The Northside’s youngest football players chase flags for summer fun

Photos and text by David Pierini staff reporter

Coach Gino Eagle isn’t trying to teach his football team X’s and O’s. He’s got one play.

“If you’re not running with the ball, what are you doing?” Eagle asks his team with his hand cupped by his ear to indicate he is insisting the correct answer be said aloud. 

Mack Kelly cuts his teeth on the game of football playing for the Minnesota Panthers flag football team. Photo by David Pierini

“Blocking!” 

The Minnesota Panthers’ youngest players, ages 4 to 6, have a blast getting a taste for the game with flag football. The Northside program, which has a popular tackle football program for youth, added flag football last summer. Word spread of the fun kids were having and this season’s roster is twice as big. 

Practices are at Shingle Creek Park and the Panthers play weekly games in a flag league with teams from Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center. 

Players wear a belt with two colorful ribbons, or flags, velcroed to the sides. Rather than tackle the ball carrier, defenders must grab a flag from the runner’s belt. Play is stopped at the spot where theft of the flag occurred. 

DeMarcus Howell, 5, right, and Gion Eagle high-five to start the second half of play during a recent game. Photo by David Pierini

At both practice and game, Eagle repeats - and repeats - the call to block opposing players. There are also several reminders that “hike” means the play begins. Sometimes a player forgets the no-tackle rule. 

In games, there are several dramatic runs, especially toward the wrong end zone. 

Tatum Lewis, 4, successfully runs past defenders during a recent practice at Shingle Creek Park. Photo by David Pierini

“It definitely takes patience,” Eagle says. “They definitely develop during the season. We first wanted 5- and 6-year-olds but a lot of 4-year-olds came out. Last year’s 4-year-olds right now are super good.”