We know, we know. Before anyone starts shouting numbers in the hallway — this one's a coincidence. Our Grade 6 and 7 Physical Education and Wellness classes teamed up this week to build the footwork and agility skills that flag football runs on, and they did it by playing Tiger Tails: steal your neighbour's flag, keep your own, repeat until someone's dignity is gone.

Turns out this game is equal parts dodgeball reflexes and poker face — fake a direction, read the room, commit before the other kid does. By the end of the block, footwork waa notably sharper.

Meanwhile, over by the bleachers, a different kind of physics experiment was unfolding. A knot of boys had reached full stalemate — everyone within arm's reach of someone's flag, nobody willing to be the one who lunges first. It doesn't exactly scout for flag football (nobody's covering a receiver from six inches away), but it's still a decent life lesson: sometimes the smartest move is standing very, very still while you figure out who blinks first.

Flag football's up next. Consider this the tryout nobody knew they were having.

Curious what's behind the class? Alberta's Physical Education and Wellness curriculum →