Indianapolis Colts officially launch NFL FLAG-sanctioned league to help grow sport

Flag football continues to trend upward, and a significant development toward the impressive rise occurred on Wednesday when the Indianapolis Colts announced the launch of the official Colts Flag Football League.

The new statewide network aims to grow flag football in Indiana by helping to connect parents and athletes to the NFL FLAG-sanctioned programs in the area.

Working alongside RCX Sports, the inaugural operations will include eight leagues and one developing league.

• Elkhart Flag Football (Ind.)
• Ft. Wayne East Flag Football (New Haven, Ind.)
• Ft. Wayne West Flag Football (Ind.)
• Indy South Flag Football (Indianapolis, Ind.)
• Pike/Indy West Flag Football (Indianapolis, Ind.)
• Noblesville Flag Football (Ind.)
• Louisville Flag Football (Ky.)
• First Baptist Athletics (Indianapolis, Ind.)
• YMCA of Greater Indianapolis (Ind.)

The sport continues to grow, from the youth levels to high school, partly due to efforts like the Colts organization over the past few years.

“Football brings people from all walks of life together for a common goal and teaches skills like teamwork, discipline and confidence that are important to success in life,” said Kalen Jackson, Colts Vice Chair and Owner, in a statement. “The Colts Flag Football League will provide kids a safe and fun way to learn the fundamentals of the game and help bring the sport to even more young people across our state.”

Jackson also added: “We’re especially excited about the new opportunities flag football offers for girls to learn and play the sport, which only will help grow the game in Indiana and beyond.”

Girls flag football at the Indiana high school level is currently in a pilot program phase, which is bringing the possibility of officially sanctioning the sport and joining the growing list of states—such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New York, Arizona, Illinois, and California, to name a few—a much closer reality.