A new youth flag football league is coming to the Front Range area providing a fun and educational sports experience. National Flag Football, the largest youth flag football organization in the nation, will debut this spring in eight locations, two in the north metro area, one at Five Star Stadium in Thornton and the other at Broomfield High School.

The league provides girls and boys ages 4-14 the opportunity to learn the game of football in a safe and fun environment, focusing on the aspect of having fun and sportsmanship.

“We are so excited to have our first season in Colorado,” said Francis Meram, Executive Director of National Flag Football. “With the history of football in Colorado, we knew coming to a state filled with die-hard Broncos fans would be a good fit.”

What differentiates the National Flag Football from other leagues Meram says is the level of professionalism the league promotes, including the use of the best possible stadiums and the hiring of Colorado High School Activities Association, CHSAA, officials to referee games. He said all players will receive an official National Football League jersey representing one of the NFL teams, excluding the Seattle Seahawks.

“Flag football is our only sport so all of our focus in on teaching kids the game of football,” he said. “We want to hire the most qualified referees and we want to be the best at what we do.”

Meram said good sportsmanship among players, coaches and parents is of utmost importance. Before the start of the season, a coaches meeting is conducted laying out the rules and the philosophy of the league: education, participation and good sportsmanship. Parents are also informed of the philosophy.

And when it comes to girls playing with boys, parents can expect their daughters to be treated equally.

“About ten percent of the players are girls and a lot of the time the girls play better than the boys because of their natural athletic talent,” Meram said. “Because it’s not tackle football, there are no barriers or boundaries between the boys and the girls. Everyone can come out and play at the same level.”

Games are played once a week in a five-on-five format on a 60-yard field. Practices will happen an hour before each game. The spring league begins the first week of April and ends the first week of June. Registration is open through Feb. 28 at . Games and practices at Five Star Stadium will be on Saturdays and on Sundays at Broomfield High School.