HV Flag Football launches its 2026 inaugural summer season
What began as the Beacon Flag Football League (BFFL) in 2020 has morphed into something bigger. Big enough for the league to change its name to Hudson Valley Flag Football (HVFF) this year.
The change reflects, in part, the growing number of participants. There are now 88 active players with coaches for each of the eight teams in this popular league. And the goal is to grow to 10 teams by summer 2027.
Beacon High School Origins
“…we do more than just play the sport we love; we create unforgettable memories and lifelong connections“
— Richard Rinaldi, HVFF Commissioner
Just a few years ago, the small group of friends who founded BFFL at Beacon High School used to play some casual flag football on the weekends. Since then, this non-profit sports league has developed into something much more serious and has even introduced coaches for each team.
This current season started seven weeks ago in May, and the playoffs are currently underway with the championship game on or around Friday July 24th in Memorial Park. Once the season wraps up, there’ll be a few weeks to rest up, then the league then starts preparing for the fall season which runs from September through November.
The League’s commissioner, Richard Rinaldi recently shared with us some of the reasons for the game’s growing popularly here. “Our thriving flag football league has grown into a true “Flag Family,” where competition meets community. Driven by the vital support of local sponsors and a dedicated team behind the scenes, we have created a consistent, rapidly growing league that fosters lasting relationships among our 88 players both on and off the field.
“And by pouring effortless detail into everything we do; from making every player feel welcome to sharing our journey with over 1,000 social media followers, we do more than just play the sport we love; we create unforgettable memories and lifelong connections.”
Flag Football’s National Growth
Flag football—with all the energy of traditional America football but without the risk of head and bone injuries—is rapidly growing in popularity among Gen Z athletes. In fact, it’s now one of the fastest growing sports in America. And it’s why the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles will include flag football for men and women for the first time in the event’s history.
How To Watch
You can watch the game in person at Memorial Park or live on YouTube and TikTok where a team of commentators analyze every flag pull, dip move, hip move, and false start. They even update stats live on HVFF’s website while the game is in progress.
The next playoff games are in Memorial Park Tuesday, July 15th and Wednesday, July 15th. Watch this space and follow @hvflag on Instagram for more news. And if you’re interested in learning more or joining a team, you can contact them here.
Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