Philadelphia Girls' Flag Football

5/31/2022

In high schools and programs all across the country, football is a male-dominated sport, leaving many aspiring female players without anywhere to take their ambitions and hopes. However lately, the Philadelphia Eagles have launched an initiative all over Philadelphia to organize numerous girls’ flag football teams and leagues.

Mariah Riddick is the star quarterback at St. Hubert High School’s football program. She described the challenges she faced growing up as a woman wanting to play football. “Being a girl who loves and plays football at my age is hard when trying to prove yourself as a football player… Many boys doubt my true love for the sport and my ability to play. It was hard when boys wouldn’t let me play with them. I feel now as this league is growing more, more people are starting to see that girls have what it takes to play football — and be successful at it.” 

Riddick emphasized how the need for representation in football is key. She focused on the power of influence and peer participation, “When you love something with a passion but don’t see anyone who looks like you, it can degrade and lead people to lose hope that it is truly possible to follow your dreams. So when young girls see my teammates and me, they might think to themselves, ‘Wow, I never knew girls could play football. I want to play, too.” This new and burgeoning league is providing that platform, for girls to see other girls and be inspired, reflecting Riddick’s sentiment. 

Many girls and schools are already taking part, in this year’s first season, 16 schools are participating, allowing for legitimate season schedules and matchups. The Eagles intend to expand the league to over 100 teams. 

All participating teams' week 1 games were hosted at the Eagles’ game day stadium, Lincoln Financial Field. The events included the teams meeting tight end Tyree Jackson, stadium tours, and a chance to run out of the stadium tunnel. Riddick recounted, “When my team and I were in the tunnel about to run out onto the field,” Riddick said, “I felt like an actual Eagles player.”

The sport of football for generations has de facto discriminated, excluded, and discouraged girls from playing football. Many high school football teams across the nation technically offer football as a co-ed sport, but the teams being almost all male and the stigma around the sport deter girls from participating. This emphasizes the importance of such a program like the Eagle’s initiative. Just like young boys, numerous girls like Riddick are inspired by football players, she cited Jalen Hurts as someone she modeled her game after. But perhaps it would be more ideal for young girls to have female players they could look up to in the future. But for now, the groundwork for women in football is being set. Leagues like the Philadelphia League, provide girls to be inspired locally by other girls. Women deserve to also take part in and benefit from the myriad of lessons, ideologies, and disciplines of football. But an atmosphere for them to start playing and thrive in is needed, which is being addressed by the Eagles.

Support for the cause is widespread. Star Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts represented women’s football foundations on his cleats for the “My Cause My Cleats” NFL initiative. The NFL Foundation donated 100,000 dollars to the “Leveling the Playing Field” Charity which distributes sports equipment across youth programs in under-resourced communities. They provided 6,000 sports bras to programs in the Philadelphia girls league. 

Riddick’s teammate, Cerena O’Neill shared her views on the bright future of women’s football, “As young women, we have come far in history. I’m glad to be a part of a program that can show future generations that football is not just a male sport. Women are strong, fierce, and resilient. I hope through our program we are paving the way to one day see a Women’s National Football League.” 

The Eagles invited St. Hubert’s team to announce their day two draft pick at the NFL draft this year, putting their cause and passion on the nation's radar, hopefully spreading the sport to other states.

Works Cited

Tolentino, Josh. "'Football is not just a male sport': The Eagles' girls' high school flag football league is breaking down barriers." Inquierer, 24 Apr. 2024, www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-girls-flag-football-league-20220424.html#loaded.