N.C. girls’ flag football league expands opportunities for young athletes
Athletes and organizations around the country recently celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day. It always makes me feel great to see all the social media posts about young girls engaged in sports. I remember my daughter’s time playing soccer and lacrosse as some of our family’s best bonding experiences. I coached her a little, and it was a memorable time for me as a parent.
I also have a distinct memory from that time about my daughter’s best friend, who chose not to try out for the middle school soccer team, like many of the girls with whom she played. When I asked about her, I found she had switched to flag football; I had no idea it was being offered for young girls. To me, this was a real sign of progress. Communities had recognized the importance of girls participating in sports, and not only the more traditional ones like soccer and softball.
I don’t need to quote the statistics here, but with all the talk about combatting chronic disease, the broader exposure to athletics can’t hurt. According to the CDC, girls who participate in sports are almost 50% less likely to suffer from chronic diseases like obesity. Girls who play sports are also 20% less likely to suffer from depression, and the list goes on.
That is one of the reasons NAYS recently gave a national Excellence in Youth Sports Award to a notable recreation organization in Mecklenburg County, N.C. The award highlighted the development of a Girls Middle School Age Flag Football League for players aged 11 to 13. Introduced in fall 2023, the program quickly grabbed the attention of girls thrilled by the opportunity to try an action-packed new sport. More than 50 youth participated in the debut season, and the program has become so popular that it has already doubled in size, with 10 teams and more than 100 players—and it’s now offered in both spring and fall. Monday nights under the lights in Mecklenburg are special times for these girls. It’s inspiring to see recreation agencies and their dedicated staff members find new and clever ways to get kids excited about different sports—and keep them involved.
Growth Through Partnership
Instrumental to the program’s successful launch was the decision to contact Charlotte Mecklenburg School Athletics. Through this partnership, the program has flourished, providing girls with the opportunity to learn and develop skills to gain confidence and prepare for high school play. Plus, area middle schools can recruit teams and play in the league, giving kids fun opportunities to compete and connect with peers from surrounding areas.
The recreation staff has also been tireless in its promotional efforts, visiting middle schools to inform girls about the program and participating in local-media interviews, too.
The staff also continues to make fun enhancements. In spring 2024, it held an All-Star Game, in which all teams were represented. During halftime, fun family competitions were conducted in which moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and even grandparents tested their skills in events like the 40-yard dash and a football toss. In the fall, the organization held a preseason jamboree, during which teams played three 15-minute scrimmages to set the stage for a fun-filled season.
In my daughter’s case, I have seen firsthand the impact of her sports participation. She tried out for the girls’ lacrosse team as a freshman because it was a new sport for the school, and some of the other soccer players decided to give it a try. Watching the team persevere over four years (to a winning season and the regional playoffs during the final year) was something right out of a Hollywood script. I know the experience changed my daughter forever and helped her reap the success she is experiencing now as a young adult.
And that’s what sports participation is all about!