Professional football was not the only game in town last Sunday. While the Broncos had their own matchup later in the day, adults were already on the grass at John Venezia Park that morning, taking part in the Colorado Springs city flag football league.
For some participants, the league keeps a playing career alive well past high school. One player said he had been at it for roughly seven years, driven by a simple desire to keep playing after graduation. That same player runs and participates in Compete Fives, his own 5-on-5 operation held at Soccer Haus. The city league at Venezia Park gives him and fellow players a consistent Sunday venue for organized competition.
For others, the pull is less complicated. One participant summed up his reason for showing up as a straightforward love of the game and the chance to have fun and compete.
The fall season on the city's adult flag football schedule runs through November 8. A 5-on-5 winter flag football season follows, opening November 15, 2026, and closing out February 28, 2027. Prospective players who sign up by October 9 qualify for early registration pricing, while a late registration period runs from October 12 through October 16. The city offers tracks for both competitive and social participants, along with resources for anyone who has not yet secured a team.
Whether registration numbers hold up heading into the winter season remains to be watched as the sign-up window gets underway.