<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="65001"%> NS Flag - Youth Schedule

The Spring II season start has been pushed back a week to April 6, 2024
LONG ISLAND SPRING II YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE
 

See phots on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NSFlag/
Veterans Park - 261-267 Bellerose Ave, East Northport
631-262-0543 - www.NSFlag.com

Team, group & individual registration welcome - Veterans Park - 261-267 Bellerose Ave, East Northport
Divisions: Pre-k to High School - Checks made out to: Get in Shape LI,  NS Flag, PO Box 715, East Northport, N.Y. 11731  

The schedule can change and be updated as needed. Please check website and our Facebook before driving to a game.

OFF-SITE PRACTICE POLICY
Running a youth sports program safely is a complex undertaking. When children's safety and well-being are at stake, procedures must be in place that help program administrators ensure the protection of their young participants. Our program takes place one day a week, at one site for a defined time frame, supervised by refs and league officials. This one-day commitment is one of the reasons many parents register their child in our league. We do not conduct volunteer screening or volunteer background checks and we can’t vet practice fields/locations (we have cleaned up broken bottles and shredded aluminum cans on the fields we use). Those are two of the reasons we do not sanction or encourage off-site practices. We do this to ensure the safety of the children in the program. In addition out of an abundance of caution and to protect individual privacy we do not share players or families’ contact info. Parents are welcome to share contact info, but we will not. 


The 'No-run zone'
 When a team is starting play within five yards of a touchdown or the first down marker (mid-field), they are not allowed to run the ball. They must use a passing play.


OBSERVATION FROM AN OFFICIAL WHO REFS NUMEROUS YOUTH SPORTS
Relative safety of Flag Football compared to Soccer, Baseball and Basketball


Baseball: While two players trying to catch the football can possibly collide, the same thing could happen in baseball as two outfielders collide trying to catch a sinking line drive. A young pitcher who has little control of his fastball could hit an opposing player with a wild pitch.  The use of aluminum and composite bats has added velocity to hits, making line drives and grounders more dangerous to pichers and infielders. Players sliding into bases or home plate can 'spike' or otherwise injure an opponent.

Soccer: While there is the slide-tackle in soccer, no similar play exists in flag football. Diving or sliding to advance the ball is strictly prohibited.  Fumbles are ruled a 'dead-ball' taking away any possibility that players will dive to recover the ball.  In soccer a kicked ball can easily contact a teammate or opponent's head. There are no 'kick-offs' in flag football.  All series start at the five yard line.

Basketball:  While it is legal to set a 'pick' in basketball, a similar play is illegal in flag football. A 'pick' is essentially a block. Blocking is prohibited in flag football. 
While diving for a loose ball in basketball (on hardwood floors) is legal in basketball, players are not permitted to dive for any reason in flag football games. Once a ball is fumbled the play is over and all movement ceases.

To sum up: Flag football was designed so that all players, no matter what size, can have all the fun, excitement and exercise of tackle football without the violence.  In Flag Football all intentional contact is prohibited. While the chance of incidental contact still exists, additional rules were instituted to minimize incidental contact. 

STANDINGS

Prolonged celebrations:
While we understand a player's desire to celebrate after scoring a touchdown, please be considerate of the feelings of the child on the other side of that play.
That player already feels bad, therefore prolonged and boisterous celebrations are needless and hurtful and show a lack of understanding of basic good sportsmanship.



Calling Plays:
The most important aspect of play calling is keeping communication simple and age appropriate for the kids you are coaching.  While middle school aged kids may understand "Trips Left 249 center 4" in time, 5-6 year olds will be baffled and need the simplest of plays, such as: "Sean is QB; Sean, you hand off to Zach and Zach, you run to the right ride".  When calling plays please distribute the ball as evenly as possible. The children who participate will have varying degrees af athleticism and enthusiasm.  It's important that everyone gets involved in every aspect of the game.  

Refresher: Only after play action (fake hand-off) can the quarterback run with the ball.  We want as many players involved in every play as much possible.
You will notice the varying size of each teams roster.  The reason for this is that our first priority is to honor requests for placement with coaches and/or other children.

 
3/21/14
Refresher:
 
The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s belt is when the flag 
is pulled, not where the ball is. Absolutely NO laterals or pitches 
of any kind are allowed. 


