Skip to main content
September 6, 2024

Girls Flag Football is set to Kickoff Across KCKPS

A group of people practice football drills on a sunny outdoor turf field.

The Girls Flag Football season will soon kick off and students from Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools will be right there in the middle.

A large group of people sits in rows of seats inside an auditorium with a balcony.

This year, all five high schools from KCKPS will participate in league action. Last year, only Sumner Academy played in games. This year’s league will consist of KCKPS, Osawatomie-Wellsville, Gardner, and Olathe East. 

A large audience fills the seats of a wood-paneled auditorium, watching a presentation.

The league received a big boost, thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs. The back-to-back Super Bowl Champion organization announced their support at a rally held at Wyandotte High School on Friday, August 30. 

A large group of people wearing matching t-shirts pose together on a green turf field.

Dozens of high school girls jammed into the school’s auditorium, where they heard from former Chiefs players Joe Horn and Gary Stills. Students also heard from several women in the Chiefs organization who played collegiate sports, as well as flag football. Their remarks centered around working hard, being dedicated to the sport, and playing as a team. 

A young person runs across an outdoor sports field, with a group of people and a cloudy sky in the background.

“Flag football is growing in popularity worldwide. Partnering with the NFL/Kansas City Chiefs to bring Girls Flag Football to KCKPS will hopefully encourage our young lady scholars to get even more involved in other activities and potentially generate growth in other female sports in our district,” said KCKPS Athletic Director Samuel Simmons Sr.

A group of people participate in outdoor athletic training on a sunny day on a turf field.

Later that evening, the rally at Wyandotte High School moved to the football field. College athletes including from 4-time Defending National Champions Ottawa University, lead the girls in a series of drills to help them get ready for the 6-week season. 

"I am very excited to play in the league this year for the second year. I am most excited for more competition in the league and being able to play with teams in our district,” said Sumner Academy sophomore Mia Terrazas. 

A person practices agility drills on an outdoor sports field with cones.

Her teammate, Katie Shultz, is pumped as well. “I have been playing flag football since 7th grade. I am excited for the teamwork and the representation of the sport, but what I am most excited about is that we inspired teams in our district to join in and we get to play other schools this year.”

Four young adults pose together on a sunny outdoor sports field, wearing matching black t-shirts.

Sumner Academy’s Flag Football Coach, Megan Schmidt, has a different viewpoint about the league. “Providing this invaluable experience could not only lead to a stronger sense of belonging in the school community, it could increase academic progress, and all the benefits of participating on a team. It could also provide our young ladies with collegiate-level opportunities,” added Schmidt. 

The Girls Flag Football League will kick off on Saturday, September 14. They will play a ten-game season and could participate in an end-of-the-year championship tournament.

All games will be played at the new Homefield KC Sports Complex in western Kansas City, Kansas.