By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
On Jan. 11, on a regularly scheduled day of games, a ceremony was held at Plantation Park to recognize the 35th anniversary of CAA Flag Football. According to founding member George Vancore, back in 1988, the CAA league offered Pop Warner football in the fall and baseball in the spring — and in between there wasn’t much for kids to do.
“So we started taking kids to Mills Field on Sunday afternoons to just throw the football around,” Vancore said.
By early 1989 the games between kids from Julington Creek versus kids from Mandarin had really taken off and it was decided to start a league. Four teams in 1989 grew to 12 teams in 1990.
Steve and Debbie McCabe were instrumental in forming and serving on the first board and were recognized at the Jan. 11 along with Vancore as founders and “steadfast advocates” for the league’s success.
Vancore remained active with the league until he stepped away in 2013, but others have stepped up and the league continues to succeed and grow. Today, there are more than 750 athletes between the ages of five and 16 who play flag football.
“If you can put something in place that’s sustainable, others will take over,” Vancore said. “It’s not an easy lift, but it’s very rewarding.”
Vancore noted that the league continues to be run by volunteers who give of their hearts every day. High school age students, who have grown up playing flag football in the league, often return as coaches of younger teams and as referees.
CAA Flag Football offers both coed and girls only leagues, with practice beginning in November and games lasting through January each year. Games are played at Plantation Park. Signups start in July, online at www.caaflagfootball.org.
Photo courtesy Dana Kelley
CAA Flag Football teams.
