Vicksburg Rocket flag football saw a 33% increase in participation during the 2024 season. Kris Sanchez, Vicksburg flag football director, attributes the growth to more involvement by younger students and by reaching out to more girls. Vicksburg saw 160 students take part in the program: 69 kids in the grades 5/6 division, 51 in the 7/8 division and 40 in the 9 through 12 division.
Sanchez reports 22 girls in flag and anticipates growth. “In Ohio, they are working on getting girls’ flag as a high school sport and we want to be on the front line of that when it moves here to Michigan.” Currently, two of the head flag coaches are female.
Sanchez sees many benefits to participating in flag football.
“Because teams are so small, coaches can work with many kids 1 to 1 to help develop in the sport. Our emphasis is the importance of working as a team.”
Vicksburg’s flag football teams compete 5 on 5: the center snaps the ball, the quarterback hands it off, the players run their assignments, and everyone must do their job for the play to be successful.
“If you have enough successful plays,” said Sanchez, “you get touchdowns or ‘Tuddys’ and if you get enough tuddys, you win the game. It’s all about working one play at a time, one drive at a time and one game at a time.”
Sanchez also sees the flag program as a platform for young athletes to interact with one another and help each other develop. “We often see older kids helping and mentoring the younger ones on a team, encouraging one another and lifting each other up.” He also sees flag football as helping with confidence through discipline and skill development. It “builds leadership through motivating others and making strategic decisions throughout the game.”
There are no residency or school restrictions for flag football. Spring leagues are starting in May and information about signups is available at https://www.vicksburgrocketfootball.com.
