「第５回にしのみや小学生フラッグフットボール大会」が行われるみたい。決勝戦は甲子園球場！！

Kwansei Gakuin University’s American football team, the Fighters, has secured a spot in this year’s Koshien Bowl.

This will be their 53rd Koshien Bowl appearance and their fourth year in a row.

After they lost to the Ritsumeikan University Panthers during league play, I wondered what would happen, but they went on to defeat Ritsumeikan in the representative school playoff and earned their place in the bowl in impressive fashion.

Congratulations!!!

Now, Nishinomiya gets especially excited about American football around this time every year, but did you know that the “Nishinomiya Elementary School Flag Football Tournament” has also been held during the same season for the past five years?

Did you know about it?

1 What Is “Flag Football”?
2 “Nishinomiya Elementary School Flag Football Tournament”
3 Finally
4 Tournament Details

What Is “Flag Football”?

It originally comes from American football, but instead of tackling, players pull flags attached to each other’s waists.

You might think of it as an even safer and more compact version of touch football.

Since it keeps the strategic elements of American football intact, it can be called an even more brain-focused sport.

Some of its key features are that “even people who aren’t good at sports can play an active role” and “teamwork is important because teams come up with strategies together.”

For these reasons, it has been introduced into elementary school education in recent years and is becoming more popular in Japan as well (of course, adults can enjoy it too).

For details on the rules, equipment, and more, please see the official website below↓

Japan Flag Football Association Official Website

“Nishinomiya Elementary School Flag Football Tournament”

This elementary school flag football tournament has also been held in Nishinomiya, hosted by the city, for the past five years.

This year’s preliminary round is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 7, in Nishinomiyahama.

Here are scenes from last year’s preliminary round↓

(Source: Nishinomiya Football Club)

This year, five teams will take part and compete in a league format.

The top two teams will advance to the final, and the venue for the final on Sunday, December 15, will be none other than Koshien Stadium!!

It will also be held before the Koshien Bowl, which decides Japan’s No. 1 university team.

Here are scenes from last year’s final↓

(Source: Nishinomiya Style)

Last year’s final was “Uegahara Thunder Dragons” vs. “Danjo FC,” and after a very close match, the “Uegahara Thunder Dragons” won their second consecutive title.

This year, the “Uegahara Thunder Dragons” will be fighting for a third straight championship, but which teams will make it to the final?

I hope every team gives it their all.

Finally

This tournament is being held for the fifth time this year, but apparently the number of participating teams has remained at five from the first year through this year.

Elementary schools can apply to participate as individual schools, so if you are involved with an elementary school or local education and are interested, why not go and take a look?

Both the preliminary round and the final of this tournament can be watched for free.