Play Where the Pros Practice: Inside the Packers' 5th Annual Youth Flag Football Regional

What if your young athlete's next flag football tournament was played on the same turf where an NFL team runs its daily practices? For 52 youth teams across the Midwest, that wasn't a fantasy — it was last weekend's reality.

The Packers Open Their Doors — For the 5th Year Running

The Green Bay Packers just wrapped their 5th Annual NFL FLAG Regional Tournament, drawing teams from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Kansas to compete at the Packers' own training complex — Ray Nitschke Field and the Don Hutson Center, located steps from Lambeau Field.

Nine divisions competed across the weekend: 8U, 10U, 10U Rec, 12U, 12U Rec, 12U Girls, 14U, 14U Girls, and high school girls. The winning team in each division earns an automatic bid to the NFL FLAG Championships in Westfield, Indiana this July — plus a $5,000 travel stipend to help get them there.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin was on the field Saturday evening for a skills challenge event at Titletown, giving young athletes a chance to share the same space as a working NFL player.

One of the standout stories from the weekend: St. Francis Xavier Youth Football from Cross Plains, Wisconsin, coached by Tim Fairchild and Liz Voight, went unscored-upon before taking the 12U championship with a dominant 28-0 shutout and a 22-12 title game win. They will now represent the Green Bay Packers at the national championships in July.

Why This Model Matters Beyond Green Bay

The Packers aren't the only NFL team hosting regional tournaments — but five consecutive years of hosting signals something more than obligation. It signals genuine community investment.

When an NFL franchise opens its practice facilities to youth athletes, it sends a message that no logo on a t-shirt can replicate. Kids running routes on Don Hutson Center turf, competing in front of an active NFL linebacker, earning a national championship bid with a travel fund attached — these are formative experiences that connect young players to the sport at a deep level.

The $5,000 travel award per winning team is equally significant. Travel costs remain one of the biggest barriers to competitive youth sports participation. Removing that obstacle for families who want to compete nationally — but can't always get there — is exactly the kind of investment that changes a kid's trajectory.

This is the infrastructure of a sport that's growing up.

What Every League and Family Should Watch For

▸ Check whether your local NFL team hosts a regional. Many franchises now sponsor regional tournaments — and some, like the Packers, hold them on their own training grounds. These events offer a competitive experience unlike anything in a typical community league.

▸ The July championships are still ahead. If your athlete hasn't competed in a regional yet, summer tournaments are still open. Winning teams earn free national championship bids — no separate qualifier required.

▸ Girls' divisions are front and center. Three of the nine divisions at the Packers regional were girls-only — a strong signal that competitive pathways for girls in flag football are expanding in real, meaningful ways, not just on paper.

▸ Volunteer coaches are the backbone. Cross Plains' championship run was led by Tim Fairchild and Liz Voight — two volunteer coaches who gave up their weekends to build something worth winning. Every league is powered by people like them.

Ready to find flag football programs and tournaments in your area? Search for a league near you or browse upcoming tournaments — including regional events that could put your athlete on an NFL team's home turf this summer. You can also explore your local options through our full league directory.

Flag football is no longer just borrowing space from local parks. The NFL is rolling out the turf — and young athletes deserve to be on it.

Sources: Fox 11 Online — 52 Teams at Packers Fields | WMTV15 — Cross Plains Wins at Lambeau | Packers.com — 2026 Regional Tournament Photos