Cleveland Browns Synthetic Turf Field Projects Driving Youth Rookie Tackle Growth in Northeast Ohio
✨ Coach, Parents & Player Tips
Coach’s Clipboard: When players start replaying a mistake, have them slap their thigh twice and shout “Lock In!”—that goofy physical cue kills the mental rerun, refocuses their engine for the next play, and even cracks a smile on the sidelines.
Postgame Parents: I know you’re juggling carpools and playdates, so try a quick “tap-and-tag” drill: set two cones five yards apart, have your kid shuffle back and forth tapping one cone, then explode forward to swipe your flag—those start-stop reps sharpen footwork and flag pulls faster than you can say “timeout!”
Players Snap: Loop a resistance band around your ankles and hammer out 3×30-second lateral shuffles before practice—unless you want your feet moving slower than molasses on a cold day.
🔎 Feature Story
🏅 Browns field projects fostering growth of rookie tackle in Northeast Ohio
The Cleveland Browns and City of Cleveland have transformed Collinwood Athletic Complex with new synthetic turf as part of the team’s 16th youth football field project, driving expanded Rookie Tackle and flag football programming across Northeast Ohio. Since launching Rookie Tackle in 2017, the Browns have increased local youth tackle teams from 12 to 218 squads with over 2,700 players, strengthening football participation and skill development in multiple community leagues.
“It’s clear that the Haslams, the Cleveland Browns, the message is, ‘We are Cleveland, we are in support of Cleveland, we are in support of growing the game. We want to see the game continue to be played. We want to see participation rise,’” Dunn said.
🌍 Regional Roundup
Pennsylvania: Thiel College will launch a women’s flag football team in spring 2026, becoming the sixth Presidents’ Athletic Conference school to sponsor the sport and reflecting growing opportunities at the collegiate and high school levels.
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Prattville, Alabama: NBC Sports will feature the Prattville High School girls flag football team during Super Bowl LX pregame coverage, highlighting their 8-3 season and bid for a home playoff game amid rising media attention on school-level flag football.
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⭐ Player Spotlight
Cooper Godbout – Freshman running back, Glenbrook South Titans. She rushed for 134 yards on seven carries and made two touchdown receptions, including a 73-yard hook-and-ladder that secured a 24-12 upset of defending champion Fremd.
“I think that the effort of our team was just awesome and I think we honestly did great today,” said Cooper Godbout.
📈 Flag Growth Focus
🔥 Flag Football in Military Communities
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton led a flag football clinic in Owings Mills for military children and their families, teaching warm-up drills, skill challenges, and scrimmages. The event, part of the NFL’s Flag Football Initiative, highlights the league’s efforts to foster community involvement and broaden youth participation in the sport ahead of potential Olympic inclusion.
⚡ FlagSnap Daily Blitz
Thiel College will launch a women’s flag football program in spring 2026, becoming the sixth Presidents’ Athletic Conference school to add the rapidly expanding sport.
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NBC Sports crews descended on Prattville, Ala., this week to film the Lions’ flag football squad for a Super Bowl LX pregame feature set to air Feb. 8, 2026.
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Oak Park-River Forest High is piloting a four-propeller drone at flag football practices to record bird’s-eye video that coaches and players review via Google Classroom.
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Fenwick High’s senior RB Heaven Lee and 6-foot-1 receiver Elissa Scholtens combined for key plays to power a 10-8 season under first-year coach Bryan Boehm.
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Trinity High’s inaugural flag football campaign featured freshman QB Peyton Haynes throwing eight touchdowns and freshman WR Ijeoma Conley hauling in the big plays en route to the program’s first playoff win.
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No. 20 Chatfield stunned No. 13 Poudre School District 15-14 in the 5A state playoffs first round to earn a date with No. 4 Ralston Valley.
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Northglenn knocked off No. 18 Columbine 21-12 in 5A’s opening round and will face No. 3 Legend in the second round.
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In 4A playoff play, No. 13 Golden topped Eagle Ridge Academy 18-6 to advance and now meets No. 4 Green Mountain in round two.
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🏁 Final Whistle
“If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat.”
— Herschel Walker
