Ever since the sport was first created, girls’ youth and high school flag football has exploded across Arizona and groups like the Fiesta Bowl are getting in on the action.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!During the Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic thrown at Desert Mountain High School on Feb. 24, they hosted a plethora of top high school football players from girls flag and boys.
Top-tier football talent was on display in Scottsdale, including projected 2024 NFL Draft pick and former Pinnacle High QB Spencer Rattler and Arizona Cardinals LB Jesse Luketa in attendance. A USA Football National Team scout was also at the clinic scouting some of the most elite talent the Valley has to offer.
The boy’s portion followed up after the girls, but it was those same girls who showcased what they are capable of doing and how thrilling this newer sport truly is.
Breaking Barriers
Even though it is not the full-contact sport that the boys normally play, the girls’ game is just as exhilarating as it continues to make waves in popularity.
Standouts like Hamilton High School’s Samaya Taylor-Jenkins and Catarina Maccagnano and Desert Ridge High Brianna Jacobs were just some of the girls who went through multiple drills that tested their skills.
When asked about the growth in the girls’ flag football scene in Arizona, Fiesta Bowl CEO Erik Moses believes it is only going to continue to boom and is excited to watch these young athletes grow as women because of it.
“I love it and I think it is fantastic,” Moses said. “Studies will show that participation in sports for young girls and women helps them in so many intangible ways in terms of confidence and self-assurance. Things that we want everybody to have, but especially women and girls. What I have found in my time on this planet is if you give women and girls a chance to do things, they usually do them really well. And we are seeing that out here, there is a lot of talent.”
Not only does playing sports teach somebody lessons on the field, but it also builds strong characteristics off of it as well.
“I think it is fantastic for women to have more opportunities to participate in sports and get all the things that – for a long time – men were the primary recipients of those lessons of teamwork, group dynamics, perseverance, resilience and all those things that sports teaches us,” Moses said.
Through an event like this, it brought athletes from all over the state to challenge themselves while also having fun with others that they may have never talked to but competed against.
Multiple participants taking in the drills and atmosphere at this event were seen with big smiles on their faces and laughing.
Speaking on the fun environment the Fiesta Bowl brought with this clinic, Moses explained what makes events like these so special to himself and his organization.
“It’s why we do what we do,” Moses said. “The heart of this organization is to give back to the communities across the state. Football games and other events allow us to raise revenue to host events like this. Putting smiles on faces is frankly what sports and entertainment does – if done the right way. We’re happy to be connected to that and continuing to deepen our connections to our communities in the Valley.”
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
