MONTREAL — Royal Vale School hosts an annual flag football tournament that has grown so fast in popularity – that the NFL took notice.
The organization’s Play 60 campaign planted its flag in the school’s backyard, the first time it’s ever done something like this in Canada, to sponsor the event, held by the Greater Montreal Athletic Association, a coalition made largely of English schools.
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To celebrate the Play 60 campaign, NFL Indianapolis Colts players, cheerleaders, team mascot ‘Blue’ and the first female coach in NFL history – Dr. Jen Welter – attended the tournament.
“Royal Vale School has shown, within four short years, that they have been able to grow the tournament from four to 17 schools,” said Tammy Johnson, a spokesperson with NFL Canada.
Royal Vale officials were thrilled that the league sponsored their games.
Gym teacher Norman Katz said he was participating in a charity jump rope event when he received a text message from NFL Canada.
“It was like a Cinderella story,” he told Global News.
Play 60 is a football exhibition that the league puts on in schools across the United States, in an effort to promote exercise for both boys and girls.
This year, the program is slated to come to three other Canadian schools.
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