The Bahamas Flag Football League's (BFFL) Youth Program is set to kick off today at the Winton Rugby Pitch.

The introduction of the Youth Flag Football League is the BFFL's way of contributing to the increase of the awareness of the sport according to league president Jayson Clarke, and it will provide new opportunities to up and coming players.

"I think the biggest factor in getting the youth league up and running was the fact that we saw the potential opportunities for the young kids," he said.

"While the adult league is going on there are scores of young kids playing at the field and then when we look at it, those opportunities for those kids who have the knowledge of football, it allows them to be better positioned for scholarships, education and, possibly, a professional career."

Along with presenting another source of recreation for the youth, Clarke feels the league could also help teach the kids other core values and the importance of teamwork.

"Looking at those things and using football as a tool to help them develop those skills and develop the discipline that comes with learning a sport we saw the need to capitalize on this opportunity," he said.

"The potential for a youth league is always great because parents are always looking to get their kids involved in something. I do see this league taking off very quickly, even though we will try to manage its growth. Of course, volunteers will always be a challenge but we do see a similar potential at the youth level and hope to see a similar success as we have had at the adult level."

The league will also serve as a feeder system for the BFFL and national teams.

"The hope is always that teams will adopt teams within the youth league and let it also serve as a mentoring option for adults to mentor and coach the kids and build strong relationships amongst them," Clarke added.

Registration takes place today at the Winton field. The registration fee is $35.

Randy Smith, Guardian Sports Reporter

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian