Redskins Help Special Olympics Team Kick Off Flag Football Season

Image: Redskins tight end Niles Paul (84) poses with several participants in Sunday’s Special Olympics training session at Redskins Park (Washington Redskins).

To prepare for the upcoming flag football season on Saturday, a local chapter of the Special Olympics got some help from the Washington Redskins.

On Sunday afternoon, 50 participants in the Special Olympics, ages 8 to 19, got together under the practice bubble at Redskins Park in Ashburn to tune up their skills. Joined by two Redskins tight ends, Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen, the participants went through a variety of drills and activities, such as catching passes and running an obstacle course, according to the Redskins’ official website.

There’s no tackling in flag football. Instead, the ball carrier is downed when another player tears off a nylon flag, loosely attached by Velcro, from a belt around the ball carrier’s waist.

The local flag football team is organized by the Loudoun County chapter of Special Olympics Virginia, which provides sports and outdoor activities to children with developmental disabilities.

“We always try to open up the door for new sports and new athletes,” said Mickey Kasen, a chairwoman for the Loudoun County chapter in an article on the Redskins’ website.

“People don’t even know about Special Olympics,” she said. “A lot of people think it’s a one-day event like the regular Olympics, but it’s year around.”