Rain delayed the first flag football festival at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui, where seven schools from across the Bay of Plenty gathered.

Based on American Football, flag football has grown in popularity, partially because the sport was selected for the Los Angeles Olympics, organiser Graham Whyte said.

“You wouldn’t have thought this was possible five years ago. As New Zealand is still very rugby-centric.”

The competition was hosted by Whyte, with support from Western Bay Principals Association and sports director Sarah Hull.

It was touch and go with the weather, Hull said, but it cleared up just in time, with the competition delayed 30 minutes.

The participating schools were Pillans Point School, Te Puke Primary, Greenpark School, Awanui School, Suzanne Aubert Catholic School, Ōtūmoetai Primary School, and Tahatai Coast School.

Tahatai Coast School fielded two teams, allowing eight teams to play, Whyte said.

Greenpark School battles for the ball, in a game against Pillans Points School.

Two games ran concurrently throughout the event, with Pillans Point School and Greenpark Primary in a nail-biter.

The final score was 22-18, with Pillans Point School the victors.

The day was a success, according to Whyte, and the only thing he would change was working closer with teams for next year’s competition.

Pillians Point School coach Greg Maaka White and Ōtūmoetai Primary School Kyla Connolly.

Pillans Point School was coached by 40-year American football veteran Greg Maaka White, who trains the Tauranga City Tridents masters.

“It is good to see the game (flag football) grow and grow,” he said.

Flag football was a safer game than the contact version of the sport and had a cheaper cost of entry for schools wanting to start their teams, White said.

“You just need a football and flag belts,” he said.

The idea behind the flag football festival was to grow enthusiasm for the sport among younger kids, allowing them to grow up with the game, White said.

“We aim to get flag established in the primary school space, and then we look at college because we want to see that continuation.”

According to Whyte, the day was a success. The only things he would change are working closer with schools for next year’s competition and getting more referees.

“We want to see it grow,” he said.