Bay Area Flag Football Camp for Boys & Girls: Overnight Camp at Cal State East Bay

Flag football is the fastest-growing youth sport in America — and for good reason. It develops the full athletic toolkit: speed, agility, route running, throwing mechanics, defensive reads, and football IQ — in a fast-paced, high-rep environment that kids love. And with flag football now an Olympic sport, there has never been a better time for boys and girls to take the game seriously.

At Maccabi Sports Camp, our co-ed overnight flag football camp at Cal State East Bay in Hayward is built for players who want to develop real football skills in a real camp environment. Boys and girls train together, learn from experienced coaches who mentor as much as they teach, and spend a full week inside a community grounded in the values of the Oshman Family JCC. This is a flag football summer camp unlike anything else in the Bay Area.

This is the Bay Area’s only Jewish overnight flag football camp for boys and girls. The sport is growing fast — and so is the competition for spots.

Enroll now, request a camp tour, request more information, or call us at (415) 997-8844 — we’re happy to answer any questions about the program.

Why Flag Football — and Why Now

Flag football isn’t a consolation prize for kids who aren’t ready for tackle. It’s a sport in its own right — one that demands elite athleticism, sharp decision-making, and the kind of team coordination that takes real coaching to develop well.

The NFL has invested heavily in youth flag football as the entry point for the next generation of football players. USA Football and the International Federation of American Football have grown participation to millions of players worldwide. And with flag football’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the sport now has a global competitive pipeline that didn’t exist five years ago.

For boys and girls in the Bay Area, a flag football summer camp has gone from a novelty to a genuine athletic development opportunity. Maccabi Sports Camp is positioned to offer that — in an overnight format, on a world-class university campus, with coaches who take the game and the players seriously.

More Than a Day Camp: The Overnight Difference

Flag football is a fast game. But the learning that lasts doesn’t happen in the fastest moments — it happens in the pauses. The film session after a drive stalls. The conversation in the cabin about what went wrong. The team huddle before the next morning’s session. These are the hours that build real football players and real teammates.

At Maccabi’s flag football summer camp, campers live on the CSUEB campus in Hayward, eat together in the university dining hall, and train on Cal State East Bay’s fields throughout the day. Evening programming includes team film review, situational discussions, and the kind of Jewish camp culture — Shabbat, community traditions, shared meals — that makes Maccabi different from every other flag football camp near them in the Bay Area.

Boys and girls train and compete together. Flag football has always been a naturally co-ed sport — at recreational leagues, on school campuses, and increasingly at the elite level. Our program reflects that. Boys and girls run routes together, play defense together, and learn from each other in a competitive, supportive environment where every player is pushed to improve.

What We Coach: A Complete Flag Football Curriculum

Great flag football requires every skill set on the roster to develop simultaneously. Our coaching staff builds the full game — not just the flashy parts.

Quarterback mechanics & decision-making

Footwork, throwing motion, release point, and accuracy under pressure. Beyond mechanics, QBs work on pre-snap reads, identifying coverage, and making decisions in the two to three seconds the game actually allows. Good QBs are made in reps — and we give them a lot.

Route running & receiver skills

Crisp cuts, separation techniques, hand-eye coordination, and learning to work in concert with a quarterback’s timing. We work on the full route tree and teach receivers how to adjust on the fly — a skill that separates recreational players from competitive ones.

Defensive reads & flag pulling

Coverage assignments, zone principles, backpedaling and breaking on the ball, and the technique of pulling flags cleanly under pressure. Defense is where football IQ is most visible, and we develop it deliberately.

Speed, agility & athletic development

Flag football rewards pure athleticism. Our athletic development sessions build the first-step quickness, change-of-direction speed, and explosive agility that make players dangerous on every snap — regardless of position.

Team offense & play execution

Spacing, timing, play design, and learning how to execute as a unit when it matters. We run real plays, from real playbooks, in live game situations with coached debriefs. Players leave understanding the game at a level most youth programs never reach.

Character & values

The original boys page was titled ‘Athletic Skill & Jewish Values’ — and that framing is exactly right. Flag football is a game that rewards unselfishness: blocking for a teammate, running a decoy route, celebrating someone else’s score. Maccabi builds these qualities deliberately, grounded in the Jewish values that run through everything we do. Players leave as better athletes and better people to be around.

