THE EAST TEXAS FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE
THE EAST TEXAS FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE (based in Henderson,Tx.) is a recreational and developmental league for boys ages 5 to 12 and girls ages 5 thru high school.
OUR MISSION:
1) SAFETY- Our rules are written to promote safety. Coaches, please read and adhere to them!
2) FUN - The kids play to have fun...Let Them!
3) COMPETE - Always play to win but Never forget the importance of good sportsmanship!
We're about low-pressure environments where kids can just play! And we’re very much a league for everyone -- whether you're a returning star or new to flag football. Boy or girl. Rich or poor. Big or small. Fast or not. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to play football.
Also, we play an 11 v 11 format when both roster numbers are sufficient. We believe playing 5 v5 or 7 v 7 takes away one of the most exciting and entertaining aspects of football, rushing the quarterback. We don't believe the pass rush is a safety concern because our rules do not allow brute force. Adding linemen does not hinder the performance of receivers and defensive backs or their evaluation by college coaches. Our goal is preparing our players for the transition to tackle for the serious players wanting to play tackle later while also allowing the not so serious players to just have fun! Our rules are similar to tackle football except for not allowing the violent collisions and brute force common in tackle football.
For many young athletes, flag football is an excellent introduction to the game before deciding whether to transition into tackle football. It allows players to develop fundamental skills—such as passing, catching, and route running—without the physical contact associated with tackling.
Flag football is also highly inclusive, creating opportunities for a wide range of athletes, including female players. In fact, women’s flag football continues to grow rapidly and is on track to become a sanctioned collegiate sport.
That said, many athletes still choose the tackle football path. While participation has seen slight declines in recent years, football remains the most popular sport among high school boys, with over one million participants nationwide. Some families even choose to have their children participate in both formats. Every family’s situation is unique. The best approach is to consider your child’s interests, goals, and readiness, and choose the option that best supports their development and enjoyment of the game. REMEMBER: MOST KIDS LIKE FOOTBALL; BUT FEW LIKE BEING HIT
Flag football is also highly inclusive, creating opportunities for a wide range of athletes, including female players. In fact, women’s flag football continues to grow rapidly and is on track to become a sanctioned collegiate sport.
That said, many athletes still choose the tackle football path. While participation has seen slight declines in recent years, football remains the most popular sport among high school boys, with over one million participants nationwide. Some families even choose to have their children participate in both formats. Every family’s situation is unique. The best approach is to consider your child’s interests, goals, and readiness, and choose the option that best supports their development and enjoyment of the game. REMEMBER: MOST KIDS LIKE FOOTBALL; BUT FEW LIKE BEING HIT
What’s the Difference?
As a limited contact sport flag football brings all the fun of football, just without the pain and high risk of injury. We emphasize the importance of leadership, sportsmanship, and the ability to work in a team. These skills are coupled with an opportunity to get outside and get some exercise in a fun and exciting way. More kids are playing flag football than ever before. And we can see why—it’s engaging, inclusive, and ridiculously fun. The best part is anyone can learn how to play flag football. You don’t need a certain build, skill set or prior experience.
BENEFITS OF PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALLFlag football has a lot to offer, from co-ed leagues to competitive tournaments. Here are five important benefits for kids playing flag football:1. No Contact: Flag football is a non-contact sport, meaning there’s no tackling, diving, blocking, screening or fumbles allowed. Therefore, players aren’t required to wear any heavy equipment, such as helmets and shoulder pads. This creates an approachable atmosphere where kids can learn how to play and develop their skills without the aspect of physical contact. 2. Accessibility: Flag football is an incredibly inclusive sport and opens the doors to many players, including female athletes. In fact, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) plans to launch the first college sanctioned women’s flag football league in the spring of 2021. 3. Learn the fundamentals: There’s a common myth that flag football doesn’t prepare kids for tackle football—and that simply isn’t true. The basic fundamentals taught in flag football directly transfer to tackle, including catching, throwing, formations, routes, and defensive skills. For example, the way defensive players are required to square up their body and align their head and knees is the exact positioning needed to physically tackle an opponent.4. Easy commitment: With most leagues only meeting once per week, many families happily squeeze flag football into their packed schedules. Typically, teams practice for about 45 minutes before their game, and then the game itself is usually an hour or less. Of course, some high-level competitive leagues offer more playing time, if that’s something you’re looking for. 5. It’s fun!: Plain and simple, flag football is loads of fun. With fewer players on the field, there’s more engagement and a faster speed of play. Games are quick, competitive and every drive counts, especially in tournaments. It’s the version of football you loved playing in your backyard—why ever stop?
