There’s a new opportunity in town for young female athletes and it’s called the High School Girls Flag Football League.
The Winnipeg Football Club (WFC) — the operators of the Blue Bombers — started the initiative and the action kicked off Tuesday evening inside the Winnipeg Soccer Federation South complex.
The six-week competition features 19 teams from 16 schools with 200 athletes signed up to play. There are games every Tuesday and Wednesday until May 8.
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS River East Collegiate student Calie Goulet launches a pass Tuesday during a development camp for the inaugural season of the Blue Bombers High School Girls Flag Football League.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Darci Epp, a Grade 11 student at Morris School. “I think it’s really cool for girls to be shown more in sports that are seen as male dominated. And it’s really cool that a well-known team and sport for our area is helping promote women’s football.”
The league is also presented by Bell MTS.
“This new league will allow high school girls to showcase their athletic talents, learn new skills, and experience the thrill of flag football in an inclusive environment,” said Wade Miller, WFC president and CEO. The last three weeks will be played outdoors at St. Vital Mustangs Field. The Willie Jefferson Division is on Tuesday nights and features College Beliveau, St. Mary’s, Grant Park, John Taylor, Oak Park No. 1 and No. 2, Westwood No. 1 and No. 2 and River East.
On Wednesdays, the Zach Collaros Division hits the field with Glenlawn No. 1 and No. 2, J.H. Bruns, Centre scolaire Léo-Rémillard, Morris, Murdoch Mackay, Elmwood, Miles Mac, West Kildonan and Windsor Park.
It’s already a huge hit in Morris as head coach/school principal Mike Watson had no issues getting a team together.
“We are over our capacity for a roster. It’s a good problem to have. We’re the only rural team in it this year, but hopefully we’ll get more and more interest as this goes on,” said Watson, the former head coach of the Winnipeg Rifles.
“They’re excited, they’re nervous, they’re anxious, all those things that come with something new. But there’s a lot of smiles, a lot of questions, and they’re soaking in the things we’re trying to teach them. It’s been really positive.”
It’s the perfect timing for something like this as flag football will be played at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“I sold the girls on, ‘Hey, you have a chance to be the next Olympian.’ There’s also colleges throughout Canada now that are hosting teams, whether it’s a club or a scholaship program. (The University of Regina) is the closest for us that has one of those, and that’s cool, too,” said Watson.
Epp is just one of two players at Morris who had prior experience playing the game. Her main sports are softball and volleyball, but she loves the team aspect of football.
“The girls that are coming up into high school will see this new sport as an option for them,” said Epp. “I hope they can see that people with little to no experience can do well, or even just have a lot of fun, and hopefully the next generation will gain more interest in it.”
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Taylor Allen
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Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor got his start with the Free Press on June 1, 2011. Well, sort of…
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