To the editor:
Community Investors PlayRox would like to thank the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club for their ongoing generous support of our increasingly popular GirlPower Flag Football program!
These funds enable us to offer low or no0cost participation, so that we can expand reach and impact of this upcoming sport on a local recreational level.
The program was inspired by the 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, referees, 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 organization’s All-Time Top Play! Inspired by the students and experience, we have since been on a MISSON to build and support a Best Practices Girls Flag Community Model!
The most recent Metrowest Health Study reports stress and anxiety experienced by adolescent female students far outpaces male students, while other studies show girls quitting sports far earlier than boys on average. Beyond expanding reach and impact of all of our programs, one of our priorities is to reach and serve more female students. While most communities offer girls soccer, basketball, hockey and other mainstream sports, few (especially in the northeast) 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.
Our youth (K-5) programs are purposely designed for development. Our key differentiator is student leadership. Our student coaches, CITs and referees are trained and actively managed, prioritizing engagement and fun. Arriving participants are welcomed by musically powered extended free PLAY! Following free play, all participants come together as one group. 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.
Huddles before, during, and after each play and game build needed fundamental bonding and connection skills. Student coaches play quarterback, enjoying active participation. Student coach QBs are instructed to ensure equal ball distribution to all players, and to modify ball distribution methods to best serve each participant (i.e. hand-offs or short tosses for players still developing catching skills). For game play, instead of typical adult scripted plays, our student-led teams “grip & rip” freeing kids to run, throw, catch and Rock Flag! Student coach/QBs and referees also actively manage games. Utilizing our unique “Scoreboard Based Officiating System” our student refs give the close calls to the team that is behind, with all coaches and refs working together striving for balanced games and fantastic finishes, sparking passion.
Sportsmanship is paramount. Teams not only shake hands after games, they are taught to look each other in the eye, developing increasingly needed interpersonal connections. This past fall, we were thrilled to have over 70 girls in grades K-5 enjoy GirlPower Flag Sunday nights under the lights at Warren/Hunnewell field! Most continued through the winter with weekly sessions on the indoor turf at Boston Sports Institute. Our winter season 2026 culminated with over forty girls Rocking the Third Annual GirlPower Flag SuperBowl Taylor Tribute.
GirlPower Flag will continue this fall Monday Nights on Diane Warren Hunnewell Multipurpose Field from 6-7 pm. Go to www.communityinvestors.net for more information and to register.
With gratitude to the Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club,
Joe Roberts, President
Community Investors
Joe@communityinvestors.net
