Chicago Bears Donate Turf and $50K to Launch Girls Middle School Flag Football League
✨ Coach, Parents & Player Tips
Coach’s Clipboard: Teach your players to tap their chest three times whispering “I’m learning” after any slip-up—that tiny ritual turns errors into high-fives for growth and sends them sprinting back to the huddle with fresh confidence (and a healthy dose of silliness).
Postgame Parents: When your athlete’s brain gets stuck on a bad play, have them yell “Demo over!” like stopping a replay and then immediately call out one thing they crushed—switching off the mental reruns builds confidence faster than any drill (and you might get a chuckle, too).
Players Snap: Catch yourself thinking “I can’t” and immediately follow with “Watch me”—mindset flips are the fastest route from rookie jitters to coach-approved swagger.
🔎 Feature Story
🏅 Bears donate turf, $50,000 to Rockford Park District
The Chicago Bears have donated a 30×30-yard piece of artificial turf from Halas Hall and $50,000 to the Rockford Park District to outfit the Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Complex warm-up zone and launch a girls middle school flag football league, reinforcing youth sports infrastructure. This partnership aims to expand flag football participation across Illinois by creating a development pathway from middle school through college and beyond.
“It’s part of our overall mission to build a pathway for girls to be able to play the game from youth all the way to and through college, and potentially even playing internationally in the Olympics one day.”
🌍 Regional Roundup
Maryland: The third season of girls flag football begins Sept. 3 with ceremonies at Westlake High and Henry E. Lackey High, launching Southern Maryland Conference programs in Charles and Calvert Counties and advancing a statewide league of 92 schools toward state‐sanctioned status, with the inaugural championship set for November 2025 at M&T Bank Stadium.
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Kansas: Baldwin, Free State and Lawrence high schools held their first club girls flag football triangular at Free State, organized outside KSHSAA sanctioning and supported by the Kansas City Chiefs, drawing full rosters after just five practices and a student‐filled City Showdown.
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⭐ Player Spotlight
Jessie Schrag– U14 flag football player for the South Delta Rams. Jessie qualified for the NFL Flag Canadian National Championships in Toronto following standout performances in regional track and field and spring flag leagues.
“I’m excited, I feel like it could lead me farther into my football career and that it could lead me to success,” said Jessie.
📈 Flag Growth Focus
🔥 Steelers Global Debut
As part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the first-ever NFL regular-season game overseas in Dublin, featuring girls flag-football clinics and youth tournaments in the week leading up to the Sept. 28 matchup at Croke Park. A partnership with Aer Lingus will expand Steelers-branded retail in the city while legends and coaches lead Terrible Towel tours and on-field sessions to grow the sport internationally.
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🏫 California High School Boom
California’s Interscholastic Federation is entering its third season of sanctioned girls flag football with an 84% jump in participation from 2023 to 2024, making it one of 14 states to recognize the sport at the high-school level. Districts statewide are expanding facilities, adjusting schedules, retraining officials, and boosting coaching and development programs to accommodate the rapid growth.
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⚡ FlagSnap Daily Blitz
Redondo Union moved to the top spot in the Daily Breeze Top 10 by defeating San Pedro 33-20 for the L.A. City Classic title behind a defense that snagged 13 interceptions and MVP Blair Nolen
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Central Valley coach Tony Cordova says his third-year girls flag football squad—returning nine key starters and adding talented newcomers—looks to make history and crack the 2025 playoffs
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San Marino opened Rio Hondo League play with a 31-6 home win over Westridge as senior QB Lily Mata threw for 311 yards and five scores
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Montgomery Catholic downed Prattville 29-6 in their season opener at Montgomery Preparatory School, highlighted by a two-touchdown performance from receiver Haley Ishman
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McCutcheon notched its first-ever girls flag football victory in Lafayette with a 20-16 win over Jefferson, capped by junior Sophie Logsdon’s go-ahead score in the fourth quarter
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Mater Dei showcased big plays on opening night of Southern Indiana’s inaugural girls flag football season, topping Memorial and Castle in an Evansville showcase
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🏁 Final Whistle
“Champions behave like champions before they are champions.” — Bill Walsh
