York County kicks off first all girls flag football league in South Carolina

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — The Carolina Panthers have partnered with York County middle schools to launch the first all girls flag football league in the state of South Carolina. The club level program kicked off Thursday with a meeting of all 14 teams at Dutchman Creek Middle School.

All 14 teams are made up of 15 student athletes from schools within Clover School District, Fort Mill School District, Rock Hill Schools, and York School District 1. Each team was given the chance to compete in two matches during the kickoff event. The league will play for seven weeks with each team playing two games per week. At the end of the season, teams will be seeded and given the chance to compete in a tournament for an unofficial championship.

Organizers plan to expand the league into York County high schools in the future, with the ultimate goal being to get the sport sanctioned in South Carolina. Flag football is currently sanctioned as a varsity sport in 14 different states. The sport is also set to make its Olympic debut in 2028 at the Los Angeles Summer Games.

To help get the York County league off the ground, the Carolina Panthers Charities donated $45,000 in grant funding which will go towards purchasing uniforms, equipment and coach and player development programs. “The league will provide increased participation opportunities and access to the sport of flag football for York County girls,” Panthers Director of Community Relations, Riley Fields said. “We are hopeful that this effort will serve as a catalyst for the continued growth of the sport in South Carolina.”

The current list of participating middle schools includes Banks Trail Middle School, Oakridge Middle School, Castle Heights Middle School, Pleasant Knoll Middle School, Clover Middle School, Rawlinson Road Middle School, Dutchman Creek Middle School, Saluda Trail Middle School, Forest Creek Middle School, Springfield Middle School, Fort Mill Middle School, Sullivan Middle School, Gold Hill Middle School, and York Middle School.

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