NFL FLAG FOOTBALL (Coed)
Youth Empowered USA has partnered with NFL FLAG Football to use the power of sports to create meaningful opportunities for young people through athletics, education, mentorship, and personal development. With the support of community leaders, coaches, families, and volunteers who share our commitment to teamwork and positive youth development, we are creating an environment where young athletes can learn the game, build confidence, develop relationships, and discover what they are capable of accomplishing.
Our goal is to introduce young people to football in a safe, welcoming, organized, and professional environment while promoting both physical and mental wellness. We believe sports can teach lessons that extend far beyond the playing field. These lessons include accountability, perseverance, communication, sportsmanship, leadership, and respect.
Just as importantly, Youth Empowered USA is committed to strengthening the people who make youth sports possible. By investing not only in players, but also in coaches and officials, we can create a healthier and more positive sports culture for everyone involved. Through education, mentorship, practical resources, and hands-on experience, we are building a stronger foundation for youth football today while developing the players, coaches, officials, and leaders of tomorrow.
OHIO VALLEY CO-ED LEAGUE
The Ohio Valley Co-ed League is the largest NFL Flag League in the State of Ohio, and the largest rural league in the United States. welcomes boys and girls and offers age-appropriate competition through four divisions: 8U • 10U • 12U • 14U
Whether a participant is experiencing organized football for the first time or looking for another opportunity to develop their skills, NFL FLAG provides an exciting environment where athletes can learn, compete, make friends, and have fun.
Youth Empowered USA’s NFL FLAG Ohio Valley Co-Ed League is offered in the spring and has been designed to introduce young athletes to the game of football rather than serve as an alternative to tackle football.
Our hope is that, by offering a contact-free option, more boys and girls will begin their football journey at a young age, gain valuable knowledge of the sport and then, as their bodies mature, develop a desire to suit up for their local jr. high and high school varsity programs.
THE SEASON
Youth Empowered USA’s Spring NFL FLAG season takes place throughout March, April, and May.
Each team participates in an 8-game regular season, with games played on Sundays at Civitan Park in Belpre, Ohio.
The season culminates with our championship Super Bowls at Ralph Holder Stadium on the campus of Belpre High School, giving our young athletes the opportunity to finish their season under the stadium lights in a true championship atmosphere.
PLAYER REGISTRATION
Registration Opens: Monday, November 2
Registration Fee: $100 per participant (financial assistance is available)
Player registration includes: Official NFL Team Jersey • Shorts • Flags • Flag Belt
Participants are required to provide their own mouthpiece, and football cleats are recommended.
From a young athlete's first snap to championship Sunday, Youth Empowered USA strives to create an NFL FLAG experience that teaches the game, develops the player, and builds an appreciation for football that can last a lifetime.
THE REGION
Whether participating in the Co-ed League or the NBA League, participation is available to teams representing one of the 12 Ohio Valley counties currently assigned to us.
WEST VIRGINIA
Jackson County- Ravenswood, Ripley
Mason County- Mason
Pleasants County- St. Marys
Ritchie County- Harrisville
Roane County- Spencer
Wirt County- Elizabeth
Wood County- Blennerhassett, Mineral Wells, Parkersburg, Vienna, Williamstown
OHIO
Athens County- Albany, Athens, Glouster, Nelsonville, Stewart
Meigs County- Pomeroy, Racine, Reedsville
Morgan County- McConnelsville
Noble County- Caldwell
Washington County- Barlow-Vincent, Belpre, Beverly, Marietta, New Matamoras, Waterford
SKILLS TRAINING
Building Better Players. Developing Better People.
Skills Training goes far beyond teaching young athletes how to throw, catch, run routes, defend, or pull a flag. Through age-appropriate instruction, practices, clinics, camps, and competitive experiences, participants develop football fundamentals while also strengthening confidence, physical fitness, teamwork, communication, discipline, sportsmanship, and decision-making.
Our goal is to help every athlete improve at the game while understanding that success is measured by more than wins and losses. Football becomes a classroom where young people learn to overcome challenges, accept responsibility, support their teammates, respond to adversity, and develop habits that can positively influence every area of their lives.
COACH MENTORING
Mentoring Coaches Who Mentor Kids.
Great youth coaches do much more than design plays and win games—they teach, encourage, communicate, mentor, and set an example. Coach Mentoring provides new and developing coaches with hands-on guidance, practical resources, leadership training, and experienced mentorship designed specifically for working with young athletes. Coaches learn effective practice organization, age-appropriate instruction, positive communication, player development, sportsmanship, conflict management, and techniques for creating an environment in which every child feels valued.
The objective is to develop coaches who understand that their greatest responsibility isn't simply creating better football players—it's creating a positive experience that young people will remember long after their final game.
REFEREE TRAINING
Teaching the Game. Building Confidence. Creating Opportunity.
Referee Training provides young people and adults with an opportunity to learn football from an entirely different perspective while developing valuable communication, decision-making, leadership, responsibility, and conflict-resolution skills. Participants receive instruction on NFL FLAG rules, positioning, mechanics, game management, safety, professionalism, and effective communication with players and coaches before putting those skills into practice through supervised, real-game experience.
For younger officials in particular, officiating can also provide an important first employment and leadership opportunity—teaching them to make decisions under pressure, communicate confidently, accept accountability, and earn the respect that comes with responsibility. The result is not only better-trained officials, but more confident individuals prepared to lead both on the field and beyond it.