Youngsters play on Sunday mornings
Flag football isn’t new. It’s been an option for kids in Cornwall for the last six years. But this is the first time it’s been offered in the fall rather than the spring.
The autumn program attracted 125 youngsters (including six females) who would normally be playing in Division 2 or 3 of the Hudson Valley Youth Football Association. But the association canceled its games this year because of the pandemic. And the folks in Cornwall hated to see their kids sitting home with nothing to do.
The organizers got a major assist when volunteers at the Black Rock Fish and Game Club offered to maintain their field so it could be used for games on Sunday mornings. On the final week of the program, the seventh- and eighth-graders started their contests at 9 a.m. The younger players took the field when the big guys were done.
The league used tape, rather than chalk, to mark off a pair of 70-by-30 yard playing areas. The officials wore striped vests and the teams could be recognized by the color of their T-shirts. All the players had two flags tucked into their belts. Since tackling was outlawed, there was no need for protective equipment. Although the coaches wore masks, face coverings were optional for players.
Expenses and preparation were kept to a minimum. The volunteers included several members of the state championship high school football team.
As the name implies, there’s no tackling in flag football. When a defender grabs a flag, the play is over. There are no punts or kickoffs. Teams get three downs to score a touchdown. It’s not that easy. In the game I watched, the teams moved up and down the field without scoring.
Both sides passed more than they ran. There was no blocking. But only one defender was allowed to rush the passer. Most of the passes were airborne before the defender got to the flag.
The officials scored the game. But there were no league standings, no playoffs and no championships. The rivalries were intense but friendly. If players landed on the turf, an opponent usually helped them up.
The mountains in the background made the setting picturesque. The quality of the play was good.
Perhaps some of the players will be the nucleus of a high school championship team in the future. But the real purpose of the program was summarized by one of the coaches. “At least the kids are doing something outdoors,” he said.
As of the last week of the season, there had been no injuries and no cases of the corona virus. League President David Carnright thanked Tom Keane and Howard Lane of the Black Rock Fish and Game Club for their assistance.
