OC Flag Football Season Set to Start

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s Fall Adult Flag Football League is getting ready for its 11th season with games set to begin on Monday at Northside Park.

The league formed several years ago as an informal collection of teams representing local businesses gathered each Monday evening in the fall. Eleven years ago, it became an officially sanctioned program of the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department and has developed into one of the department’s most popular programs.

Teams compete in a seven-on-seven screen flag football format with games played in 25-minute halves. The rules have been adapted somewhat to ensure the games have the feel of traditional backyard football games. Typically, three games are played each Monday night at Northside Park in Ocean City prior to the NFL’s “Monday Night Football” and the games are usually over in time for the participants to get to their favorite watering holes by kick-off.

While the rules are set up to limit physical contact somewhat, the league has produced its share of bitter rivalries over the years with a handful of local restaurants and bars vying for bragging rights. Last year, the Schell Brothers’ East Side Mafia captured its fourth consecutive league title, beating Buxy’s Salty Dog, 26-6, in the championship game.

The games are set to begin on Monday and run roughly through the first week of December. Most of the season is played at Northside Park with late-season games moved to the park at 4th Street after the Winterfest of Lights displays are erected. For more information, contact the OC Rec Department at (410) 250-0125.