To the editor:
As we approach another season of GirlPower Flag, we are so grateful for the continued support of the Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club. They have supported this important program for the community from the beginning.
For years the Metrowest Health Study has reported that stress and anxiety experienced by adolescent female students far outpaces male students. Participation in sports helps ameliorate these issues, but other studies show girls quitting sports far earlier than boys on average. While most communities offer girls soccer, basketball, hockey and other mainstream sports, few have Community Flag Football programs for girls to enjoy. We consider this lack of programming a key “Developmental Opportunity” as it is far easier to create new programs the right way, than it is to change the structure and management of existing programs to improve quality. Due to recent challenges and trends, the vast majority of kids are not getting the vital physical, social and emotional development that quality community recreational experiences provide. Lack of resources, or in more affluent communities competition and profit driven programs exploit vulnerable parents and kids, primarily serving the interests of adult leaders.
We were inspired by our Wellesley High School Class of 2021 Women, who came to our organization after their treasured Annual PowderPuff Flag game vs. their Needham rivals was canceled by the pandemic, asking if we could help them play and preserve their tradition. While a game with Needham wasn’t possible, we organized and directed weekly pickup games culminating in a PowerPlay game, led by WHS Football student player coaches, refs, DJs and Announcers and played for our traditional Championship Bucket! Helping over sixty senior girls rise above historic challenges and preserve a treasured tradition ROCKING The Power of Play is by far our organizations All Time Top Play! Inspired by the students and experience, we have since been on a MISSION to build and support a Best Practices Girls Flag Community Model, developing and supporting programs to serve girls from preschool through high school and beyond!
Our youth (K-8) GirlPower flag program is purposely designed for development. One of our key differentiators is student leadership. Our student coaches and refs are trained and actively managed, prioritizing engagement and fun. Arriving participants are welcomed by musically powered extended free PLAY! Important team building experiences and skills are taught through simple, traditional routines that sadly are often neglected, group and team huddles! Following free play all participants come together as one group. Embracing history, we say thanks for being able to rock flag together! We celebrate our core values symbolized on our shirts starting with Tunes, Energy and Fun. We share our pride dedicating service to a wide range of age and experience levels providing equal levels of engagement and enjoyment to all! We celebrate Town Ball, educating kids to appreciate the importance of community recreation and how they provide valuable opportunities to make connections, build friendships, and shape life skills.
This past fall we were thrilled to have over 80 girls in grades K-5 enjoy GirlPower Flag Sunday nights under the lights at Babson College! Most also enjoyed Fenway Flag, and continued through the winter with weekly sessions on the indoor turf at Boston Sports Institute. Our winter season culminated with over forty girls Rocking a “RePlay” of last year’s GirlPower Flag SuperBowl Taylor Tribute. At our 2023 event, we were pleased to be joined by Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year Henry Hasselbeck who was proud to announce his donation of his Gatorade Community Grant to support our GirlPower Flag program. Now a UCLA Quarterback, Henry continues to support our mission, joining us when local and serving as an advisor helping us build our Girls Flag Community Model to serve girls everywhere!
Thank you.
Community Investors
