Touching upon various topics: There is a lot of talk these days about obesity and the need for people of all ages to limit their food and beverage intake and get regular exercise.

For teenagers, playing a sport is an excellent way to get in shape and stay fit.

There are very few girls who play high school football.

But what about flag football?

In Florida, there is high school flag football for girls.

How about adding it to the Maine high school curriculum?

They could play it in the spring or fall.

Each team uses seven players at a time and at least four of them have to be on the line of scrimmage.

The field is 80 yards long by 40 yards wide and it is marked out in 20-yard increments. You have to reach the nearest 20-yard marker in four downs to pick up a first down.

Everyone is eligible to catch a pass.

After you score a touchdown, you can choose to put the ball on the 3-yard line and run or pass it into the end zone for a one-point conversion; put it on the 10-yard line for a two-point conversion or place it on the 20 and attempt to earn a three-point conversion.

A fumble is considered a dead ball and retained by the offensive team.

A play is over when the ballcarrier has her flag belt detached by a defensive player or she loses her flag.

According to one set of rules, you can only block with your hands behind your back and defensive players have to go around the blockers, not through them.

It doesn’t sound like it would be expensive and it would supply girls with another sport to consider.

The Maine Principals Association should take a look at it.

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Speaking of the Maine Principals’ Association, I know I sound like a broken record, but if there was ever a year to consider allowing postponed playoff games to be played on Sunday, this would have been the year.

The state cross country meets were run in a torrential rainstorm on a course that was a quagmire.

The conditions were so bad, the state field hockey finals, which were scheduled to be played on artificial turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland on a Saturday, were postponed and spread out over two midweek nights.

State soccer games were rescheduled on different weeknights.

This juggling could have been avoided if the MPA pushed the Saturday games back to Sunday.

Sunday is considered a family day by the MPA and I’m sure there are church groups that are adamant about keeping Sunday as a day of rest and religious observation.

But most people work during the week and have to rearrange their schedules in order to see their sons and daughters participate in a playoff game or regional or state meet.

Sunday would be much easier for most.

And don’t student-athletes who work their tails off to earn a spot in a postseason game or meet deserve to participate in more favorable weather conditions?

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Curt Schilling has re-signed with the Red Sox and that’s good news.

He may not throw a 94-97 mph fastball any more, but his courageous performance in 2004 and career 11-2 postseason record, including 3-0 this season, speak to his ability to pitch in big games.

He is also a good role model/teacher for young pitchers.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net