NFL FLAG Football League Officially Launches in East Baton Rouge Parish; Registration Now Open Parish-Wide
National PAL Commits $150,000 to PAL of South Louisiana RCX Sports to Host Free Skills Clinic December 5 at Memorial Stadium
BATON ROUGE, La. (Sept. 17, 2026) — Hosted by the Louisiana Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation (LECJF) from the Inspiration Center, PAL of South Louisiana (PALSLA), National Police Athletic/Activities League (National PAL), RCX Sports, BREC, and parish law enforcement agencies today officially launched the NFL FLAG football league and opened online registration to players and families parish-wide. The launch builds directly on the partnership announced August 20, extending the coalition's community-trust mission into a hands-on youth recreation program for a winter 2027 season.
"Today extends the trust-building mission we announced on August 20 into a concrete, registerable program for our kids. Through PAL of South Louisiana, one of LECJF's featured resources, we're launching the first of many programs that will bring kids, cops, and communities together on the field." -Clay Young, chairman of the LECJF Board of Directors.
Multiple fields across East Baton Rouge Parish have been committed to the league, giving players, parents, coaches, referees, and volunteers local access no matter where in the parish they live.
"Committing BREC’s fields across the parish means every family, no matter their neighborhood, has a field close to home. That's what real access looks like." — Dr. Lawson, BREC
As part of the event, National PAL announced a $150,000 grant to PALSA. $50,000 of that total will help launch the NFL FLAG initiative across East Baton Rouge parish with the remaining $100,000 supporting future PALSLA Signature programming across the parish. These activities and athletic programs will provide high-quality, relationship-based youth engagement experiences that turn mentorship with law enforcement officers into action, equipping PAL kids with life skills, expanding opportunity, and creating positive relationships between youth and law enforcement.
"National PAL and chapters nationwide work to prevent juvenile crime and violence by building meaningful relationships among kids, cops, and communities. We're honored to help relaunch PAL of South Louisiana and continue to work with LECJF and other partners to make lasting impacts in this community. This $150,000 in funding is a great step in a long-term relationship with the youth and community members of the parish, one that will help PAL of South Louisiana provide empowering programming for years to come." — Dr. Stephen Coan, President & CEO, National PAL
RCX Sports, the official national operator of NFL FLAG, outlined the resources it is providing the new league and previewed a free, parish-wide skills clinic on December 5 at Memorial Stadium, open to every registered and prospective player and coach with complimentary health physicals provided courtesy of FMOL Health. With resources and expertise supporting over 2,000 flag football leagues nationwide, the level of equipment, technology, and league-management support coming to East Baton Rouge Parish will be unprecedented.
"Here at RCX Sports, we want every player to BE THE STORY. NFL FLAG gives young athletes a place to build confidence, show their creativity, and be a part of a supportive community where every player will have the opportunity to shine." — Devin Taverna, RCX Sports
Registration details
Registration for the NFL FLAG league of East Baton Rouge Parish is open now through the league's online registration portal. The league is open to boys and girls ages 6-18 (cannot be a High School graduate), with divisions organized by grade and age group. Full registration is $45 per player, and the first 400 players registered parish-wide will receive 50% off registration thanks to BREC and a dedicated private investment in the league. Families interested in coaching or volunteering can also indicate interest through the registration portal. Follow-up communication will be sent once registration is in motion.
The Registration Link is: www.lecjf.org/pal
The season will begin with a free, parish-wide skills clinic on December 5 at Memorial Stadium, featuring player training, resources for coaches, parents and volunteers, and complimentary health physicals courtesy of FMOL Health. All registered players should make every effort to attend. Registration will close Friday, December 18. The PALSLA NFL FLAG league will kick off with a parish wide Jamboree January 13th and will conclude with a parish wide playoff and championship in March 2027.
“Registration is open today, parish wide. We’ve built a season with real access in mind — that includes a half-price registration for the first 400 kids who sign up, made possible by our partner, BREC, and a private investment in this league. I want to thank every partner standing with us today for making this possible." — Barry Stewart, PAL Committee Chair & NFL FLAG Commissioner, PAL of South Louisiana
About PAL of South Louisiana
PAL of South Louisiana (PALSLA) is the local Police Athletic / Activities League chapter serving East Baton Rouge Parish, connecting youth with law enforcement through recreation, mentoring, and community programming.
About NFL FLAG
NFL FLAG is an NFL-licensed property of more than 2,000 locally operated leagues and over 830,000 youth athletes across all 50 states. NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program available for girls and boys ages 6-18, whose mission is to empower youth athletes and instill a lifelong passion for flag football through leagues that are engaging, fun, and accessible for everyone. With the support of the NFL, NFL FLAG provides a structured opportunity for kids to discover the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, and friendship — both on and off the field. RCX Sports is the official operator of NFL FLAG.
About National PAL
The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc. (National PAL) and its Chapters work nationwide promoting the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops, and communities through positive engagement. There are more than 200 PAL chapters throughout the United States, serving over 2 million youth annually. It is the premier model for modern community policing and connecting cops to kids.
About RCX Sports
RCX Sports is the exclusive national operator of NFL FLAG and the premier youth sports operating partner of the pros, providing officially licensed uniforms, league management technology, equipment, and dedicated support that empower league operators to run the absolute best youth sports leagues and events.
About BREC
BREC's mission is to provide safe, high-quality parks, recreation facilities, and programming that enrich the lives of East Baton Rouge Parish residents. Through this partnership, BREC continues to expand access to organized recreational leagues and to strengthen relationships between local law enforcement and the communities it serves.
About LECJF
The Louisiana Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation's (LECJF) mission is to implement sustainable solutions that promote public safety, uplift local law enforcement agencies, and build trust between the public and law enforcement throughout Louisiana by funding critical resources throughout our communities.
Media Contact: Ethan Bush, ethan@thirtythreestrategies.com
Visit LECJF.org, BREC.org, NATIONALPAL.org, NFLFLAG.com, or FMOLHS.org to learn more about the collaborative partners above. For all other inquiries, please contact the media contacts above.
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