In the inaugural season of Natchez’s AYA flag football league, the Miss-Lou’s three private schools and one charter school are boasting a solid turnout.

Trinity Episcopal has two teams made up of first- and second-grade students. Cathedral fosters three teams, Adams County Christian School features two teams and Delta Charter has one team.

The league plays 5-on-5 football on a 50-yard field. Eric Robinson, coach of one of Trinity’s teams, said his goal as a coach is to lay the groundwork for football fundamentals.

“The idea is to start teaching them … where’s the end zone, how do you get a first down?” Robinson said. “The idea is to keep it as fun as possible, but the rules are a good bit different.”

On a half-field, teams take possession at the 10-yard line and have three plays to advance the ball 20 yards, then three more plays to score.

Robinson said his practices are focused on flag pulling and dodging “tackles” rather than passing patterns like a typical 7-on-7 game.

“I think flag football is going to be more of a running game than a passing game,” he said. “The kids haven’t developed the coordination (to pass efficiently).”

Robinson’ son, William, plays on one of Trinity’s teams. Robinson said his older son played tackle-football in Vidalia at the same age. He said the flag football environment and structure is more suitable for learning the game.

Wanderlei Griffin is a budding young player getting his first football experience in the AYA flag league.

Griffin’s mother, Nicole Gatson, said her son enjoys the hands-on coaching experience and larger roll he plays on the offense and defense for Trinity.

Gatson said her son loves to watch J.J. Watt and LSU football, so they decided to see if he would enjoy playing the game as much has he enjoys watching it.

“We wanted to make sure he liked it before we invested in it,” Gatson said. “He absolutely loves it.”

Gatson said she isn’t sure if she would sign her son up for tackle football next year, but that’s not to say she would never allow him to play.

Gatson said she would be comfortable with her son playing tackle as long as the coaching staff is prepared to handle injuries properly.

“As long as he plays with kids his age,” she said.

AYA flag fooball games begin Sept. 17.