ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The Cosumnes Community Services District’s youth flag football league had its first games of the year on Saturday Sept. 27. Teams play at Laguna Community Park behind the Wackford Aquatic Complex, with the first games starting at 8 a.m.

This flag football league serves as a first step in football development. It teaches the fundamentals of the game like agility, awareness and hand-eye coordination.

The league is based on safety, fun and fair recreational environment, allowing the kids to have fun while they learn how to play. They are not focused on keeping track of the score, but more on making sure the kids in each division are having fun.

Three divisions make up the league: Division 3 is 5- to 7-year-olds with 12 teams; Division 2 is 8-to 10-year-olds with 12 teams and Division 1 is 11- to 14-year-olds with 10 teams.

Division 2 Quarterback Getting Ready to Throw. 

Each player is provided items like an official jersey, mouthpiece, flags, individual/team photo and an end-of-season award. They also have a chance to enter an End of Season Tournament that is a week after the last game.

Flag football is a great introduction to the game of football. It helps build confidence due to it being such a low- to non-contact sport.

Not only that, but it will give a foundation of teamwork and sportsmanship for the future. So if a child does make the transition to tackle football, they are acclimated to the game and the basics of certain positions.

They understand the game and what they are going to be asked to do to be accomplished. Along with recreational flag football, the Cosumnes Community Services District offers programs like basketball, baseball, soccer and even adult league sports.

A Division 3 team gets ready to snap the ball.

The programs bring opportunities to not just youth wanting to grow up playing sports but the whole community. The district offers activities throughout the year no matter the season, such as tennis, swimming and martial arts.

Children or just newcomers are able to learn the basics of the sport to build confidence before facing higher competition. This platform can lead individuals down a path of sports if they want to learn to play. And it provides competition of equal skill so the players can challenge themselves to improve.