In the world of sports, opportunities for women have often been left on the sidelines. At times, they’re given fewer opportunities to shine on the field. But not this time. The East Islip Girls Flag Football team is changing the narrative.
This spring, an East Islip football team scored touchdowns, but it wasn’t Thomas Costarelli throwing to Jack Kalinowski. It was Lauren Glynn throwing to Kayla Stegner, Sophia Aurrecoechea, Bianca Maitre, and Payten Tidridge.
Girls Flag Football is becoming a varsity sport at many schools across the country. The NFL has even contributed to and is a huge sponsor of this new movement. Fifteen states have officially sanctioned flag football with many more starting pilot programs. According to NFL Flag, sanctioned means “Flag football is fully recognized as a varsity sport by the state high school athletic association.”
“This is an up-and-coming sport in New York State and in Suffolk County as well. Each year more teams are being added at the Varsity and Junior Varsity level,” East Islip Athletic Director Mr. Restivo said. “This gives another opportunity for our female athletes to compete at a high level.”
Flag Football is not that much different from regular football. In both games, the goal is to score touchdowns, but in Flag you do not kick a field goal as an extra point, you have an opportunity to score 1 point from the 3-yard line, 2 points from the 10-yard line, or 3 points from the 20 yard line. Instead of four 12 minute quarters, there are 25 minute halves. Flag Football only has seven people on the field at a time, compared to regular football that has eleven. A last and probably obvious difference is there is no contact. In Flag, two flags hang low below the player’s waist and must be ripped off to be “tackled.”
“It was challenging just learning the game and rules in general,” Senior, Adrianna Belsito said. “We had open gyms before the season and we learned a lot there.” At these open gyms, Coach Sconone, the first ever GVFF Head Coach at East Islip and also the Boys JV football coach, taught the rules and plays the girls would need to know.
One of the things that made their first season so great is the EI Girls Flag Football Team is all about the team itself. The vibe of the team is one of the most important things you can have. Junior Kayla Stegner, a crucial member of the team, says that “We have very good chemistry with us and the quarterback, Lauren [Glynn]. And we have a very cool vibe and we get along very well.”
The girls had an amazing season, with 11 wins and 5 losses before unfortunately losing their first playoff game against West Islip by a score of 6-2. Next season they are sure to come back even stronger.
As a brand new program, it’s more than just a team. It’s a movement that showcases what these young women are capable of. With determination, heart, and talent these young women are not only breaking boundaries… they’re building something bigger for the generations that will follow.
