Southington Is CT's Girls Football Hotspot

SOUTHINGTON, CT — If your favorite NFL team spit the bit on opening weekend Sunday, do not — repeat — do not compare your team's style of play (See New York Giants) with a certain gender.

Because, you would be wrong — especially in Southington, which is home to one of the most unique girls sports leagues in the state.

The name of the league is the Southington Valley Midget Football League Powder Puff Football League and the name of the game is flag football.

But we're not talking about the fun game played by athletes who want to eschew the pads and helmet. These girls take it seriously.

"As women's flag football grows, we hope to prepare our players for the future of this game," said SVMFL Powder Puff Commissioner Michelle Jacquette.

What does that future entail?

Jacquette said women's flag football will be an Olympic sport in 2028 and Southington's league is working with Connecticut's CIAC to make it an official, varsity high school sport.

She said Monday there are tentative plans to, possibly, introduce girls flag football as a full high school sport in the spring.

Jacquette said Southington's girls football league got its start a decade ago in the same spirit as the annual Southington High School "Powder Puff" football game.

Of course, back in the day, many high schools used to have such events, usually a special fundraiser involving cheerleaders and/or high school girls.

The game would be watched by friends, family and high school football players wearing their jerseys in the stands.

Sounthington's Powder Puff game evolved into the league because the girls started taking the game more seriously and the athleticism and fun displayed became more competitive.

"10 years ago, the league started a girls division that would mimic the traditional game played at the high school once a year," said Jacquette. "Now the league has grown in interest and size. We have players from 8 years old to seniors in high school.

"We currently have 90 players registered to play this fall, and the program gets bigger every year."

The team names are the same as the NFL. There's the Steelers, the Bengals and the Giants, among others.

And anyone thinking any of these girls use powder puffs prior to the game better think again.

Sporting intimidating makeup schemes, these players have faces — in terms of what they put on them — that NFL Hall-of-Famer John Randle of the Minnesota Vikings would love. (Look him up on Google.)

The league started play last month and held a clinic to prepare for the season with players not only from Southington, but surrounding towns as well.

Founded in 1963, the SVMFL was a boys tackle football league until the founding of the girls division a decade ago.

As a result, the league is celebrating two special anniversaries, 60 years for the whole league and 10 years for the girls division.

Games are played on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings at multiple spots throughout town.

Of course, the league also offers cheerleading opportunities for those looking to partake in that sport.

"When the program started, we were the first in Connecticut to offer an all-girls league, and we continue to expand the program," Jacquette said. "We, as of today, have five teams across the age groups of 8-17. We are hoping to continue and grow the program.

"We want girls to know that they can play football too."

For more information on the SVMFL, click on this link.

For more information on the SVMFL Powder Puff Division, click on this link.