On June 14, the Adapted Football League (AFL) kicked off its season inside the fieldhouse at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Six weeks later, the season wrapped up with the All-Star Game on July 27, bringing all athletes together for the first time. Unlike the regular season, where each component—skills and drills, flag football, and wheelchair football—ran separately, this final event united them in a single, inclusive celebration.
"We're welcoming the Adaptive Football League back into our doors after a season-long activation," Browns Youth Football Coordinator Brandon Moore said. "Achievement Centers for Children is a proud partner of the Browns, so we continue to work together to create opportunities for kids that have mental and physical disabilities and just make sure there's no limitation of who can play and enjoy the game of football."
The Adapted Football League was established in 2011 and supports children and adults with both cognitive and/or developmental delays and those with physical limitations. For all 15 years of the league, the Browns have partnered with Achievement Centers for Children to help provide football through the summer league.
The league has three different divisions – skills and drills, flag football and wheelchair – with athletes spread across those divisions and volunteers helping to run the league.
Manager of Youth Services and Adapted Sports at Achievement Centers for Children Maggie Clautti is in her first year overseeing the program but has volunteered for multiple years.
"To combine my job that I love and sports that I love and do it all together, I was like, 'Why not?'" Clautti said. "Then, the more I did it, I would leave, and I wouldn't stop smiling as I was driving home and I love it so much. It's an incredible experience and I love being a part of it."
The season started with signing day on May 25 in the Browns Media Room. The players signed their contracts and received their jerseys for the season, with the commissioner of the league, Chomps, overseeing the festivities.
The AFL had its practices and games at Lou Groza Field every Saturday after opening its season at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Midway through the season, the Browns visited Lou Groza Field with a Play Football Takeover, turning one of the AFL's stations into a Browns-themed QB Toss challenge. The activation brought added energy to the day, featuring AFL favorite Chomps and offering participants a chance to win team-branded prizes.
"I'm very excited just to be able to have this experience for our players and our athletes. They're really incredible people," Clautti said. "This is awesome to see them and bring all their families and just get to experience this."
At the All-Star Game, the players warmed up with catching, kicking, passing and tackling drills. Multiple players practiced their celebrations, spiking the ball after scoring a touchdown and even pulling out their best dance moves, with Chomps participating in some duo celebrations.
Following warmups, the games were on. Flag football had games going down half of the field, while the wheelchair division held their game in the parking lot. After the games were over, the players huddled up and broke out a "Here we go Brownies" chant, received their medals and took a group photo, finishing with a pizza party.
"Getting to see all of the athletes get that traditional experience that every other athlete gets and get to feel that pride, I love it," Clautti said. "Playing a sport, being a part of a team and getting to be competitive and everything that anyone else gets. Just having this whole inclusive experience, it's really been amazing."
To learn more about the Cleveland Browns Adapted Football League, visit clevelandbrowns.com/youthfootball.
