A girls’ flag football team huddles up around their coach during a game in the girls’ flag football league in the fall. Daytona Beach Parks & Recreation is launching another girls’ flag football league next week.
This summer, girls can throw passes, catch passes, pull flags and make interceptions, make sacks and even score touchdowns.
The city of Daytona Beach Parks & Recreation Department is looking for girls 10 to 16 for its flag football league this summer.
“This is an opportunity for young ladies to learn the skills of the game as well as to develop social skills, teamwork, camaraderie, dedication, and form some life bonds with others. We really want them to come out learn, play ball and have fun,” said Terry “Baldy” Johnson, Athletics Coordinator for the Daytona Beach Parks & Recreation.
Clinics will run Monday, June 10 through Wednesday, June 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Derbyshire Sports Complex, 849 Derbyshire Road.
Once clinics are completed, girls will be placed on teams. Girls will play in divisions based on age. Girls 10 to 13 will be in one division and girls 14 and older will be in another division.
“We’ll likely extend the clinics another week or two. We’ll probably add 17-yearolds because we still want girls that are in high school to play, especially if they are going to be a senior this upcoming school year. We’d like to have four to six teams in each age group; either number of teams would be a success,” said Johnson.
Games start in July
Girls line up for a play during a flag football game in the city of Daytona Beach Parks & Recreation Youth league in the fall. The sport is returning this summer for young girls.
All games and practices are at Derbyshire. The league will begin playing games in July and go up until around Aug. 16.
The city’s Park & Recreation also provided a girls flag football league back in the fall.
Johnson noted, “Our fall league was successful. It did start off slow because a lot of girls didn’t know about it and the sport was new. It did progress as more girls came out and were able to play.”
The players themselves also enjoy playing and are looking forward to playing.
Michiyah Green, 14, will be a freshman at Mainland High in the fall. Green played in the city’s flag football league in the fall. She also plans to play in the summer.
Green told the Times, “The fall flag football was fun and enjoyable. I got to bond with my teammates and other players in the league. I learned a lot about the sport. I am looking forward to playing in the summer.”
The Parks & Recreation Department decided to provide girls flag football due to the sports’ ever-growing popularity.
“I saw the growth, progression and popularity of the sport in high school. I recognized the sport has changed in high school. I saw a need for the kids to have a program to prepare them to play in high school,” emphasized Johnson.
“Right now, the sport is growing tremendously. They are now offering scholarships to girls to play flag football in college. It will also be an Olympic sport soon.”
The league is under the guidelines and direction of the NFL Flag Football League and follows its rules and guidelines.
For more information, call 386-671-5821. Register online at www.codb.us/activity.
