Professional, college and high school teams are gearing up for the upcoming football seasons. So is Patrick Davis.

Davis is the commissioner of a Natchex-based flag football league. He hopes the league – which had its first season last year – will become a popular activity for area men to partake in on weekend afternoons.

&uot;I’m looking for this to be a successful thing for the people of Natchez to do,&uot; said Davis. &uot;If we can get it in with adults, we hope to get a youth league.&uot;

Last season, five teams formed the league, which ran from September to January. Davis said he has at least eight teams have committed so far, with at least two teams from Ferriday, La., one from Fayette and one from Vidalia, La. The rest are teams from Natchez. There is room for more teams. The deadline for entry into the league as either a team or player is July 10. The date was originally June 30, but Davis has pushed it back to try to get more players.

&uot;You can enter as a team, or you can come as a player and get on a team,&uot; Davis said. If someone signs up as an individual, they will be put in a pool and then drafted by a team.

The league’s start date this year is scheduled for late July, and will run through late fall. Davis said the weather got too cold at the end of last season and people stopped showing up for their games.

Davis headed the league as commissioner last season, often doing most things by himself. But things are more organized this year. He’s setting up a committee made up of two members form each team to set the rules, schedules and officials, among other things.

&uot;We’re just trying to give adults something to do,&uot; Davis said.

The league is open to men age 16 and up. Most games will be played on Saturday, but they may be some games during the week, depending on how many teams there are.

Sites have not yet been determined for the league. Games were played at the Broadmoor subdivision last season.

&uot;Right now, we have Broadmoor, but we’re still looking for a more neutral site, some place where families can come,&uot; Davis said. &uot;We’re negotiating (a move), taking ideas from people.&uot;

Teams or players that are interested should call Davis at 446-6857 or Greg Clark at 445-9001.