‘So much adrenalin’ but ‘way less contact’: Chestermere club sees flag football taking off

Flag football is serving as an alternative to the full-contact sport for children in Chestermere and Langdon.

The popularity of flag football is on the rise. Kids from Chestermere and Langdon are loving the sport.

On a Thursday night in Langdon, many kids from the area are hitting the field for a little flag football.

They’re all part of the Chiefs Community Football Club out of Chestermere.

Ten-year-old Tayson Hartman plays defence but loves to score touchdowns.

He’s pumped up every time he gets on the turf.

“It’s awesome, and when you get the ball or an interception, there’s so much adrenalin,” said Hartman.

Eleven-year-old Renee Refvik has also fallen in love with flag football.

She says she got into it because she feels safe on the field.

“I find flag football is a very fun sport to play considering it is way less contact than contact football and it’s a really fun team sport,” said Refvik.

Despite starting the program recently, the Chiefs already have 61 players registered to play, and that number is expected to grow.

“It’s crazy that we have this many kids out here—it’s been a really good turnout so far,” said coach Tej Pal.

“I think it’s really good to see the diversity of kids in ages and boys and girls, too, so I think it’s a good experience for everyone.”

The field they’re playing on is at Horseshoe Crossing High School in Langdon, and it’s mighty impressive.

“New school, new field. It’s an incredible field, and I’ve always said that football is a family sport,” said Pal.

“The community always comes together for football, and it’s been a growing community for over a decade now, and it’s blossomed into the flag football community, and I love to see it.”

And you never know—there might be a future Olympian in the group, now that flag football is an Olympic sport.

“Yes, I want to be in the Olympics in this sport,” said Hartman.

And he knows what he must do to get there.

“Keep practising every day of the week, after school and on the weekends,” said Hartman.