The Nashua Police Athletic League is offering a new flag football league for children ages 5-7 in the 2010 fall football season.

This is a fun and safe way to introduce kids to the great game of football, in a non-hitting, no-tackle setting without full pads. The program is part of the PAL Force Football and Spirit program orignated in 2005.

The PAL Force Flag Football program kicks off with practices beginning in August, focusing on learning and developing all the basic fundamental skills needed to play the game.

Games will be played in September and October against local teams from around New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts.

According to PAL Athletic Director Joe Laplante, the Force Board of Directors was approached over the winter by Nashua resident Brendan Keegan, whose son played in the league last year for a non-Nashua team.

“Mr. Keegan offered to administer the program, and asked for PAL’s support and affiliation,” Laplante said. “Our board was eager to accept his offer. The games will feature two teams of eight on the field at a time, running a six-play offensive arsenal, along with the coaches right on the field. The on-field coaches will help the players line up, run plays and score their first touchdowns.”

“Players will have the opportunity to play all positions on both offense and defense from safety and nose guard to quarterback and center,” Keegan said. “It will make for great weekend family fun.”

Each PAL Force Flag Football player will receive a practice shirt, a game jersey with their name on it, a trophy and the chance to participate in a fun, season-ending Flag Super Bowl tournament.

Children ages 5-7 from both the north and south ends of the city and surrounding communities are eligible to play in the 2010 season, although geographic restrictions may apply in future seasons as other neighborhoods and communities begin to offer flag football.

Player registration for flag football – and follow up registration for the Force’s regular football squads in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and middle school divisions – will be held Wednesday, June 2 from 6-7:30 p.m. at St. Christopher’s Church hall, 20 Cushing Ave. (corner of Cushing Avenue and Manchester Street) in Nashua. Questions may be directed to PAL Force player registrar Nicole Dane at nikoled2@yahoo.com or 880-0569.