The Chicago Bears and Britain’s first female coach in the NFL, Phoebe Schecter, returned to London for the launch of the third year of their historic Chicago Bears NFL Girls Flag Football League on Wednesday.
The first all girls’ competition of its kind in London, was designed to promote equity and access to sport for girls from all backgrounds in the capital. After the success of the first two years, this year will see 250 girls aged 12-14 from across the region taking part across ten weeks with the winners going head-to-head in a Championship Event on 3 June.
The league was launched with an immersive Flag Football session at the where the girls received their official Chicago Bears NFL Flag jerseys and took part in an NFL Flag taster session led by current Bears running back Roschon Johson, Phoebe Schecter and NFL Flag coaches as well as a host of other fun skill-based activities.
Flag Football is the non-contact format of American football that empowers young athletes, both boys and girls, around the world. The game is fun, exciting, and accessible for all, with women and girls driving some of the fastest growth in the sport.
The league is a continuation of the Bears’ expansion across the United Kingdom, where they have marketing rights through the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
Tanya Dressen, SVP of Strategy and Global Affairs for the Chicago Bears, said: “As we enter another year in London, our focus remains on building meaningful connections and inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans.”
“These programs are about more than just football, they are about creating opportunities, fostering community and sharing the values that define us as an organization. Whether through our Mini Monsters clinics or in growing girls flag football, we are committed to making an impact at the grassroots level and strengthening our ties in London and with our UK fans.”
As well as the Championship Event on 3 June, the Bears will return to the UK this summer for the fourth consecutive year with their Mini Monsters Tour which provides free youth coaching in NFL skills and drills for boys and girls between the ages of 7-12.
The Bears are in the UK and on a mission to create positive experiences in Flag and American football that entice all young people to want to take part and join the Bears family. Since the programme launches in 2022, the Bears have welcomed over 10,000 young people from aged 7 through to 21 in 11 regions spanning the UK from Edinburgh down to Exeter.
