Norwin High School girls to play flag football games for charity

A group of Norwin High School students have been practicing for two big football https://www.golfsbeststores.com/ games Wednesday, but they won’t involve boys and they’re not for a WPIAL championship.

Taking the field at the Norwin Knights Stadium will be about 150 girls in ninth through 12 grades, playing two flag football games for a good cause. They are playing to help children of needy families receive toys for the holiday season that will be distributed by Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes, a non-profit.

The games will feature freshmen against sophomores at 5:30 p.m. and juniors vs. seniors at 7:30 p.m., playing under the lights. There are no plans to hold a championship contest between the winners of the two games, said Hannah Shaw, a senior who organized the event.

The price of admission to the games is an unopened toy in the original packaging or a monetary donation of the fan’s choosing, all of which will go to Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes.

Each team will have eight players, with a running clock, said Shaw, a pole vaulter on the track team who will play center for the senior squad. Tackling the player with the ball is done by pulling a flag from the ball carrier’s waist.

Shaw said she selected Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes because her father is on the board and she’s helped the charity before.

Shaw helped to restart the traditional girls flag football game after being told there were no plans to hold the game this year. The game was canceled in 2020 because of the covid pandemic and again in 2021, as use of facilities were limited.

She received more than 650 signatures in support of having the games and the school administration approved it.

Many teachers and community members showed support for the game, Shaw said. Some varsity football players are helping the girls, while teachers are serving as coaches and referees.