MCPS will be piloting girls’ flag football at all 25 high schools during the upcoming Fall 2024 season, through a partnership with the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour. MCPS and the Ravens will be hosting skills clinics for interested students June 4-6. Please note the following:
Sessions will be held on June 4, 5 and 6 at Walter Johnson, John F. Kennedy and Seneca Valley high schools fields. Students interested can register here.
- The schedule is available here. Due to anticipated space limitations, students may only attend the date/location assigned for their school.
- Interested students should register at this link. Names and contact information will be forwarded to the coaches and athletics specialist at each school. Note – students will need to sign-up for summer engagement/conditioning and the fall season separately through ParentVue.
- Upon approval, students will be emailed a waiver form and invitation to participate in the clinic. This will include details regarding the clinic.
- Each school will coordinate transportation. If requested, MCPS buses will be available.
Interest Meetings: Coaches will hold interest meetings for students in the coming weeks, in order to collect contact information, communicate clinic information, and plan for summer engagement.
Coaching Positions: Coaching positions are posted real-time on MCPS Careers. Schools are working to have all coaches hired by the end of May, so coaches can participate in training and skills clinics during the first week of June.
Coach Training: Initial coach training will be provided on Monday, June 3rd at the Ravens Practice Facility – the Under Armour Performance Center – from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Details will be shared with coaches and athletics specialists.
Summer Engagement: Similar to other fall sports, girls’ flag football programs may conduct summer skills opportunities for a maximum of 12 days, per the MCPS Out-of-Season guidelines.
Key dates for the season:
- August 14 – tryouts/practices may begin
- August 19 – tryouts/practices must begin by this date
- Week of August 26 – scrimmage fest
- September 4 – Season opener
Schedule: The season will consist of eight regular season games, followed by a postseason. Once a solid interest level is confirmed at each school, divisions and schedules will be created. We hope to have a team at all 25 high schools. Stay tuned for the schedule release!
Sport Director: Jenna Essenmacher will serve as the inaugural sport director for girls’ flag football. Ms Essenmacher has a wealth of experience with women’s flag football including playing on the national team, winning a national championship, and being named best defensive back. She has also served as a coach of multiple sports in our program and is a current physical education teacher at White Oak Middle School.
Rules: MCPS will follow rules agreed upon by MCPS, the other school districts, and the Ravens. The rules are available here. A field diagram is available here.
Officials: Officials will be provided by the Washington District Football Officials Association (WDFOA), the same organization MCPS utilizes for varsity and JV football. Three officials will be provided per game.
Equipment: Equipment will be mailed to schools by the end of June. All equipment will be provided by the Ravens and Under Armour.
Dual Sport Eligibility: To consider the possible impact on participation with other sports, in certain circumstances, MCPS will allow girls’ to participate in girls’ flag and another sport simultaneously, in consultation with coaches of both sports and with the approval of the school’s athletics specialist and principal. A form will be utilized to manage this participation and require each dual-sport participant to confirm a primary sport and receive approval from the coaches of both sports, along with the athletics specialist and principal. Parents/guardians and students should register for their primary sport in ParentVue and communicate with the coach and athletics specialist at their school, if there is interest in participating in two sports and this option is available.
