This fall, the Diocese of Columbus’ Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) will offer flag football for first, second and third graders for the first time.
Tackle football has been available in the Columbus area for grades five through eight, and flag was implemented for fourth and fifth grades when concussions became more of a concern. Now, students will have the opportunity to begin playing together as early as first grade.
CYO activities are open to students in Catholic schools and parishes.
“The purpose of CYO athletics is to use sports as a vehicle for discipleship and evangelization,” Ryan Aiello, director of CYO athletics, said. “We believe that creating more options and engaging a younger audience is an extended effort in fulfilling that purpose.”
As Aiello pointed out, flag football will become an Olympic sport in 2028, and both the National Football League and USA Football frequently promote it.
“In working with our CYO community and high school coaches, we felt that (flag football provides an) opportunity to capture a younger audience (and) grow the game by introducing a safe, exciting way to play while teaching proper fundamentals and techniques,” said Aiello, a former high school football coach at Newark Catholic.
The hope is that allowing kids to start the sport earlier in their education may lead to more dedication to it later on.
“Like any other sport, early positive experiences can lead to sustained interest and participation in the sport,” Aiello said. “Players who start younger will develop higher proficiency … due to more practice and experience.”
Brent Racer, who coaches fifth and sixth grade football at Columbus St. Andrew, said that earlier involvement in the sport “fosters team cohesion and a sense of community among young players.”
Racer, whose sons Liam and Brayden play at St. Andrew, believes that an athletic program’s success can be attributed to its cultivation of a deep, early interest in the sport for kids.
“Grassroots engagement can lead to more competitive and successful programs, as these players progress through the ranks, ultimately boosting overall program performance and ensuring long-term sustainability and growth,” he said.
Additionally, offering diocesan students the opportunity to play together from a younger age builds camaraderie among those who continue playing throughout high school.
“I feel like the guys I played with for a lot of years are the people I have the strongest bonds with today, even if I don’t see them much,” said Vinny Pardi, who played for Columbus St. Andrew in fifth through eighth grade and then at Columbus Bishop Watterson High School. “We developed a brotherhood with each other through the bumps and the bruises and the challenges you take on together. There’s a feeling of having each other’s backs.”
Pardi’s oldest son, Marco, will start second grade this year and play for the newly established flag football team there.
“The sport instilled certain values in me like perseverance and loyalty that I hope to foster in my kids, too,” Pardi said.
Aiello agrees. Asked about the value that playing football adds to young kids’ lives, he noted, among other things, the life skills it instills.
“Football teaches discipline, resilience, and the importance of hard work,” he said. “It helps in developing leadership and strategic thinking skills. (It’s) one of the few sports (where players) practice more than they compete, which encourages the value of understanding processes and roles.”
He also noted the mental benefits of the sport in a culture where the emotional health of youth is in jeopardy.
“A lot is going on in our society today that challenges our youth, specifically in connecting with others,” Aiello said. “Team sports within the CYO are an opportunity to be a part of a team while experiencing the presence of our faith.”
The CYO is diligent in working to ensure a positive experience for all players throughout the diocese.
“We guide a minimum and maximum roster size to help ensure there are no forfeits with low rosters, and that all players are receiving playing time with the larger rosters,” Aiello said. “We are pushing to establish grade level divisions to ensure a safe playing environment, but there may be divisions that play one grade above to establish a schedule.
“We want parishes to form their own team … but if numbers are low, there is an opportunity to merge with another parish. We provide guidelines on that as well, such as keeping merges to a close proximity for practicing purposes and merging parishes within high school feeder systems.”
As far as goals for the future, Aiello hopes to continue growing the program to include more kids.
“Our vision is to move forward with a girls' flag football program,” he said. “This is important as it relates to our purpose and mission of providing opportunities to all children.”
One of the priorities is using sports to strengthen ties throughout the community. “(We want to) create a supportive environment for all participants to grow as athletes and as disciples,” Aiello said.
For more information on the Columbus CYO, its flag football program or other sports, visit ccyo.doodlio.com.
