Giants, Nike Launch Girls Flag Football Teams In Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Girls flag football is coming to some schools in New York.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced the creation of a girls flag football program scheduled to begin competition this spring.

In a partnership with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and New York Jets, 48 member schools across six sections of the state were provided funds by the three NFL teams to support schools starting the programs this April.

In the Hudson Valley, the New York Giants and Nike will be sponsoring the teams. The Section I schools participating are:

• Somers High School
• Scarsdale High School
• Lakeland High School
• Walter Panas High School
• Hastings High School
• Peekskill High School
• Greenburgh-North Castle
• Brewster

"This is an historic day for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) as we are able to initiate something in our state that has never been done before thanks to a partnership with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and New York Jets," said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA executive director. "We are grateful and excited to partner with the Bills, Giants and Jets to provide beneficial participation opportunities for female high school student-athletes in our state."

According to information provided by the association, the schools committed to teams within their sections that will participate in the inaugural girls flag football pilot program.

In addition to the donations made by the Bills, Giants and Jets, Nike donated $100,000 which will be divided evenly across the participating sections to pay for uniforms and other equipment.

Teams will play six to eight games in the spring with the season running until the end of May. Actual games will be seven-on-seven and played on a regulation-size field, with rules established by the association and the NFL. Each section may choose to have culminating local championships if they choose, according to the association.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly said the New York Jets were sponsoring the Hudson Valley teams. They are not. The New York Giants and Nike are sponsoring the Section I teams in the Hudson Valley.