CULLMAN, Ala. — OmniSports Academy (OSA), a program of Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism (CPRST), has announced the launch of its Rec+ Flag Football League, a new competitive tier within its established recreational program that will give Cullman’s top young athletes the opportunity to compete at the regional and state level for the first time.
The Rec+ model builds on the success of Cullman’s popular Recreational Flag Football program by identifying top players from each age division who wish to extend their season and represent Cullman in the Alabama Youth Football League (AYFL) against teams from across north Alabama.
As part of the initiative, OmniSports Academy is partnering with Cullman Football Academy (CFA) — one of the region’s most respected full-contact youth football organizations — to field a Rec+ OSA Flag Team and further strengthen Cullman’s youth football pipeline. “Our flag football program has experienced incredible growth, and with that growth came a natural demand for the next level of competition,” said Nathan Anderson, executive director of CPRST. “Our athletics team, led by Ashley Morton, launched the Rec+ initiative, allowing us to build on the fun, accessible environment our recreational league provides while giving players who want more competition the chance to represent Cullman on a regional and state stage.
“Every player will still participate in the recreational league they were drafted into, and the Rec+ team will be selected from that group to train together and compete in additional AYFL events. What makes this opportunity especially meaningful is the collaboration with Cullman Football Academy, a program that has long set the standard for youth football development in our community and has helped prepare generations of young athletes for middle school and high school football.”
“Flag football is opening the door for more kids to fall in love with the game,” said David Brown, longtime organizer with Cullman Football Academy. “Not every child starts with full-contact football, but flag football builds the skills, confidence and passion that can lead them there. Having our programs working together creates a natural pathway for young athletes and ultimately strengthens football throughout our community.”
The program has also received strong support from Cullman High School Head Football Coach Trent Walker, who sees the collaboration as an important step in continuing the tradition of football excellence in Cullman.
“The flag football program Nathan and his team at CPRST have built is one of the most exciting youth development opportunities I’ve seen for the sport. What David Brown and Cullman Football Academy have built over the years is something this community can be incredibly proud of — their program has developed outstanding young athletes and prepared players who eventually come through Cullman High School. Seeing these programs working together and our flag players competing on a regional and state stage is something our entire community should celebrate.”
According to Anderson, the Rec+ program reflects CPRST’s broader mission to expand opportunities for youth athletics while strengthening collaboration across Cullman’s football community.
“Coach Walker and David pour so much into the young people of this community, and both hold incredibly high standards — not just about winning, but about player development and helping young men grow with character and purpose,” Anderson said. “Coach Walker’s genuine interest in supporting youth programs across Cullman is a big reason this partnership is possible and so special. When you have leadership at every level unified around a shared vision for the youth of this community, great things are going to happen.”