Advantages of Flag Football Beyond the reduced risk of injury, flag football offers some unique developmental advantages:1) Enhanced Hand-Eye Coordination and Precision: Pulling a flag requires a high degree of precision and hand-eye coordination. Players must accurately target a small, moving object while often running at full speed. This focus on precision develops fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination to a greater extent than tackling, which relies more on brute force and body mass.2) Greater Freedom for Skill Development: By eliminating the risk of life-altering tackle injuries, flag football gives players the freedom to experiment with more skill-demanding moves and dekes while running with the ball. Players can confidently try different spins, jukes, and cuts without fear of being tackled hard, leading to more risk-free opportunities for skill development and creativity on the field. This can lead to more dynamic and exciting game play, while also fostering greater confidence in young athletes.
While both versions of football offer physical and social benefits, flag football is increasingly recognized as a safer and developmentally beneficial option, especially for young athletes whose brains and bodies are still developing. It allows players to learn the fundamentals of the sport, such as passing, catching, and route running, without exposing them to the elevated risks of head trauma prevalent in tackle football.This early exposure to the sport's fundamentals can even translate to improved skill development if they transition to tackle football later on. However, while skill development and enjoyment are important aspects of youth sports, the primary concern for many parents is the long-term health and safety of their children. This leads us to a crucial discussion about the potential long-term consequences of head injuries, specifically a condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE.
Collegiate and High School GrowthNCAA Status: All three NCAA divisions voted to recommend adding women's flag football as a championship sport, with a formal vote expected in January 2027 and a target first championship in spring 2028. [1, 2]NAIA: The NAIA approved women's flag football as an official championship sport starting with the 2026–27 academic year. High School Surge: Participation in girls' flag football continues to surge nationwide, led by states like California where participation jumped over 25% year-over-year.
If you are a parent considering enrolling your child in football, the Concussion Legacy Foundation strongly recommends you delay enrolling your child in tackle football until the age of 14. Research continues to show us that the long-term effects of repetitive brain trauma from tackle football can be catastrophic. Meanwhile, football experts - from coaches to Hall of Fame players - remind us that you don't need to start tackle young in order to become a great football player. Until tackle football is proven safe for the developing brain, we urgently recommend flag and other non-tackle versions of football before age 14. As parents, you deserve to make an informed decision about your child's future health. That's why we launched The East Texas Flag Football League, to give parents an option.
This fall the League will begin offering a HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN division. We are adding this division to give local young ladies another opportunity to showcase their athletic ability and possibly earn a flag football scholarship that is now being offered by many colleges and Jr. colleges. The ladies will be able to register as part of a team or individually and be placed on a team.
The goal is to get more girls involved in high school sports and tap into a widespread love of football by many. In less than one year the number of schools playing girls flag has nearly tripled. According to the National Federation of State High Schools Associations, California joins Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Florida and Nevada that offers flag football as an official high school sport. Without the uil's approval, Texas high schools could organize flag football clubs. The competition would likely drive more schools to start teams and develop a pipeline of players.
In 2025 the league attracted over 200 players from Arp, Beckville, Bullard, Carlisle, Carthage, Cushing, Flint, Garrison, Henderson, Kilgore, Laneville, Longview, Mt. Enterprise, New Summerfield, Overton, Tatum, Timpson, Troup, Tyler, West Rusk and Whitehouse.
This year we hope to continue to grow, and we think adding a High School Women Division is a perfect way to accomplish this.