Regina merges flag football with playing in full pads

IOWA CITY — They wanted an alternative, so they decided to merge the best of both worlds.

Members of the Iowa City Regina football community assessed the possibilities of balancing the feel of middle-school tackle football with the reduced risk of full-contact related injuries in flag football.

The result was a flag football league with fifth- and sixth-grade players in full pads. The inaugural season helped young players adjust to playing with the weight of pads, while avoiding some of the hits of tackle football.

'Over the last few years with the emphasis on youth sports and if tackle is the right thing for kids and concussions,' Regina assistant Jason Dumont said, 'we're trying to find a way to teach the kids the right way to tackle, block and play the game of football without being out there actually putting them at risk of concussion or doing it the wrong way.'

Dumont, who has a son in the program, said he noticed contact in middle-school flag football games. He called Regina Coach and former University of Iowa and NFL tight end Marv Cook to discuss the hybrid, hoping to protect players and teaching them proper technique.

'He thought it was a great idea,' Dumont said of Cook. 'He suggested we go full pads and add the pants and then they are protected.'

Parents had some reservations at first. Many have supported the program, getting questions answered during a meeting earlier this year.

'We weren't sure what to expect,' said Neil Joss, a coach whose son participates in the program. 'It has worked out great. It has worked way better than our expectations.'

Joss added, 'The boys have done really well. They've loved it.

Rules were modified, playing a 7-on-7 format with two 12-minute halves. Regina had three teams that played two games for five Sundays, adding a midweek scrimmage under the Regina lights and a season-ending punt, pass and kick contest last Sunday.

'We split the teams up evenly,' Dumont said. 'We have three teams of eight kids.

'We split them up by experience and weight.'

Three lineman, two receivers, a quarterback and a running back form the offense. The defense consists of three linemen, two defensive ends and two linebackers.

Blocking up front is full contact. Players do work on tackling with dummies in practice.

'A lot of basics (and) drills,' Joss said. 'A lot of the same things varsity players and older kids do.'

Each team plays a large line on both sides of the ball for one half with smaller players as receiver and backs. Then, they switch, allowing bigger players to experience the skill positions.

'Every kid has to play the line,' Dumont said. 'Every kid gets to play running back or receiver. Not every kid gets to play quarterback all the time, but at some point in the season they do.

'You never have a large kid blocking a small kid or vice versa with a smaller kid defending a larger kid on the line of scrimmage. They're not tackling so it doesn't matter if a large or small kid is carrying the ball. They're grabbing a flag.'

The approach not only teaches players about the responsibilities of other positions, but can benefit the player and program in long term.

'You might be a big kid in fifth grade and you might not ever be allowed to carry the football, and you get frustrated and quit the game of football,' Dumont said. 'That might be the kid who stops growing and then would be the starting tailback or fullback when he gets to high school.'

Teams play on a 50-yard field, starting 40 yards from the goal line. They have four downs to get 10 yards and move the chains, which are manned by players. Penalties are the same.

Passes are mandatory on fourth-down plays and extra-point plays from the standard conversion line.

Teams also use the same plays and verbiage of the varsity program. Joss said players attended varsity games and recognized plays, formations and signals from the stands.

'They know the plays,' Joss said. 'That's pretty cool for them. It's a good connection for them.'

Dumont has had other flag football programs and youth football coordinators contact him about their effort. He said some middle schoolers are ready for tackle football, but it is fine to wait. This is an option for everyone.

'I think it is something that really could grow,' Dumont said. 'The big thing is you have to spend a couple years with younger kids teaching the proper technique. To just spend two weeks practicing and throw them out there and say go play tackle football just isn't fair.

'We will re-evaluate. If there is a portion of sixth-graders who want to try tackle football we might do it within a 7-on-7 program. There are probably some that won't be ready to do it. That's OK. We'll stay with this. I think it's a work in progress.'

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