PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION IN FULL BEFORE PROCEEDING EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US BEFORE AS WE HAVE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE 2026 SPRING SEASON
Greetings families and friends! Welcome to The Coach Sarna 49ers Flag Football League 2026 Spring Season.
HERE is our video with the San Francisco 49ers during the Spring season.
This Program Description will include the following sections:
1) About Our League
2) 5v5 Flag Football (Vallejo/Benicia, Napa, Santa Rosa/Healdsburg)
3) 7v7 Flag Football (Fairfield)
4) Perks with The Coach Sarna 49ers Flag Football League
5) Quick Points on changes from previous season
6) DoubleGood Popcorn Fundraiser
7) Coaching
8) Scholarships
9) 2025 Fall Season Schedule and Information
10) Contact Information
1) About Us
Welcome families to The Coach Sarna League 49ers Flag Football League!
We are a 501(c)(3) family-oriented recreation league and are dedicated to bringing families together, strengthening relationships, and building new ones, all-the-while teaching players football fundamentals and opening up a safe and competitive environment to play non-contact flag football.
Our mission is that any child who wants to play, will indeed play regardless of their financial circumstances.
At the 2022 NFL Flag Summit in New Orleans, LA, our league was nominated by NFL Flag as one of the top new leagues in the nation out of approximately 700 other leagues.
In the 2023 NFL Flag Summit in Atlanta, GA, we were nominated for League of the Year as well as the Community-Based League of the Year. Ryan Sarna, the CEO and Founder of The Coach Sarna League was also invited as a guest speaker for two different segments at the 2023 Annual NFL Flag Conference in Atlanta, GA.
At the recent 2026 RCX Summit in Orlando, FL, we were again nominated for the top league in the nation award for both NFL Flag and MLS GO. We won the award for our MLS GO and were runners-up for top NFL Flag League of the Year. Coach Ryan Sarna was also a special guest presenter at the conference.
We are open to the public, so anyone can register for any or all of our leagues regardless of where they live (7v7 in Fairfield on Saturdays, 5v5 in Vallejo/Benicia, Napa, Santa Rosa/Healdsburg on Sundays). We have families from all over Solano, Napa, Sonoma, and Contra Costa Counties, and as far away as Sacramento, San Jose, and the Central Valley.
Being a community-based league, we stress team bonding events, attendance of our community events, and volunteerism amongst our families.
2) 5v5 Flag Football
Experience the fast-paced, non-contact sport played in the Olympic and TEAM USA formats. The game is set on a condensed field measuring 25 yards wide by 60 yards long, designed for high-energy action and strategic play.
Each game consists of two 15-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime. Teams are allotted two timeouts per game. All five offensive players, including the center, are eligible to run routes, allowing for versatile and dynamic gameplay.
Gameplay highlights include:
- Two teams of five players each
- Starting each possession at the 5-yard line
- No tackling, diving, or blocking—just flag pulling to stop plays
- Four plays to advance past midfield and score
- Scoring: 6 points for touchdowns, 2 points for safeties
- Extra points attempt from the 5-yard line (1 point) or the 10-yard line (2 points)
Join us for an exciting and competitive experience in this safe, fast-paced, and fun sport!
3) 7v7 Flag Football
We play on fields 60 yards long, and 40 yards wide.
For boys, this is modeled after traditional tackle football passing plays to enhance their passing knowledge and skills.
For girls, we are geared toward the modern High School Girls format, with our High School Girls following current CIF rules.
Each game consists of two 15-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime. Teams are allotted two timeouts per game. All seven offensive players, including the center, are eligible to run routes, allowing for versatile and dynamic gameplay.
