My Experience Playing Intramural Flag Football at Tufts
The floodlights are lit, the turf is glistening green, and the dozens of players are eager to kick off. No, I’m not talking about Monday Night Football or even a Saturday night college football showdown. I’m talking about Friday Night Lights … on Ellis Oval.
This fall, I joined an intramural flag football team with my friends. We named our team Rick’s Protégés, a nod to our friend, who is a member of the class of 2025 and helped to introduce us to Tufts as freshmen. Having missed out on the opportunity to participate in flag football last fall semester, I jumped at the chance to take part this time around.
Games take place every Friday night, between 4:30 and 7:30. Ellis Oval, Tufts’ varsity football field, is divided into four vertical strips of 20 yards in width, allowing for multiple games to take place at once. Each team is directed in advance to wear black or white to distinguish between the two sides, and each team picks up red or blue belts with two velcro flags. After a “coin toss” to decide which team starts with the ball, play ensues. Each game consists of two 20-minute halves, with each team allotted one time out per half. One first down can be attained per drive, usually by reaching the halfway point between sidelines, and teams have the option to punt on fourth down. The quarterback can be rushed after five seconds, and each touchdown is equivalent to one point. Obviously, no tackling is permitted, and a flag must be removed for play to halt. Teams usually consist of seven to nine players, with five players allowed on the field at once. Play is fast-paced and exciting, with receivers making spectacular catches and defenses trying their best to keep up.
Through four games this season, Rick’s Protégés might as well have been the 1972 Miami Dolphins. We were utterly unstoppable, steamrolling our competition. Our southpaw quarterback was tossing dimes into the endzone, while we produced some huge interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. After finishing the regular season 5-0, we secured a first-round bye for the playoffs. However, in the quarterfinals, we ran into our team’s namesake, Rick. His team demolished ours and sent us home packing for the off-season.
While my team did not secure a championship, I still had a lot of fun playing intramural flag football this fall. Intramural sports are the best. People come, hang out with their friends, have a good time, and leave. It is the perfect way to squeeze in a quick workout while also getting to enjoy the comradery and teamwork associated with more organized club or varsity teams. I always looked forward to our Friday night games on Ellis Oval. Our games provided a desperately needed study break and also provided the perfect segway into the weekend. Simply, it was fun to feel like I was out on the playground at recess again, imitating my favorite NFL stars. Also, it was pretty cool to be allowed to use the stellar varsity football field and facilities for our games.
As flag football is a fall intramural sport, registration begins over the summer. Therefore, I recommend having your team in mind prior to the start of the semester, and keeping an eye out for registration to open before coming to campus. Last fall, as a freshman, I, understandably, did not know enough of my peers to form a flag football squad. That’s not an issue, though. It’s natural. The further along you get at Tufts, the more friends you will make, and the more receivers you get to choose from when you drop back to pass.
Overall, I would highly recommend participating in intramural flag football, or any intramural sport, at Tufts. Pure recreation often falls by the wayside as we grow up, and it is nice to get outside, run around, and burn some energy once each week. Not only that, but playing with your friends and making new memories as a group is an awesome experience.
So, while eight-year-old me will be disappointed to learn that I haven’t become the next Julian Edelman or Darren Sproles, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to learn that I’m still having fun and playing ball.
Photo Credit: Ilan Tauber