Medina launches all-girls flag football league

While it’s a long way off – and maybe not even within anyone’s horizon yet in the Medina area – college football scholarships for girls are a real thing. Taking a big step in that direction, the Medina Youth Gridiron football league, home to more than 800 players each year, is adding an all-girls flag football program.

Starting this spring, if things go well, Medina will be home to about a half-dozen girls flag teams. Playing in the Lake Erie Youth Football League, with teams from Buckeye, Cloverleaf, Amherst, North Ridgeville and Midview, the move provides a chance for inter-community competition.

In MYG, Medina girls could previously play flag football, but typically only against other Medina teams.

“Our goal is to get one team for each age group for now,” said Beth Palinchik, who is among those spearheading Medina’s addition to the LEYFL.

Players in grades 1-6 are eligible to play. Games will be held on Sundays on turf fields, with start times determined by age group. The first games are scheduled for April 19, with championship games June 6. The cost is $100 per player.

For those looking to get an early look at the sport, MYG will host a free flag football clinic from 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Medina Recreation Center. The clinic is open to all girls in grades 1-6, and no prior football experience is required.

“We already have 20 girls signed up for it,” Palinchik said. “It will be interesting. I know we have five girls signed up to play in the spring already. Most of them are from the younger age groups. I was worried about finding those first- and second-graders.”

Large numbers are not required to field teams. Flag football games usually range from five-on-five to seven-on-seven, with lineup sizes varying by age group and league rules.

Girls flag football is growing regionally and even faster in other parts of the country. About 50,000 girls played flag football last year, and that number is expected to grow rapidly, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. More than 60 NCAA teams sponsor the sport, according to NCAA.org, with many more at the NAIA and junior college levels.

At least 2,000 college scholarship opportunities exist in the sport, according to USAFlag.org.

“I would like to see it grow fast,” Palinchik said. “I feel like once people hear about it and start talking about it, we’ll get more and more girls.”

This spring, the Ohio High School Athletic Association is sanctioning girls flag football for the first time. Medina, Highland and Cloverleaf are expected to field teams, with Buckeye likely to follow.

Whether the sport is offered at the varsity or club level varies by school. Medina has said it will begin as a club sport.

For more information, visit mygfootball.com. To register, click the LEYFL girls flag football page under “More.” Registration will remain open through March 1. No late registrations will be accepted.