GREENSBORO, N.C. — In partnership with the Carolina Panthers, Guilford County Schools will kick off the start of girls high school flag football with an event Saturday at Page High School.
Eighteen high school teams, including 15 from Guilford and three from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, will start league play Saturday in what is the inaugural season of girls flag football in the county. According to a press release, teams will finish the season Dec. 7 with the league championship game.
“Research supports that girls who play sports develop self-confidence, resilience and cooperative skills. They also tend to stay in school longer and get better jobs,” said Superintendent Whitney Oakley. “From the parity of female athletes at this summer’s Olympics, to the rise in popularity of women’s basketball and other sports, we are seeing more and more support for women in sports, and we are happy to partner with the Carolina Panthers on this effort.”
The event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, will feature two notable names in the US flag football scene — U.S. Women's Flag National Team assistant coach Kate Bula and team member Maci Jonich, who is the team's youngest member at just 18 years old.
According to a press release, the GCS girls flag football program "is designed to provide high scvhool girls with increased access and opportunities to participate in the fast-growing sport of girls high school flag football."
Some states already have girls flag football as a sanctioned high school sport. According to research by USA Football, there has been a 44% increase in flag football among girls aged 6-17 since 2014.
Flag football is also expected to make its debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
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