July 16, 2024
Girls may want to have fun, but they also want to play flag football! Now they can do both at the Palatine Park District. According to Mark Dolphin, Palatine Park District Athletics Manager, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recently announced that girls flag football will be the latest sport to debut as an IHSA state champion sport this fall. The IHSA Board of Directors approved the girls flag football state series during their regularly scheduled meeting last February. Dan Tully, Principal at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles and President of the IHSA Board of Directors said, “It is important for the IHSA to continue to adapt to the interests of our students and schools. Girls flag football is somewhat unprecedented in terms of its growth and timeline for achieving an IHSA State Series.”
Palatine Park District will offer a girls flag football league beginning in September. Dolphin said games will be played on Sundays and practices will be held once per week. The league will run through October 20 for grades 3rd through 8th grade. Fee is $140 for In District participants and $175 for Out of District.
Girls flag football is a sport that has been gaining popularity in recent years. While football has traditionally been a male dominated sport, the rise of girls flag football leagues and programs have given young girls the opportunity to participate and excel in the sport. Flag football promotes physical fitness, builds self-confidence, fosters teamwork, develops leadership skills, and challenges gender stereotypes.
Dolphin said the goal of the girls flag football program at the park district is to eventually be a feeder program to the local high schools. Girls can learn and play the sport at a younger age and enter high school ready to participate in a team. “We hope to partner with area districts like Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates and Arlington Heights,” Dolphin said. “This way we can offer competition amongst the teams. We have been offering boys flag football and co-ed for quite a while. Girls flag football will be an alternative to playing football without some of the risk involved in tackle football. I like the variety of options that we can offer.”
Flag football is a physically demanding sport that requires agility, strength, and endurance. Playing the game regularly can improve a young girl’s overall physical fitness and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. The sport involves running, throwing, and catching, which can help develop a child’s motor skills and coordination. Additionally, participating in sports has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other health problems later in life.
“We are jumping on the girls flag football band wagon, so girls have the opportunity to learn and love the sport,” Dolphin said. Even the Chicago Bears are on-board. The news conference officially announcing the new IHSA sport was held at Halas Hall, the Chicago Bears’ Lake Forest headquarters. The organization has also been hosting club championship games and clinics for girls, adding to the excitement of this new opportunity.
“If you have a daughter who is interested in sports, consider getting her involved in flag football,” Dolphin said. “She can have fun while competing and developing skills that will benefit her for years to come.”
For more information contact mdolphin@palatineparks.org or click here to register.
