The NFL Bears are coming to Regina

The rising popularity of flag football in Canada has caught the eye of the National Football League.

On Wednesday, the NFL announced it isrewarding some of Canada's fastest-growing flag football communities, including Regina, with visits from NFL players and teams this summer.

On June 18 members of the Chicago Bears organization will be in Regina to spend a day with players from the Regina Youth Flag Football League.

A league which already has NFL branding all over its apparel.

The visit will be used to introduce NFL PLAY 60, the league's youth health and wellness campaign, encouraging kids to be active for 60 minutes a day.

Mike Thomas, the convener of Regina's youth league says it doesn't even have to be football.

"You want to be able to have kids know that sport is a great opportunity no matter what it is. If it's football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse or whatever, just to be active instead of being sedentary in front of a TV or an electronic."

Registration numbers are way up

Over the past decade the RYFFL has exploded in popularity.

In its first year as an entry level program in 2007, 75 kids signed up.

Every year since, Thomas says he has seen the numbers rise dramatically.

"And it has just continuously gotten better every year to the point we're at 2300 this year, up another 200 from 2015."

The league has also seen a big increase in female participation.

They didn't have any all-girls teamsa few years ago. Today they have 19.

"We've really pushed to have more girls participate in football. It hasn't been just a league mandate, it's been a Football Sask mandate." says Thomas.

First female coach in NFL history

That aspect ties in nicely with the fact Jennifer Welter will also visit Regina with the Bears.

Welter became the first female NFL coach in league history when she signed last year with the Arizona Cardinals.

Another person Thomas expects to see in Regina on June 18is Akiem Hicks who played with the University of Regina Rams before going to the NFL.

Thomas says June 18will be a full day of fun activities for the players including skill development clinics.

The NFL Play 60 campaign will also include visits to Montreal, Hamilton and Vancouver.