When I played youth football years ago, we couldn’t play tackle football until the eighth grade with our junior high school team. Before that, our only option was flag football.

Today, kids can begin putting the pads on at an earlier age.

There are distinct differences between the flag and tackle games, and one two-time Super Bowl champion works with flag football players, teaching the skills to help kids develop in that game.

Rosevelt Colvin has been running an NFL FLAG powered by USA Football league in the Indianapolis area for years. Teams from his league have gone on to participate in regional flag tournaments.

Colvin has said that flag football’s benefits will transfer directly into the tackle version, so I’m listening. Check out this video, which appeared on NFL Rush featuring Colvin as he instructs the proper fundamentals.

Here are some of the benefits of playing flag football:

• Skill position fundamentals. Young athletes can learn throwing and receiving mechanics without contact. Sometimes, the fear contact alters the kids’ mechanics.
• Defensive fundamentals. Flag players have to see the ball, play the pass and grab the flag. Grabbing a flag can sometimes be harder than making a tackle. The proper technique in grabbing a flag is transferable to tackle football and helps with proper technique.
• Work ethic. Just like everything else in life, reaching goals requires work. Flag offers another great environment for kids of all levels to participate in and learn the benefits of working hard individually and as a team.

Spring leagues are signing up at NFLFlag.com.

Jackie Bledsoe is a writer, blogger, speaker, husband and sports parent of three. He’s played sports for more than 30 years, including the collegiate level, while coaching youth sports for the past nine years. You can read more from Jackie on his blog, JackieBledsoe.com, and connect with him on Twitter (@jbledsoejr).