<span>On Saturday morning approximately 250 local boys and girls will descend upon the New Orleans Saints' training facility on Airline Drive in Metarie to participate in the Saints' NFL Flag Regional round-robin tournament.  

The daylong football festival, run by the Saints' Youth Programs Department in conjunction with the National Football League, will feature teams competing in various ages brackets ranging from 9-11 co-ed, and 12-14 in boys and girls divisions. The winning teams from each of the respective brackets will advance to the National Tournament of Champions to be held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on November 22, 2008.

"We proudly host the NFL Flag Regional tournament annually," said Saints Director of Youth Programs Jason Trosclair. "Without fail it is tremendously competitive event that above all else, features tremendous skill and sportsmanship. We look forward to what we anticipate will be another great day for all of the participants and look forward to crowning teams that will go onto represent the Saints in the national finals."

Saints mascot Gumbo, as well as members of the Saints' official cheerleading squad, the Saintsations, will be on hand to greet participants and their supports, which begins at 9:00 a.m.

The Saints' NFL Flag Regional Tournament participants will compete for the opportunity to compete against teams representatives from other NFL cities including the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins.