MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Grid Kids football program is gearing up for the start of its 26th football season this fall. This year, alongside their tackle football program, the Grid Kids have expanded their flag football options. 

“It’s one of those things that you just don’t really know how well it’s going to go, but right now we’re looking pretty strong,” said Brian Gwinn, the Gird Kids administrator and communications contact. 

The tackle opportunities remain the same for third through sixth grade with third and fourth graders playing together and fifth and sixth graders separately from the younger players. The format for third and fourth grade will remain at a regular 11-man game, but for fifth and sixth grade there is consideration for moving down to an eight-on-eight format.

Flag football is returning this year for girls in first through 12th grade. Girls in third through sixth grade will play together, providing an opportunity to compete alongside athletes of various ages. Girls in seventh through 12th grade will compete in a separate division. 

Flag football opportunities have also been expanded for boys in first through eighth grade. Due to registration numbers, boys and girls in first and second grade will participate in a co-ed division. Boys in third and fourth grade will play together, while those in fifth through eighth grade will compete in another division. 

Flag football games will run on a five-on-five format with eight person teams. All games will be held locally, and teams will play two games a day every Saturday once the season starts. 

“The boys’ flag numbers are off the charts," Gwinn said. "We could have up to 12 teams, but we’ll probably scale it down to eight. That has really shot up and then our girls’ numbers have increased since we started it last year.” 

While they weren’t sure if the program could sustain doing both flag and tackle, ultimately coaches and board members worked together to make it possible, he said. The decision to expand their flag football opportunities has received positive feedback from the community, he said.  

“We’ve historically had a huge demand for (tackle) ... and I think there’s just less kids willing to do that (now),” said Gwinn. “They love the game, but they’re not wanting to do the tackling, and I think regardless of whatever opinion, we want to make sure it’s offered and the main thing is to make sure the kids are getting out there and playing.” 

Something that had an effect on registration this year was several athletes who grew interested in participating in other sports, he said. 

“I honestly think the soccer craze right now has maybe affected some of the numbers too, as popular as the World Cup was,” said Gwinn. “I think there’s a lot of kids that have maybe switched or decided that was more important.” 

Alongside this, Gwinn said he noticed that there are a number of athletes who are making an attempt to do both Grid Kids and another sport at the same time. During registration, multiple parents called with questions on how scheduling would work and how they could fit both sports into their children's schedules. 

“We’ve found a lot of our volunteers; if they want the kids to be there, they will make practices work,” he said. “We encourage kids to do as much as they can.” 

Gwinn said Grid Kids will continue finding ways to keep football accessible to the local youth.  

“We’ve always been that way, and it’s about serving our community, serving it locally,” he said. “We just really want the kids to be able to experience the opportunities that we’ve had going on for so long, and we just don’t want to leave anyone behind is what it comes down to. Give them the opportunity, especially people who can’t do a lot of travel football.” 

    Two teams line up to go head–to-head during a football game last season with the Grid Kids program.
  

    A young player representing the Dolphins rushes with the football while a Lions defender looks to make a stop on the play during last year’s flag football season.