Gameplay highlights include:
- Two teams of seven players each
- Starting each possession at the 5-yard line
- No tackling, diving, or blocking—just flag pulling to stop plays
- Four plays to advance past midfield and score
- Scoring: 6 points for touchdowns, 2 points for safeties
- Extra points attempt from the 5-yard line (1 point) or the 10-yard line (2 points)
4) Perks with The Coach Sarna 49ers Flag Football League
Players receive at registration:
- NFL Flag Jersey (could be any of the 32 NFL Teams)
- NFL Flag Shorts
- NFL Flag Belts
- 49ers Flag Shirt
- 49ers Flag Drawstring Bag
Coaches receive:
- 49ers Flag Coach Shirt
- 49ers Flag Drawstring Bag
- Ball Bag
- Disc Cones
- 2 Footballs Per Team
- In-person Coach Clinic
- Annual Training LEVI Stadium (beginning late 2026/2027)
- Premade Practice Schedules (optional)
- Premade Playbooks (optional)
- Access to drills videos
Division Winning Teams Receive:
- 49ers Championship Rings
Families Receive:
- Preference for 49ers Tournament and Camps Participation
- Opportunity for NFL Flag 49ers Tournament Entry
5) Quick Points on changes from the previous season
- Our HS Girls 7v7 Format will follow current CIF HS rules.
- We have moved to Team Snap for registration. This app also includes team/coach communication, schedules, standings, and drills for coaches.
- Coaches will recieve the unfiforms of their team and distribute them before opening weekend at practice
6) Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser for ALL Players
In order to stay a low-cost league, we require all players to participate in a fundraiser (or pay an additional opt-out fee). This is not part of the volunteer waiver.
To meet our minimum fundraising goal of $55,000 for the season—which covers field rentals, officiating, field paint, and equipment—we aim for each player to sell at least $100 in Popcorn.
The 4-Day fundraiser will take place from April 14th - April 18th.
Sign-up is simple and so is fundraising!
1. Download the DoubleGood Popcorn App
2. Insert the fundraiser code: NBFQKX
3. Create your page
4. Share with your families, friends, and coworkers on the dates
Players who sell over $100 in Popcorn qualify for the Disneyland vacation awarded to the top three selling families. We will update families on the leaderboard each day of the fundraiser.
Top selling Family: THREE 2-Day Disneyland Passes OR 4 Tickets to ANY 49ers home game w/ unlimited food/beverage and a parking pass
2nd Place Family: TWO 2-Day Passes OR 3 Tickets to ANY 49ers home game w/ unlimited food/beverage and a parking pass (game not chosen by 1st place)
1st Place Family: ONE 2-Day Pass OR 2 Tickets to ANY 49ers home game w/ unlimited food/beverage and a parking pass (game not chosen by 1st or 2nd place families)
New this season, we will have a blitz sale for 49ers tickets for each day!
Top Day 1 seller = 2 Tickets, unlimited food and beverage, and a parking pass to the 49ers first home preseason game
Top Day 2 seller = 2 Tickets, unlimited food and beverage, and a parking pass to the 49ers first home preseason game
Top Day 3 seller = 2 Tickets, unlimited food and beverage, and a parking pass to the 49ers second home preseason game
Top Day 4 seller = 2 Tickets, unlimited food and beverage, and a parking pass to the 49ers second home preseason game
Families who do not wish to participate in the fundraiser may pay a $55 opt-out fee per player to the league at registration.
7) Coaching
"A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in a lifetime," Billy Graham
Our amazing volunteer coaches are the backbone of The Coach Sarna League. We may have 2,000 kids who want to play, but we need the coaches in order to form the teams and participate.
Coaches are needed to come and make a lifelong impact on the lives of our players and families. We encourage anyone interested in being a volunteer coach to sign-up and choose to be a leader this season!
This season, we will once again be teaming up with Firstdown Playbook where coaches can download pre-made plays with coaching points to use for the season.
We will also have access to drills and practice schedules through the TeamSnap App.
We are going to do everything in our power to have the best training for coaches so that everyone, whether you are a first-time coach who is new to football or have coached football for decades will learn and grow under our program. If you or anyone you know are willing to be trained as a head coach or assistant coach, please call/text Coach Ryan Sarna immediately at 707-316-3029.
