NJ Girls Flag Football League Includes 3 Schools In Essex County – Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A new girls flag football league in New Jersey is set to kick off in the spring, and it will feature players from several high schools across the state, including Newark, East Orange and Irvington.

According to a news release, eight high schools from New Jersey have agreed to participate in the inaugural season of the New Jersey High School Girls Flag Football League. The list includes Malcolm X Shabazz in Newark, East Orange Campus in East Orange, and Irvington High School.

The New York Jets and Nike are jointly sponsoring the pilot season of the new league, which will be run in collaboration with the North Jersey Super Football Conference (NJSFC) and the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

Each school will receive an $11,000 grant and equipment from the Jets and Nike. Beyond funding and equipment, each school will receive uniforms from Nike from their new girls flag football line of apparel.

According to its sponsors, the league is already a first for New Jersey. But the long-term goal is to have it adopted as an official high school statewide championship sport.

“The launch of this league will create a pathway for young women to continue playing the game that they love,” NFL Chief Football Administrative Officer Dawn Aponte said.

“We’re excited to partner with Nike in our pursuit of increasing female participation and providing opportunities to compete across all levels of football,” Aponte said.

“Since our initial involvement in the launch of a girls flag football league in New York, our goal has always been to continue to provide young women in our community with the opportunity to play the sport we all know and love,” Jets President Hymie Elhai said. “We are excited to begin this new league in New Jersey, officially building on those efforts.”

“Although flag football isn’t a sanctioned sport in New Jersey for boys or girls, the NJSIAA applauds the Jets for creating additional opportunities for female student-athletes,” COO Colleen Maguire said, saluting the team’s efforts.