By Dominic Scianna
The Chicago Public League (CPL) conducted its annual Summer Girls Flag Football Jamboree but this time doubled its exposure with two separate events in Chicago at Taft High School on July 20 and one to come at Morgan Park High School on July 27.
Featured at these jamborees are representatives from USA Football who serve as clinicians stressing fundamentals and team drills, as well as abbreviated games for all interested CPL teams to participate in. But this season, the Chicago Public School’s Office of Sports Administration and CPL added a new wrinkle to include required referee training prior to the girls flag football season.
The impetus for this new addition and increased referee involvement – which totals more than 80+ new trainees between the two jamboree dates – is the debut in 2024 of girls flag football as a state series run by the Illinois High School Association’s (IHSA) governing body.
“I’m very excited and I think it’s just a testament to the young athletes and the coaches who have really put in the groundwork to make this a sport for the entire state and I’m happy to be a small part of that history (this year),” said Jeanette Samuels, a first-year rookie referee who attended a two-hour classroom session and shadowed other referees on the field during games at Taft High School to earn her hours of eligibility.
Just as excited is girls flag football head coach Angelo Lara of Schurz High School who also participated in the jamboree at Taft, and has been involved with the development of the sport since its inception in 2021.
“It’s a bit overwhelming that the sport has grown this fast to be honest with you but the girls love it and are showing out and showing out,” said Lara. “We had the opportunity to play at Soldier Field during one of the Chicago Bears games a few years ago and the experiences for the girls are just getting better every year.”
IHSA state play will culminate with a Final Four championship format at Willowbrook High School to crown the first Illinois High School state champion the weekend of October 18-19.
“I started as a sophomore two years ago in flag football, ” said Schurz senior quarterback Lashala Davis. “It’s my senior year and I want to get a scholarship from this to go on and play in college. I enjoy everything about the sport and love the way Coach Lara teaches us the game.”
Solorio speedster wide receiver Damaris Leanos put on a show in her first game action at the jamboree scoring two TD’s to lead the way offensively for Solorio Head Coach Geronimo Molina.
“I have pretty high expectations and I’m pretty competitive plus there’s a lot of competition (in the CPL) because it’s a new sport so there’s a lot of talented players who are really good,” said Leonos.
“I lost 12 seniors going into this year so we’re young but Damaris is back and when she’s as competitive as she is the whole team follows her,” said Molina. “Not only do they get coaching from us, but also from national players who have had so much success and have won gold medals competing in the sport. That alone means so much to give these girls great training tips and fundamentals to make them better players than they already are.”
That training and experience came from Angellica Grayson, NFL Flag ambassador, and assistant coach for the gold medal-winning USA Nationals Junior Girls Flag Football International Cup 17U squad that won this July in Los Angeles. In addition, fellow NFL Flag Ambassador Donald Davis spent the afternoon coaching and mentoring the large group of CPL teams and coaches in attendance at Taft for the morning and afternoon sessions.
“Whomever the first people were to start flag football (here in the Midwest in Chicago), I hope they can see the fruits of this labor for what it is – an amazing and incredible movement,” said Davis. “I was watching national coverage on ESPN and that’s something so cool to see happening right before our eyes right now.”
Grayson relishes the chance to speak to the youth of today about where the sport can take them and what the sport can do for them off the field of play..
“It means a great deal to me especially having been in this game for a very long time in the tackle and flag football world,” admitted Grayson. “You hear the word opportunity a lot, whether they choose to take it or not, and I want to spread the word for these girls to take advantage of this now at a young age. I didn’t start my career in football until my mid-20’s and wish I had that opportunity presented to me. This sport provides a safe space to work on their confidence level and self esteem as well as the fundamentals of girls flag football.”
Special thanks to the Wintrust Corporation and USA Flag Football for helping to sponsor and support these two jamboree efforts in collaboration with the Chicago Public League.
For more information on the upcoming July 27 Morgan Park Girls Flag Football Jamboree and breaking news regarding CPL Sports visit our website at www.CPLAthletics.com or visit us on social media on X/Twitter (@CPLAthletics).
Photos by Jim Vincent/OSA