What Boys Gain at Maccabi Flag Football Camp

For boys, Maccabi flag football is an opportunity to develop in a competitive environment that actually teaches the game — not just runs them through drills and calls it a practice. The coaching is real, the competition is structured, and the character development is deliberate.

For the football-obsessed player: a week of full football immersion — film, fundamentals, live game situations, and the kind of detailed coaching attention that most youth programs can’t offer in a single-day format.

For the multi-sport athlete: flag football develops athleticism, coordination, and spatial awareness that transfers to every other sport. Speed, route discipline, and field vision are skills that make athletes better across the board.

For the kid who wants real community: an overnight experience built around a team. Boys form the kind of bonds in our CSUEB cabins that you can’t manufacture in a day program — shared competition, shared meals, and shared growth.

Girls Flag Football: One of the Best Opportunities in the Bay Area Right Now

Girls’ flag football is growing faster than almost any other youth sport in the country. The NFL, USA Football, and the International Federation of American Football are all actively investing in expanding the women’s game — and with flag football heading to the 2028 LA Olympics, the pathway from youth participation to elite competition has never been clearer.

Maccabi Sports Camp’s girls flag football program gives female players access to real coaching, real competition, and a real overnight camp experience in the Bay Area — at a time when most programs still aren’t taking girls’ flag football seriously. We are.

For the player getting into the game: a welcoming, structured environment where beginners build foundational football skills quickly and confidently. Our coaches know how to develop athletes from the ground up — no prior experience required.

For the competitive player: high-level instruction, live game situations against strong competition, and positional coaching calibrated to where you are and where you’re going. The game is growing fast — and so is the competition.

For the girl who wants camp and football: Maccabi is the only overnight flag football camp in the Bay Area with genuine Jewish camp culture at its core. The sport and the community are woven together here in a way you won’t find anywhere else.

Jewish Values. Real Friendships. Unforgettable Summers.

Maccabi Sports Camp is the West Coast’s only Jewish overnight sports camp, and a flagship partner of the Oshman Family JCC. On a flag football field, that culture shows up in how players communicate with each other, how they respond to a loss, and how they celebrate a teammate’s big play more than their own.

Flag football is one of the most team-dependent sports there is. You can’t win with one great player. You win when everyone knows their role, executes their assignment, and trusts the people around them. Those are exactly the values — accountability, unselfishness, resilience — that Maccabi develops deliberately alongside football skill.

Jewish players feel immediately at home in our community. Players of all backgrounds tell us they leave Maccabi with friendships built on something real — competition, character, and a week of shared experience that a school-year friendship rarely matches.

Shabbat, evening programming, and community traditions are woven through the week in a way that feels alive — not scheduled or obligatory.

Our Home: Cal State East Bay in Hayward, CA

Maccabi Flag Football Camp is hosted on the campus of California State University, East Bay — a spacious university campus in Hayward, CA, in the heart of the East Bay. For families searching for a flag football summer camp near them in the Bay Area — from San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, the Peninsula, or Silicon Valley — CSUEB is centrally located and a short drive from all three major Bay Area airports.

The CSUEB campus gives our campers access to collegiate-level athletic facilities:

– Multi-sport fields and outdoor turf areas for all flag football training and game play
– University dormitory suites serving as cabins, with 8 campers and 2–3 dedicated counselors per suite
– Lane and recreational swimming pools for off-field recovery and evening activities
– Campus dining hall serving kosher-style meals, with organic, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options
– Classrooms and outdoor spaces for team film sessions, playbook work, and evening programming
– A campus garden used for Shabbat and community gatherings
 
The overnight structure means players get the full benefit of all of it — not just a few hours on a borrowed field. It’s the most complete flag football summer camp experience in the Bay Area.
Want to see the campus and fields for yourself? Request a camp tour or attend an open house — or call us at (415) 997-8844 and we’ll walk you through what a week at camp looks like.

