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Youth Flag Football in Pittsburgh's East End: Friday Nights at Mellon Park

Writer: Rashad Colvin
Rashad Colvin
7 hours ago
4 min read

For years, East End families who wanted organized NFL FLAG football for their kids had to leave the city to find it. That changes this spring. Pittsburgh NFL League is bringing Friday night flag football to Mellon Park, at Fifth and Shady, starting Friday, April 2, 2027.

If you live in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, East Liberty, Highland Park, Morningside, Bloomfield, Friendship, Larimer, Homewood, Oakland or Greenfield, Mellon Park is your closest PNL field. Here is what a Friday night season looks like and how to get your child on a team.

Why Friday nights work for city families

Weekends in the East End fill up fast. Other sports, birthday parties, family plans and errands all compete for Saturday and Sunday. Friday night games keep that time open. Your child plays at the end of the school week, and the whole weekend stays free.

Mellon Park sits between Shadyside and Point Breeze and is a few minutes from Squirrel Hill. It is the same park that hosts Pittsburgh's biggest Juneteenth celebration, and it brings that same community feel to the field every Friday night.

Who can play at Mellon Park

Mellon Park is a coed location for boys and girls ages 7 to 14. The divisions are 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U. Your child's division is based on their age as of August 1, 2026.

Have a younger child, or a daughter who wants to play on a girls team? Rookie 6U and the All-Girls League play on Saturdays at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills. The girls divisions there are 10U, 14U and HS Girls.

No experience is needed. Coaches teach the game from the first practice, and every player is drafted onto a balanced team. PNL provides the jersey and flag belt. Bring athletic clothes, a water bottle and cleats if your child has them.

What the season looks like

  • Opening week: Friday, April 2, 2027 at Mellon Park

  • PNL Live Draft: Thursday and Friday of the third week of April. Players are split across the two nights based on registration numbers.

  • First game: Friday, April 23 at Mellon Park

  • Regular season: Friday nights at Mellon Park

  • Playoffs: Saturday at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills, with every PNL location

Field details and parking tips go out to registered families before week 1, so you will know exactly where to go on the first night.

The full PNL experience, now in the city

Mellon Park is new, but the league is not. Pittsburgh NFL League has served Western Pennsylvania since 2004 and is the only league in Pennsylvania ever named NFL FLAG League of the Year. City players get everything PNL families in the suburbs have had for years.

There is also something special about a founding season. The families who sign up this spring will be the first Pittsburgh city teams in PNL history.

Cost and financial help

Registration is $145. The first 50 players across all four PNL locations pay $135, and those spots go fast. You can pay in full, or put $45 down and pay the rest in monthly or biweekly payments.

Nobody should sit out because of cost. The NFL FLAG Grant helps eligible families pay for registration. Families with a household income under $83,730 whose player is enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP or WIC can apply. A parent or guardian applies directly with RCX Sports by March 10, 2027, and approved funds are sent to PNL. Our financial assistance page has more options.

Another option near the East End

Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze families can also play Thursday nights at our Swissvale field at Dickson. The coed divisions there are the same, 8U to 14U, so you can pick the night that fits your family. Families in Homewood and Wilkinsburg can read our guide to choosing between Swissvale and Mellon Park.

For every Mellon Park detail in one place, visit the Mellon Park location page.

Spring 2027 at a glance

  • Opening week: Swissvale Thursday, April 1. Mellon Park Friday, April 2. Penn Hills Saturday, April 3. Boyce Park Sunday, April 4.

  • PNL Live Draft: Thursday and Friday of the third week of April

  • First games: Penn Hills Saturday, April 17. Boyce Park Sunday, April 18. Swissvale Thursday, April 22. Mellon Park Friday, April 23.

  • Playoffs: Saturday at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills

  • Price: $145, or $135 for the first 50 registrations league-wide

  • Payment plans: $45 down, then monthly or biweekly payments

  • Age cutoff: August 1, 2026

  • NFL FLAG Grant deadline: March 10, 2027

  • Registration closes: March 31, 2027

Ready for Friday night flag? Register for Spring 2027 and choose Mellon Park as your location.

 
 
 

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