Huddle up as an all-girls flag football league has launched in Manchester and it is the first league of its kind in the region. Launched yesterday (April 24) by the NFL franchise the Chicago Bears and Britain’s first female NFL coach, Phoebe Schecter, it follows the success of the girls only flag league arriving in London with the Illinois team alongside the New York Jets.
Flag football is the non-contact version of American Football, and is described as “a fun, fast, and action-packed sport that promotes accessibility for all, teamwork, and character development in youth”. Flag football which involves tackles being made by pulling off flags which all players wear on their hips, was also recently announced as an Olympic sport and will debut at the LA 2028 Olympics.
After the success of their London launch, the Chicago Bears now want to empower girls aged between 12 and 14 years in Manchester and engage them with a new sport, as well as teaching them key fundamental life skills such as teamwork and leadership.
The league was launched with an immersive Flag Football session at Bolton School where the girls received their official team kit from Nike who are a partner of the Flag Football League. The girls took part in an NFL Flag taster session led by Phoebe Schecter and NFL Flag coaches as well as a host of other fun skill-based activities.
The girls were joined at the launch by former Bears cornerback and Super Bowl XX champion, Shaun Gayle. Also in attendance were the current Great Britain Women’s Flag stars including Phoebe, Amy Wells, Grace Furie – hoping to inspire the next generation of flag football stars ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at LA28.
Phoebe Schecter said: “Flag football is a fun and inclusive sport. As a player and coach, I’m delighted to see the Bears providing this opportunity for girls to play Flag Football and helping them to feel like they belong in a sport.I am excited to see both the growth of the game and the impact this initiative has on the participants.”
The Chicago Bears said: “Girls’ Flag Football continues to grow locally and internationally. Earlier this year, we witnessed the sport become sanctioned in Chicago (US) and the state of Illinois. The game will also be introduced to the Olympic Games in 2028. As Flag Football continues to develop around the world, the Chicago Bears will remain committed to championing the sport’s growth.
“We are thrilled to be back in Manchester having brought our Mini Monsters Tour here in 2022 and 2203. The new league will provide young girls from all backgrounds with an introduction to the sport. To see the enthusiasm and engagement for American Football is incredible, and we are excited for the opportunity this new league will bring, especially ahead of the Bears playing a game in London later this year.”
The Chicago Bears have been ever-present in the UK and Manchester since gaining marketing rights for the country in 2022. The franchise will also be playing a game in London this year, and the winning team from the Manchester girls flag league will be invited to the game to cheer the Bears on.
The current league includes the ten schools: All Hallows, Bolton School, Co-op Walkden, Irlam and Cadishead, Moorside, Mount Carmel, Oasis Oldham, Trinity C of E , Wright Robinson and Salford City Academy. However, the league hopes to expand even further with more schools participating next year.
To find out more about the Bears NFL Girls Flag Football League in Manchester, head to the Chicago Bears website here.