Santa Monica families looking for free summer programming have a drop-in option on the John Adams Middle School campus: flag football every Friday night, no signup required.

The city's Recreation and Arts Department launched "Summer Friday Night Lights" in partnership with two local youth sports organizations, Compete Forever and NFL Flag LA. The program is open to kids ages 6 to 18 and runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Fridays throughout the summer. No specific end date has been announced.

There are no fees, no tryouts, and no registration. Families just show up.

City Manager Oliver Chi promoted the program in his weekly newsletter on Wednesday, July 16, describing it as a response to the growing popularity of flag football among young people. Chi wrote that the initiative reflects "the recreational preferences of our kids today," citing the sport's status as one of the fastest-growing youth activities in the country.

The program's format is deliberately casual. Teams are reshuffled each week for pickup-style games, mixing ages and skill levels. Chi's newsletter described the design as focused on removing barriers that keep some kids out of traditional leagues, where registration costs and tryout pressure can be obstacles.

Local partners with deep roots

Both partner organizations already operate in Santa Monica. Compete Forever, which runs the Westside Firehearts tackle football program, uses John Adams, Lincoln Middle School, and Santa Monica High School as practice sites. NFL Flag LA, founded in 2012, runs coed and girls-only flag football leagues across the Westside, serving Santa Monica and neighboring communities.

Flag football's rapid growth

The timing aligns with a broader surge in the sport. The California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned girls' flag football as an official high school sport in February 2023. In its second CIF season (2024–25), participation jumped 84% to 19,921 athletes statewide, making it the eighth-most-popular girls' sport in California, according to CIF census data.

Flag football will also appear at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, with five-on-five men's and women's events approved by the International Olympic Committee in October 2023.

What families need to know

Sessions run every Friday at John Adams Middle School from 6:30 to 8 p.m. through the summer. No end date has been specified.

Families with questions can contact the Community Recreation Division at [email protected].