Any child in grades K–8 is eligible to play. There is no experience required — just a great attitude and a desire for safe, inclusive flag football fun! Players are placed into divisions based on their grade, with rules and gameplay tailored to each age group.

None at all! We welcome players and coaches of every experience level. We start every season with the fundamentals and build skills, plays, and strategy as the season progresses. Whether it's your first time on a field or you're a returning veteran, there's a place for you at Charm City Athletics.

Too many to list! Head over to our Benefits of Flag Football page for 8 research-backed reasons why flag football is one of the best sports for kids — from fitness and teamwork to mental toughness and easy commitment.

All games and practices are on Sunday afternoons — no weeknight commitments! Arrive at your scheduled time and your athlete will complete a 30-minute practice followed by a 60-minute game, for a total of about 90 minutes per session. The season includes an Intro Week, five weeks of regular season play, a playoff week, and a Championship Week.

Every registration includes an official NFL Flag jersey (real NFL teams!) and an NFL Flag belt — both are yours to keep and must be brought to every game. Required gear your family provides: non-metal cleats, pocketless shorts or pants, and a mouthguard.

Optional extras include gloves, arm sleeves, and headbands. Jewelry or anything that could snag is not permitted during play. Everything except cleats can be purchased through Charm City Athletics at registration or on game day through our gear vending. Your full order — including uniform, belt, and any extras — is distributed on the first day of the season.

Yes — everyone plays. Coaches work hard to give every player meaningful time on the field every game. The exact breakdown may vary slightly game to game, but full participation for every athlete is always the goal and expectation.

We use a combination of grade, experience, size, athletic ability, and buddy requests — all collected through the registration questionnaire — to build teams that are as balanced and competitive as possible. Senior Division players also participate in a pre-season Senior Evaluation Day to help us assess skills and build fair teams. Team placement is taken seriously and we do our very best to create a level playing field.

Our program is coached by parent and family volunteers. Each team has up to 3 coaches, and no experience is required — we provide everything you need to be successful.

Charm City Athletics supports every coach with resources every step of the way. Coaches also receive a discount on registration.

Many of our best coaches started out unsure — and ended the season not wanting it to be over. Coaching your kid in youth sports is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and we make it as easy as possible. Charm City Athletics itself was founded by Chris after he volunteered to coach his son Diego's very first flag football season.

Our Pee Wee, Sophomore, and Junior divisions use a Coach QB — meaning a coach steps in as the quarterback for both teams on every play. This keeps the game moving, ensures every child gets the ball regularly, and lets young players focus on running routes, making catches, and playing defense rather than worrying about the snap and throw.

In Pee Wee, the focus is entirely on the running game — pass plays are not permitted. This keeps the game age-appropriate and gives our youngest athletes the chance to build confidence, learn the basics of flag football, and have fun without the complexity of a passing offense.

By the time players reach our Senior Division, they transition to a Player QB — running a full offense with pass plays, routes, and live rushing. The Coach QB model in the younger divisions is a deliberate stepping stone that builds football IQ and sets every player up for success as they grow.

Yes. We partner with NFL Flag and Checkr to conduct free background checks on all volunteer coaches before the season begins. We also enforce a strict, zero-tolerance Abuse and Molestation Policy. Your child's safety is the top priority for our organization — our mission is to be safe, inclusive, and fun, always.

Yes! We are committed to never denying a child access to our programs due to financial barriers. We offer a sliding scale registration fee and partner with outside organizations to provide grants for qualifying families. Email us at chris@charmcityathletics.com to learn more or apply.

Our full refund policy is available on the Refund Policy page of this website and is also presented during registration for your review. For refund-related questions, email chris@charmcityathletics.com with your league name and player name.