CMS launches girls’ flag football in middle school. They hope to inspire next generation.

Growing up playing coed flag football, Mary Kate Bula loved being with her friends and the camaraderie it offered, especially in elementary school. But as a preteen, when the chance came for competitive play in a youth league, she demurred at first.

The NFL FLAG Football — a national youth league similar to AAU — drew athletes from all over the country. Bula didn’t really know the players and didn’t want to participate. At the time, there weren’t any local leagues in her neighborhood or most places.

But in Charlotte, girls aged 11 to 13 now have an opportunity to play the sport on a competitive local level and with people they already know.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation are teaming up to establish Girls’ Flag Football for its middle schools. The season is set to kick off Sept. 13. Park and Recreation will manage the sports and coaching, while CMS will provide schools and players.

It’s something Bula wishes had existed when she was growing up in her native Maryland, the 29-year-old said.

“With this opportunity, you can have a middle schooler with a bunch of friends, join a team,” says Bula, a former U.S. National Team defensive back, who also played for Charlotte’s QC Elite. “Maybe one or two really love it and are great at it, work at it and now they’ll be able to grow the game.”

Now that CMS schools will be involved with the league, she said situations like hers — playing with people she didn’t know — no longer may be an issue.

“The opportunity to be able to play with a friend and practice with your friends and enjoy a new sport, it’s super-super exciting,” Bula said.

There are 25 universities that play Women’s flag football with 15 providing athletic scholarships, something that Bula says she couldn’t imagine years ago. With the sport now being there for middle schoolers, it’ll help better prepare girls to compete nationally for those college offers.

“It starts now. If we can start getting athletes going, they’re going to have limitless opportunities,” Bula said.

Opening the sport to younger ages allows girls the ability to learn skills in football before they get to the high school level.

“The younger you start the game and you fall in love with it, the more polish you will be as you continue to get older. I think this is going to do nothing but continue to grow the game,” says Fecil Blango, Julius Chambers High School’s football coach and its offensive coordinator.

According to Blango, who also coaches adult flag, Charlotte is one of the larger cities in terms of flag football. In July, the U.S. women’s and men’s national flag football team hosted and won an international flag tournament at the University of North Charlotte, Charlotte.

Blango sees adding a middle school league as a plus to the culture already set.

“I think we’re going to continue to get the support from the city just due to the fact that the community for flag football is so huge here,” Blango said.

He also believes that this gives added space for girls interested in football to apply their love for the game out on the field.

“A lot of girls already watch football on TV. They see the Cam Newtons, they see Patrick Mahomes and all the other stars on TV, and now they get an opportunity to do the same and maybe even follow suit.

“Be prepared to see how excited the girls are going to be ( and) how invested they will be in terms of all of the sport and working on their fundamentals,” Blango said.

More about new middle school flag

The idea for branching the sport down came as a result of how successful CMS Girls’ Flag was at the high school level. This past season’s flag championship took place at Bank of America Stadium. Julius Chambers High School won it, claiming their second title in a row.

Mecklenburg County decided to capitalize on those successes to partner with CMS and create a program for middle school girls, Mecklenburg Recreation Program Supervisor for Youth Sports Kiana Brooks said

The games will take place at Eastway Regional Recreation Center Monday nights. At the end of the eight game regular season, there will be a playoff and championship game.

The sign up fee is $80 to cover uniforms and refereeing expenses. Mecklenburg Park and Recreation is offering partial scholarships to families allowing them to pay as little as $20.

To be accepted for the scholarship, families must provide proof of receiving Medicaid or if they receive free/reduced lunches.