WILLIAMSBURG — Football isn’t just for boys anymore and Williamsburg is leading the charge with the first-ever girls NFL-Sanctioned Flag Football League coming to the Historic Triangle later this spring.
Bernie Neighbor, a local personal trainer, and her friend Donovan Bridgeforth got together to start the program.
“I’m from West Texas, so for me, my sport is football. I’m an all-sports kind of person but I do love me some football. This idea to start the league came from a friend of mine and the two of us are big into bringing sports to girls,” Neighbor said.
The league will have three age groups: 8-12, 13-17, and 18. The season will run for six weeks, including playoffs and a championship game. Tuition for the program is $200 and games start April 26.
A kick-off event is planned for the inaugural season on April 12. From noon to 4 p.m., the event will feature food, a tailgate, live music and a showcase game.
“The kickoff is to really have that pinnacle moment that we get together and we’re going to showcase the sport. It’s a family-friendly environment and we’re going to start our season by having the community come out, to drive that energy for girls to say, ‘I want to be a part of this,'” Neighbor explained.
The kick-off event location will be held at the WISC.
Neighbor hopes that local girls will consider joining the flag football movement.
“We’ve learned that sports gives people an outlet. It’s an outlet to release energy, to release emotions, to be leaders, to make decisions, to come together in a positive way. We also know that sports give these girls the confidence and the self-esteem that they need. We focus so much on boys and the girls get left behind, but we know that girls in sports create leaders in our communities,” Neighbor said.
The league is also searching for volunteer head coaches for all levels, as well as sponsors and referees. Interested individuals can attend a Zoom meeting on March 30 at 8 p.m. to learn more about those opportunities. To sign up for the Zoom, email Neighbor at bneighbor@yahoo.com.
Registration for the season is ongoing until April 19. To register or for more information, visit trainwithbernie.com.