All interested coaches may click
HERE
NOTE: It is important to remember that we are a volunteer-based league, and we rely on families and friends for coaching. In the event that we have more teams than coaches, some teams will be dissolved in order to maintain the integrity of our league. A full refund will be awarded to families in the case of dissolving a team from not having a coach.
8) Scholarships
It is the mission of our league that
every kid who wants to play, will indeed play regardless of their financial circumstances. Please click
HERE for the Scholarship Request Form.
If your family qualifies as low-income, our partnership with NFL Flag offers a scholarship for your family by filling out the NFL Flag Individual Participant Grant Form
HERE. Once the NFL Flag approves your request they will notify you via email.
A full scholarship covers the registration fee, jersey top, and shorts. It does not cover a non-volunteer fee or opt-out fee if you chose not to volunteer in some manner. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis as well as need (i.e. if we needed more 6th grade girls then the first 6th grade girl on the waitlist would have preference), and only head coaches and LEVI's Stadium volunteers are guaranteed full scholarships.
Easiest ways to earn a scholarship:
1) Anyone who is willing to become a head coach (HC) can ask for our Head Coach Scholarship that will pay for the registration in full. This includes any of your friends or family that you recommend becoming a head coach on behalf of your child's team. This is because some people may not be able to coach, but know someone who would such as an uncle, auntie, friend etc.
2) Become an Assistant Coach (AC) for a team and you will receive a half-scholarship. Just as the head coach position, if anyone from your reference becomes an assistant coach for your child's team then you can claim that AC Half-Scholarship.
3) Volunteer for a LEVI's Stadium event (one time per scholarship).
Our Commitment:
The Coach Sarna League is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (87-3783328). It is our mission that every child who wants to play ball will play regardless of financial resources. If there is a hardship and you need a scholarship, please contact the league prior to paying for registration.
9) 2026 Spring Season Schedule:
Our 2026 Spring 5v5 Season will begin on the weekend of April 11th and ends on the weekend of June 6th with The Coach Sarna League Championship Tournament.
Important Dates:
Monday, March 23rd - Registration Closes
Saturday, March 28th - Coach Training Clinic
Friday, April 10th - Virtual Orientation for families on Zoom
Saturday/Sunday, April 11th/12th - Opening Day Weekend
Tuesday, Monday, May 11th - Mid-Season Coach Training on Zoom
Saturday/Sunday, May 30th/31st - Regular Season Ends
Saturday/Sunday, June 6th/7th - The Coach Sarna League Championship Tournament
The game schedule will be subject to our final registrations so we know how many teams we will have. However, once a time is set for your division it will remain so for the whole season.
For example, Pre-k -Kinder may run from 9am-10am. 5th and 6th grade Divisions may run from 10:45 am - 12:30 pm. 7th and 8th grade Divisions may run from 12:55 pm - 2:30 pm.
Practice times, days, and locations are determined by the coach and families of each team based on what works best for the team. Every team must have at least one practice per week. No team is allowed to have more than two practices per week.
All games will be set for the following locations:
Fairfield 7v7 League: Saturdays at Solano College in Fairfield
Napa 5v5 League: Sundays at Phillips Elementary School in Napa
Vallejo/Benicia 5v5 League: Sundays at St. Patrick's HS in Vallejo/Benicia
Santa Rosa/Healdsburg 5v5 League: Sundays at Healdsburg HS
10) Contact Information
CEO and Founder Coach Ryan Sarna - For scholarships, general questions, coaching opportunities - Email is
best at
[email protected] or TEXT 707-316-3029
Head of Officiating and Board President Coach Ken Sarna - For on-field behavior, incidents, Referee Training Program, rules questions, and general questions- 707-334-2961 or
[email protected]
Our Commitment:
The Coach Sarna League is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (87-3783328). It is our promise that every child who wants to play ball will play regardless of financial resources. If there is a hardship and you need a scholarship, please contact the league prior to paying for registration.
--
Best,
Coach Sarna
CEO and Founder
The Coach Sarna League (TIN: 87-3783328)
707-316-3029
"A coach will impact more people in a year than the average person will in a lifetime," Billy Graham