Written by Bernard Newbold-http://www.jonesbahamas.com Thursday, 27 August 2009 19:31

Bahamas registers with NFL youth Flag Football

Freeport,Bahamas-With the game of American Football becoming highly popular among the primary schools, junior high and senior high school students, The Bahamas Youth Flag Football League exposed 13 young boys to a tournament in Miami earlier this month. Competing for the first time outside The Bahamas, the 9-11 and 12-14 year old teams won both divisional titles during the South Miami Youth Flag Football League Five-on-Five Back To School Tournament.

Head Coach and Manager of the team Lorenzo Bullard said it was the first time that the league invited a team from The Bahamas to play.

"We played under the name Royal Potcakes which we now must change to coincide with the National Football League (NFL) because this Youth Flag Football League is a part of the NFL’s development programme.

"Our new name for the organization would be the NFL Bahamas Youth Flag Football League and we have chosen the team name to be the Dallas Cowboys," said Bullard. Having won the SMYFFL tourney in Miami, Bullard said they have been invited to play again in October at another tournament.

"If we win the tournament in October, we would receive an all expenses paid trip to Miami to play in the Pro Bowl tournament and stay to watch the NFL 2010 Pro Bowl Gamem," added Bullard.

With this league not a part of the Commonwealth American Football League flag programme, Bullard said his intent is to have New Providence establish 15 to 20 teams under the NFL Bahamas Youth Flag Football League.

"Since the name Dallas Cowboys is already taken, our teams can be name after the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions. We look to expand this league to the Family Islands once 15 to 20 teams have been establish in New Providence," said Bullard.

By joining the NFL development programme, Bullard says they would play under the NFL rules, and once the season is completed they will be structurally organized and ready to move forward.