As part of the Browns' ongoing commitment to growing the game of flag football and increasing youth participation, they hosted a Browns Flag In-Schools professional development day on Oct. 17.
About 50 elementary and middle school physical education teachers from Columbus City Schools participated in the professional development day, which offered educators a hands-on opportunity to explore how flag football can be integrated into their classrooms.
"The Flags in Schools professional development brought energy and excitement to our professional development day," Columbus City Schools Health, Physical Education & Dance Coordinator Kristen Schreiber said. "It gave our PE teachers fresh strategies, ready to use activities, and the confidence to bring flag football into their classrooms in a way that's inclusive and fun. Having the Cleveland Browns as partners has been incredibly impactful. Their support helps us get kids excited about movement, teamwork, and staying active, and it sends a powerful message that physical education matters."
During the session, the Browns provided training on program implementation, distributed toolkits and shared digital curriculum resources designed to make flag football both accessible and engaging for students of all ages. Each toolkit includes flag belts, footballs, a mesh bag and digital access to the GENYouth NFL Flag In-Schools Curriculum.
Educators also participated in several drills from the curriculum, gaining practical experience to take back to their schools. The program features an eight-lesson curriculum tailored for 40-minute physical education classes, ideal for students in grades 2-8. Lessons combine individual, small group and large group skill-building activities, all aligned with SHAPE America's National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K–12 Physical Education.
The Browns Flag In-Schools program is a turnkey flag football implementation model designed to help physical education teachers build a foundation of healthy, lifelong physical activity for their students. Exclusively available to schools participating in the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, the program provides free flag football kits and curriculum resources to schools across Northeast and Central Ohio.
The goal of the program is to increase physical activity, promote teamwork and ensure that all students—regardless of gender, age or ability— have the opportunity to play the game of football. Through this initiative, the Browns continue to expand their outreach to schools and communities across Northeast and Central Ohio, using the influence of football to promote education, health and inclusion.
"The Browns Flag In-Schools program is so important because it gets kids playing football at the youngest age possible, keeps them engaged, and allows them to have fun learning the game we all know and love," Browns youth football manager Hannah Lee said. "It's about building confidence, promoting teamwork, and creating inclusive opportunities for every student to be active and enjoy the sport."
To learn more about the Browns Flag In-Schools or to implement the program at your school, please visit https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/community/youth-football/browns-flag-in-schools
