Bringing Girls Flag Football team to East High School: a Vision of The Future
By Nyiema Wood, November 6th 2024
At east high school, a passionate group of students is wanting to rally for the creation of a girls flag football team, aiming to provide more athletic opportunities for female athletes and to promote inclusivity in sports
As an east high student not only do I want to accomplish this but I would need people to help us go through with it so my plan is to make petitions for people who want to join or want to have a girls flag football team. And when i have a good amount of them i'll give those petitions to the principle and then if the principle agrees the principle will proceed to give the petitions to the salt lake city school district (SLCSD) and then if the SLCSD agrees they will send out notes to all the different schools such as West, Highland, Brighton, Taylorsville, Hunter, Cyprus, and other schools. a problem is that we would have to find a place to play because we couldn't do it in the spring time because of lacrosse and we would have a 5% chance of doing it in the fall so if we ended up having a girls flag football team we would need to talk to both lacrosse teams and make arrangements with them.
THE CHALLENGES
East high school and many other schools would be a perfect place to create a team that empowers and includes more students in the game, however bringing a girls flag football team to east and many other schools presents some challenges, from funding gear and coaches to a lack of similar teams in nearby schools. But with community support, a vision for change and determination, we can make it happen.
Funding gear and coaches: Starting a new sports team requires equipment including uniforms, and trained coaches. For a girls flag football team at east high we would need to purchase flags, footballs vbghs cones, and protective gear as well as pay for transportation for any games and tournaments coaches are also essential as they provide expertise guidance, and ensure player safety. However funding for these resources can be a hurdle especially since girls’ flag football is not yet an established program in most schools in utah
A lack of local teams: Another obstacle is that girls flag football is not yet an established program in most schools in Utah with so few teams to play against it can be difficult to schedule games or tournaments, which are essential for building team skills and competitive spirit. To make our program sustainable and rewarding we would need to inspire neighboring schools to form their own girls flag football teams.
OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLES
Though these challenges may seem daunting, they are by no means impossible to overcome. Here are a few solutions and ideas that could help bring a girls’ flag football team to East High School:
1. Fundraising and Sponsorships: We could launch a series of fundraising events, from bake sales to car washes, to raise money for gear and equipment. Additionally, reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships could help cover costs. Companies in the community might be interested in supporting a program that promotes inclusivity and physical fitness for young women.
2. Support from Local Organizations: Some local or national sports organizations, like USA Football, may have grants available to support emerging teams. We could reach out to see if any funding or resources are available for girls’ flag football programs in Utah.
3. Collaborating with Other Schools: Even though not many Utah schools currently have girls’ flag football teams, we could work with other schools in the area to create a small league. By inspiring nearby high schools to form teams, we’d have regular competition and the opportunity to build camaraderie with other players in the state. This could help jumpstart a trend for girls’ flag football in Utah and even lead to more schools adding teams in the future.
4. Building Community and Parent Support: By engaging parents, school staff, and students, we can create a strong support system for the girls’ flag football team. If the East High community sees the value and excitement this team would bring, we’re more likely to gain the encouragement and advocacy needed to turn this dream into a reality.
A MORE EXCITING FUTURE
Bringing a girls’ flag football team to East High School would not only enrich the lives of students who want to play football but would also help shape a more inclusive, exciting future for high school athletics in Utah. While challenges such as funding and limited competition do exist, with the right resources and community backing, we can overcome them. This is more than just a chance to play a sport; it’s an opportunity to make history, empowering young women at East High to step into a new arena and pave the way for others in our state. Let’s work together to make girls’ flag football a part of East High's Legacy.
