Jr. girls flag football back in Cowichan for second season – Cowichan Valley Citizen

Girls aged eight to 15 are welcome to join the Jr. Girls Cowichan Women’s Fall Football League, which runs Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. from now until Oct. 19.

All you need are cleats (or runners), and a willingness to learn and play as a team.

The Cowichan Women’s Football League began with four teams back in 1984 with four teams and has evolved over the years to include as many as 12 teams.

“We felt it was time to introduce the younger generations to the sport we all love and along with that give them the opportunity to take their new sport all the way to the Olympics in years to come,” said the league’s Chris Mann.

According to Mann, flag football programs are among the fastest growing sports world-wide with colleges and universities now offering scholarships for young women to play flag football at post secondary levels.

“The Olympics are also looking to introduce the sport after the huge interest from the recent World Games in which Mexico beat the USA for gold,” Mann said.

Cowichan’s junior girls league features groups for girls aged eight-11 and aged 12-15.

“Our junior girls league had its debut this last spring with more than 60 girls ranging in age from five to 15 and everyone had an amazing time through some of the worst weather in a long time and still they were smiling,” Mann said. “The girls learned all the skills of regular football, but without the contact. They play with a smaller ball and everyone wears two flags attached to their belt. The games are played on a smaller field with only seven girls per team, so you learn all about defence, offence, zones and pass patterns.”

Registration fee is just $25 for the season.

For more information, email westiemanor@shaw.ca or call Chris Mann at 250-748-9385.

cowichan valleyLocal Sports