New Meredith-based youth flag football league is affiliated with the NFL

The Lakes Region Flag Football League (LRFFL) will play its inaugural season this spring. Based primarily out of Meredith, the league will be for all Lakes Region youngsters between the ages of six and 15, with three age divisions: 6 to 8-year-old coed teams; 9 to 11-year-old coed teams; 12 to 15-year-old boys' teams; and 12 to 15-year-old girls' teams. Flag football is a non-contact sport and there are no helmets or pads required for play. Players wear flag holding belts and are considered "tackled" when the ball carrier's flag is pulled off the belt by a defender.

Easy online registration will be through the National Football League website. Fees will be collected through the NFL and each registered player will receive as part of his his/her fee and NFL reversible team jersey and a set of NFL flag belts to keep.

The LRFFL is open to kids from all town around the Meredith area, including Center Harbor, Sandwich, Moultonborough, Gilford, Laconia, Belmont, New Hampton, Ashland, Holderness and Plymouth.

The fee for the spring season is expected to be $45.

The registration process will begin on February 12, with a kick-off jamboree planned for early April and pre-season games to begin on April 19. Plans are underway for a six-week season, followed by playoffs and a Super Bowl championship game in each age division.

Long range plans are in place for a fall and spring season each year.

To express interest in registering, or to learn more about the league, please e-mail LRFFL@metrocast.net or call 279-1254.

The LRFFL is currently looking for sponsors to help defray start-up costs for the inaugural season and to help keep the registration fees as low as possible for the players. If interested, please contact the league at LRFFL@metrocast.net or call 279-1254.

The National Football League website to reach is www.nflflag.com/website/home/lrffl.