Program Details at a Glance

Who it’s for: Boys and girls, ages 8–16, all skill levels — from first-time players to competitive youth flag football athletes

Camp format: Overnight (sleep-away) — the Bay Area’s only Jewish overnight flag football camp for boys and girls

Location: Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) campus, Hayward, CA — accessible from across the Bay Area

Housing: CSUEB dormitory suites; 8 campers + 2–3 counselors per cabin, organized by grade and gender

Training: Morning and afternoon sessions: position-specific skill work, team offense and defense, live game competition

Groupings: Players grouped by ability level for all skill and game sessions

Dining: Kosher-style meals in the CSUEB dining hall; organic, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available

Evening programming: Team film, playbook review, Jewish life programming, community events, Shabbat

Staff: Coaches with football playing and coaching backgrounds, selected for character as much as credentials

Affiliation: Oshman Family JCC | West Coast’s only Jewish overnight sports camp

Frequently Asked Questions

Is previous football experience required?

No. Because this is a burgeoning sport, especially for girls, we anticipate a wide range of skill levels. Our coaches are trained to differentiate instruction, ensuring beginners learn safety and fundamentals while experienced players are challenged with complex schemes.

How does the co-ed aspect work in contact sports?

Flag football is a non-contact sport by design. Our primary focus is on safety. We group campers by age and ability to ensure that physical mismatches are minimized, and the focus remains on speed, agility, and strategy rather than physicality.

Is this camp co-ed? Can boys and girls attend together?

Yes — Maccabi Flag Football Camp is fully co-ed. Boys and girls train and compete together throughout the week. Flag football has always been a naturally co-ed sport at the youth and recreational level, and our program reflects that. Every player — regardless of gender — receives the same positional coaching, competes in the same game situations, and is held to the same standard.

Do you have a girls flag football program?

Yes, and it’s one of the things we’re most proud of. Girls flag football is one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country right now, and Maccabi offers one of the only girls flag football summer camps in the Bay Area. Our girls players train in the same co-ed program as the boys, receive the same coaching attention, and compete at the same level. Whether your daughter is just getting into the game or is already a competitive player, this is the right program.

What ages and skill levels is this camp for?

We welcome players ages 8 through 16, from kids who’ve never played organized football to competitive youth flag football athletes preparing for league and tournament play. Players are grouped by ability level for all skill and game sessions — so every camper is appropriately challenged and coached.

Is this an overnight camp or a day camp?

Maccabi Flag Football Camp is a true overnight, sleep-away camp. Players live on the Cal State East Bay campus in Hayward for the full duration of the session. The overnight format gives us time to run team film sessions, positional discussions, and the kind of deep team-building that a day flag football camp simply can’t replicate.

Where exactly is the camp located?

Camp is held on the campus of California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) in Hayward, CA — in the East Bay, accessible from San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley, and a short drive from all three major Bay Area airports. Note: the Oshman Family JCC’s administrative office is in Palo Alto — but camp takes place at CSUEB in Hayward.

Does my child need to be Jewish to attend?

Not at all. Maccabi Sports Camp welcomes players of all backgrounds. Our Jewish values create a culture built on character, teamwork, and integrity — qualities that resonate across every tradition. Jewish players feel completely at home; players of all backgrounds tell us they leave with a sense of community they didn’t expect.

Do you need prior football experience to attend?

No. We welcome true beginners alongside experienced youth flag football players. Our coaching staff knows how to build football skills from the ground up — and how to push competitive players to the next level — simultaneously, in the same program, by grouping players appropriately for every session.

How do I register?

Use the Enroll Now link to start your application through the CampInTouch portal. You can also request a camp tour, attend an open house, or call us at (415) 997-8844 — we’re happy to answer any questions.

Ready to Give Your Child the Summer They’ll Talk About Forever?

Enrollment for our Bay Area co-ed overnight flag football camp fills quickly — especially as the sport grows and more families discover what Maccabi offers. Whether your child is stepping onto a football field for the first time or is already competing in youth league play, we want them with us at Cal State East Bay this summer.

Spots are limited. Secure your child’s place today.

Enroll now, schedule a camp tour, attend an open house, or call us directly at (415) 997-8844 — we’d love to have your child on the field with us this summer.

Have more questions? We’d love to answer them. Request info today!