NFL Chooses Hollywood To Kick Off National PAL Flag Football Partnership

Flag football is now the fastest-growing youth sport in the country and will be a new sport at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. National PAL and the NFL sealed an agreement this month that will open NFL FLAG to the 300 PAL chapters across the country.

Monday night’s kickoff in Hollywood is the start of a broad project, according to National PAL Vice President Dr. Galen Duncan.

“We want to take football and all sports and make them national events,” Dr. Duncan said. “This is an opportunity to combine with a huge sports organization like the NFL, to make this thing as big as we can and do some really nice things for young people.”

Police Athletic/Activities League chapters work to build stronger communities and prevent crime through police mentorship of local youth.

“What brings these kids in here is the NFL FLAG portion of it,” said Officer Patrick Agenor, who runs the Hollywood program. “Keep the kids off the street, and then we can actually direct them to our tutoring program and academics.”

Flag football is more accessible to boys and girls of all ages and body sizes than is tackle football.

“For young kids who are not looking for the physicality and want to learn how to play football, this is perfect,” Dr. Duncan said. “It doesn’t matter how fast you are or what size you are. It is technique. It is skill.”

Mayor Josh Levy opened the clinic by throwing out a ceremonial first pass, which was caught by young Donovan Sheffield. Chick-fil-A donated 100 dinners for the event. And every kid walked away with an NFL FLAG branded Miami Dolphins jersey.

“I got to meet some nice people, they are giving us some skills,” said Hollywood PAL under-9 team football player King Solomon, summing up his night. "It is a great Monday.”

Behind the fun and the competition is PAL’s mission of strengthening communities, National PAL’s Duncan said.

“It is a really simple equation. You have something for young people to do after school, you have less trouble, less issues, and you have an opportunity to show them something different where they can grow and be something great,” he said.