Eagan, Minn. (May 2, 2022) – The Minnesota Vikings have pledged $75,000 and have partnered with Minneapolis Public Schools to launch a new MPS Girls Flag Football program. Featuring several teams from middle schools in the Minneapolis area, the inaugural three-week season will kick off on Saturday, May 7, with games at Roosevelt High and South High.
With the launch of the program, the Vikings join several NFL teams that have partnered to establish girls flag football leagues in their local areas. The team hopes to expand the initiative to schools across the state in future years and believes that providing increased financial support may help remove operational barriers so more schools can introduce programs. As longstanding partners with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), the Vikings are committed to creating enriching and inclusive athletic opportunities across Minnesota. The future expansion of girls high school football to a varsity sport in Minnesota is a long-term goal that would align with that commitment. Currently, just six states (Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and New York) sanction girls flag football as a high school sport.
“We are thrilled to launch our first girls flag football league in Minneapolis,” said Owner/President Mark Wilf. “We strongly believe football is for everyone, and through this partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools, we are taking the first step toward our vision of growing girls flag football into a high school sanctioned sport in Minnesota.”
The MPS teams, comprised of approximately 10 girls each, received custom uniforms and equipment specifically donated by Nike and the Vikings as part of the NFL and Nike’s multi-year grant initiative to grow girls flag football across the country. The Vikings’ financial contribution will be used in 2022 and future years for travel, coaching stipends and other necessities for ensuring the Minneapolis program’s long-term success.
“We are extremely grateful and excited about our partnership with the Minnesota Vikings,” MPS District Director of Athletics Antony Fisher said. “Together we will continue to ensure that our female middle school student-athletes have a great athletic experience with the addition of flag football to our current athletic offering.”
The final games of the season will be played on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the indoor practice field (IPF) of Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. Further details regarding the event will be shared at a later date.
As the Vikings look to expand the program in future years, interested schools are encouraged to email Vikings Youth Football Manager Madison Cortese at cortesem@vikings.nfl.net.
The Vikings also announced it will once again host the Girls Football Academy. Beginning every Monday in June, girls ages 6-18 can participate in a four-week program designed to deepen the participants’ football knowledge through a variety of drills, games and guest speakers.
(info courtesy of Vikings)