2023 Flag Football Information 

Coach: John Velleco Jr. 

John played with FHS for:

• One season of middle school flag football

• Two seasons of middle school soccer

• Two seasons of varsity soccer

• Four seasons of high school basketball

• Two seasons of track and field 

His FHS coaching experience includes:

• Assistant coach for varsity girls soccer in 2021

• Assistant coach for varsity boys soccer in 2021

• Head coach for middle school flag football in 2022

Coaching Philosophy: John believes in a 3 dimensional coaching philosophy, which means it is important to embrace the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of a player. He sees a player’s effort and mentality as more important than just their level of skill. 

Season Dates (est.): The flag football season spans from March to May. Conditioning begins in early March (see website for schedule) and tryouts will be held in late March or early April. Games start in late April and the NVIAC tournament is likely to be the last week in May. 

Conditioning/Practice information: Pre-season conditioning and pracrices will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-5:00 at Loisdale Park (Springfield). When games start, practices will shift to once per week (most likely Monday 3-5 since most games should be Tues/Thurs). Registration must be completed and the $30 fee paid prior to participating in pre-season conditioning or try-outs. 

Tryouts: Try-outs will be held the first week of April and will be at the regular practice field and time. (3-5 at Loisdale). Shortly after tryouts an email will be sent notifying athletes whether or not they were selected to be a part of the team. Players must accept or decline the invitation within 24 hours of being notified so that season costs can be finalized. 

Cost: The season fee is likely to be around $300. The exact cost will be given to parents when an athlete is offered a spot on the team. The total cost is divided among the number of athletes on the team. 

Game information: All games are held at Virginia Academy (Ashburn) or Immanuel Christian School (Springfield). Last year 6 out of 7 games were at Virginia Academy, including playoffs. All games are doubleheaders. (14 games total- 7 game days). Games were 4:30 and 5:30 on both Tuesday and Thursday (there was one Wednesday game last year). 

Roster info: We had 11 players last year. (around 18 tried out, 12 made the team, 11 accepted the position). 12 players or under is ideal since we play with six players on the field at a time. Due to the competitive nature of the league, some players will have more playing time than others. 

Team Manager: John is looking for a team manager. Some team manager duties can be delegated by the manager to other parents on the team. Duties include:

• Sending out a weekly e-mail with important information and scheduling details

• Helping to distribute uniforms at the beginning of the season and collecting them at the end.

• Bringing a shade tent and extra water as needed to games (tent and water cooler provided by FHS).  

• Taking or recruiting someone to take some game and team photos during the season.

• Planning (or delegating) an end of season party.

Competition: We had a 4-8 record last year (5-9 including playoffs). Most teams have similar skill and were extremely competitive games. John is confident and excited about this year now that he knows what to expect. 

Equipment: Players need to bring cleats and water. Gloves are optional. If athletes make the team they will need a mouthguard for games. FHS provides the uniforms. There is a $250 fee for damaged or unreturned uniforms.