Refresher: Only after play action can the quarterback run with the ball.  We want as many players involved in every play as much possible.
3/21/14
Play Action

When running a play action flag football play, there are a variety of options when it comes to who the quarterback can pass to. The best result will be for a big yardage gain down the field. However there is also an opportunity to hit a receiver coming across the middle on a slant play, which is especially helpful when you need to pick up a few extra yards for a new first down. Another options is for the running back, who previously faked the hand-off, to run through the line and then find open space directly in front of the linebackers. Finding the running back in this area gives him or her room to catch the ball and still hopefully get a big yard gain. Another vital option for play action plays are for the quarterback to roll out after the fake hand-off, and instead run the ball on his own (can not be used in the 'no run zones'). 

Running the Football: Teams are allowed to run the football, but only after a hand-off or a play action fake. A player receives a hand-off in the backfield has the option to run or pass the ball. After a hand-off or fake hand-off occurs, opposing players can rush from anywhere on the field. Also, a hand-off kills the seven second clock, enabling the offensive player to remain in the backfield without throwing the ball as long as he/she wants.


2.20.14:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Active Children and Adolescents

Regular physical activity in children and adolescents promotes health and fitness. Compared to those who are inactive, physically active youth have higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and stronger muscles. They also typically have lower body fatness. Their bones are stronger, and they may have reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Youth who are regularly active also have a better chance of a healthy adulthood. Children and adolescents don't usually develop chronic diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or osteoporosis. However, risk factors for these diseases can begin to develop early in life. Regular physical activity makes it less likely that these risk factors will develop and more likely that children will remain healthy as adults.


How to Support Your Youth Athlete without Crossing the Line

Remember that, above else, youth sports are supposed to be fun. Do you want your child to win? Of course! But is the world going to come crashing down if they don’t? It’s natural for parents to want their child to excel in everything they do, but you have to be careful to not cross the thin line between supporting and forcing/pushing. It's hard to have a good time when you aren't enjoying what you're doing.

1. Have realistic expectations.

Not every child is a natural born athlete and there is nothing wrong with that! Children learn at different speeds, so while one player might “get it” right away another player is going to need a couple more practices under their belt before they nail a certain skill. It’s important that sports parents set realistic expectations for their youth athletes and celebrate the little victories. Maybe your basketball player won’t make everyone of their free throws during a game, no matter how much they practice at home, but they execute the perfect pick during another play. Celebrate what they get right and keep in mind that youth sports is a journey! Your child might not go pro one day but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a blast playing with their friends right now.

2. Create a “sports free” time at home.

It’s important to make sure sports don’t overshadow the rest of their life. Everyone needs a break from youth sports now and then, especially after a loss. Make the commitment to yourself and your youth athlete that there will always be a “sports free” time at home where they won’t have to relive every play from the previous game. A little breathing room can help clear their head and help them bounce back from a loss.

While it’s important to learn from your mistakes so you can improve for the next time, at some point it can come across as harping on the negative, which can make your athlete start to doubt their abilities. They might get so worried about making a mistake and letting you down they freeze up on the field.

3. Don’t coach from the sidelines.

It’s important that sports parents remember that they are spectators, not the coaches. Your job is to cheer and support your player (and their teammates) not coach from the sidelines. Not only does it undermine the authority of their coach, it actually puts your athlete is an uncomfortable situation. Who are they supposed to listen to? Are you going to be upset if they listen to their coach over you?

4. Watch what you say.

It’s so important for youth athletes to know their parents love them and are proud of them regardless of the score at the end of the day. If you only praise them when their team wins and nitpick over their mistakes (going back to the need for realistic expectations), your child might start to feel like they only way they can make you proud is to be perfect. At the end of the day youth sports is just a game, not life or death. You want them to have fun, make friends and build self-confidence.

Call 631-262-0543 Team and individual registration welcome.

NSFlag.com serves the Northport/East Northport, Kings Park, Commack, Elwood, Harborfields, Huntington, South Huntington, and Half Hollow Hills Districts.
 Parents please remember to apply sunscreen to your children before each game. Consumer Reports online Sunscreen buying guide:  http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/sunscreens/buying-guide.htm

Long Island Adult IceHockey Leagues - Check for Next Season: www.IslandIceHOCKEY.com

Get in Shape Long Island
PO Box 715
East Northport, NY 11731