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A friendly neighborhood game of flag football usually draws a younger crowd and is a favorite with the children. One day of fun could grow into a weekly neighborhood competition.

A few weeks before the big game, send out invitations or post announcements for the neighborhood game. Make sure you include the time (such as a Saturday morning), place (a nearby park or large yard), contact number, and a request for RSVP. You might also want to include a small disclaimer like: “Everyone plays for fun and at their own risk.” Follow up about a week before the game with a reminder call to your neighbors.

Recruit a few close friends or neighbors to arrive early with you. Set up cones to mark off the field. You can purchase flags that clip around players’ waists for the game at a sporting goods store. For a cheaper option, just play Two-Below. In this version, the offensive player with the ball is down if he or she is touched below the waist with both of a defensive player’s hands.

Warm up by playing catch with your family or friend so your neighbors see it’s time to join in. Choose teams by having the two youngest people on the field be captains. You can play with as few as six people. If you have more than 20, you should probably split the group so you have two separate games going simultaneously.

When you have enough players to start the game, go over the basic guidelines and field boundaries. Stress that the goal of the game is to have fun rather than relive the glory days of high school. Make certain that everyone is careful and the game remains safe, especially for the sake of the smaller children.

Helpful hint: To keep the fun going and to make a lasting connection, invite the football teams over to your home for a chili lunch. Share glory stories about the game, and invite neighbors who weren’t interested in playing the game. 

Instant Intentions

People are usually very open to prayer when they are about to put themselves at risk for twisted ankles or torn muscles. Start your game with prayer asking God for safety, and add levity to the prayer by asking God to help the older players remember they aren’t in high school anymore.

Remember, one week of football fun can easily turn into a weekly tournament. After the event, check with the players to see if there is interest in keeping the games going. If so, consider recruiting an assistant or two to help you organize the game. Choose a person with whom you’ve wanted to connect. Working together will give you a chance to go a little deeper with your assistant.

From the book, Field Guide to Neighborhood Outreach by Group Publishing, 2007.