In celebration of the start of the 2024 girls flag football high school season, the Los Angeles Rams hosted their second annual Girls' Flag Jamboree, presented by Bridgestone for more than 100 high school teams and over 2,500 student-athletes. The annual jamboree's goal was to give opportunities to high school girls' flag football teams throughout Southern California to compete against other teams and encourage girls' flag athletes to continue to be trailblazers and leaders on and off the field.
"As the sport grows, we also want to support the game and let participants know that wherever they are in Southern California that the Rams have a place for them to come and compete," said Rams Associate Manager of Social Justice and Football Development Noel Grigsby.
The free event included jamboree-style games, tug-a-war tournaments, a Vendor Village and three "Women in Business" panels featuring over 10 different women, including Patricia Ibarra, Division Technical Education Partner for Bridgestone. Ibarra emphasized the importance of sports in the lives of young women.
"The reason why it's important for us to be introduced to sports is because anything you learn on the field can be transported to an environment on any other field. Any obstacles that girls have had playing sports, they also translate to being in business," said Ibarra. "We're very similar in our pathways and being here allows young woman to know that they're not the only ones who don't have it conventional, so they can reach out to us to see what we can offer them."
The Rams and Bridgestone believe increasing access to sports like football helps develop transferrable life skills, strengthens character, and promotes health and wellness. Participation also enhances opportunities to further education and broaden perspectives, builds a sense of community, and creates more pathways overall for young women in sports and beyond.
In partnership with Bridgestone, the Los Angeles Rams hosted the Girls' Flag Football Jamboree. Take a look through the best photos capturing an exciting day of competitive games, amazing plays, and appearances from Rampage and Rams cheerleaders.
"I am very, very thankful that we have the Rams helping us with this because it's giving us exposure that other schools and other states might not have," said Crenshaw High School senior Sheyenne Hickman. "I'm also thankful for the resources they give us and I love that it's the Rams because theyknow football and they're here to help us."
At the Vendor Village, participants and fans enjoyed pop-ups and giveaways from Rams partners Align Technology, BioFlex, Gatorade and PacSun, in addition the Ram'd Up station sponsored by Soluna. Rams partners El Torito and Cal Mex food trucks were also on site, offering food and beverages. In addition, winners of the tug-of-war challenge had the chance to win a pair of Oakley sunglasses and challenge winners and MVPs will receive a gift card courtesy of Nike.
In addition to the Jamboree, the team will continue the LA Rams Girls' Flag Game of the Week to highlight eight high school games during this season of girls' flag football. From August 19 through October 11, the Rams and Bridgestone will activate onsite at each game to host halftime competitions for fans and give away swag. Each participating team will receive a $1,000 equipment donation for their program provided by Bridgestone and USA Football.
On Feb. 3, 2023 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) voted to sanction girls' flag football in high schools across California. Since the sanctioning, the Rams' efforts throughout Southern California have helped bring flag football to young athletes wanting to pursue the sport through numerous camps, clinics and talent identification camps. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will introduce the sport of flag football for the first time in the Olympic Games. With Los Angeles being the host city for the 2028 games, the Rams are committed to sharing pathways for local youth to compete at the highest level in flag football on home soil.
Since the sanctioning of girls flag football, the Rams have impacted over 8,000 athletes and served over 250 schools since the sanctioning. With the support of Bridgestone, the Rams and USA Football provided 165 high schools with Girls Flag Football Equipment Kits to grow the game. A video from the Inaugural Girls' Flag Jamboree presented by Bridgestone can be viewed here.
For more information on the Rams youth football efforts, please visit www.therams.com/community.
