Two East Lancs school to compete at national NFL championships

Two schools in East Lancashire are set to represent the North West at an upcoming national championships of 'flag football'.

The schools are the region's NFL Flag Champions and will go head-to-head with other school teams from across the country to take the national title.

NFL Flag - also known as flag football - is a non-contact form of American Football, in which players have tags attached to their bodies which opponents must grab to tackle them, similar to touch or tag rugby.

It is a non-contact, fast-paced and inclusive form of the sport, with no need for big pads and helmets, and less chance of injury.

Stonyhurst Saint Mary's Hall, in the Ribble Valley, is sending a mixed under 13s team to compete, while Mount Carmel High School, in Accrington, will be sending a girls' under 15s team, after they each came out on top in North Western heats.

The competition takes place at Loughborough University, home of the NFL Academy's elite athletic performance centre, on Wednesday, June 26, with 28 schools and more than 260 children taking part.

The year is the first time a girls' under 15s championship has been held, after a 78 per cent rise in schools taking part from last year.

Chris Long, NFL head of community and grassroots development, said: “Thank you to all the schools from who have competed in this year’s championships at all levels.

"We are pleased to see participation and engagement with the sport of NFL Flag continue to grow year on year with more and more children being introduced at school.

"It’s a diverse sport that allows boys and girls from all backgrounds to participate together, and we look forward to welcoming all our finalists to Loughborough on June 26.”

Since its foundation in 2017, the NFL Flag programme has grown to now be played in more than 650 schools nationally by 60,000 children.