skill parts of the game,” he said.
While suggesting the flag program may be moved to spring in future years, when there is more time to focus on it, this year it will be offered over six, or seven weeks starting in mid August.
Cost for the program is $75 and players can be signed up at the YMF website.
Boyda said they are hoping for 30 players to facilitate four teams – the game is played five vs five on a shortened field – adding they are already at 25.
