PALS of South Florida hosts 2025 Girls Flag Football League Championship Weekend, March 29 in Boynton Beach

In just two seasons, PALs of South Florida has added 12 girls flag football teams. USA Football has provided more than $30,000 in grant support, including equipment, marketing and coach certifications.

Police Athletic Leagues (PALs) of South Florida, a group of 21 Police Athletic League Chapters throughout South Florida, is hosting its second annual girls flag football league championship weekend on March 29 at Ezell Hester, Jr. Community Center & Park in Boynton Beach. The success of the PALs of South Florida’s girls flag football league is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the organization’s leadership and the exploding growth of girls’ flag football. The league began in 2024, growing from eight teams of fourth through eighth grade girls to 12 teams this season.  

The league began – in part – thanks to the grants program provided by USA Football. USA Football is football’s governing body in the United States and responsible for selecting, training and leading the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams that represent the United States on the world’s stage, including when flag football debuts in the Olympics in 2028. USA Football delivers world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level.  

In 2024, PALS of South Florida applied for and received a girls’ flag grant as part of USA Football’s grants program. USA Football provided $20,000 in initial support, including purchasing sports bras, which often become a barrier to participation for girls, and equipment for the athletes, aiding in marketing support and certifying the league’s coaches through USA Football’s nationally recognized Youth Coach Certification Program.  

“The grant was instrumental. By providing the necessary equipment and informational material with rules, coaching practices and the opportunity to get our coaches certified, USA Football made it so we didn’t have to re-invent the wheel,” said PALs of South Florida Executive Director, Tim Albury. “The grant also meant that we didn’t have to go out there and try to find ways to raise the money to put on this program. Police Athletic Leagues are non-profits and rely heavily on donations and fundraising. This opportunity was a great fit for us. Without the girls’ flag grant, it probably would’ve taken us another year to get the program started.”  

In 2025, USA Football’s grants program provided an additional $10,000 in additional equipment, marketing and coach certification support as the league expanded from eight to 12 teams.  

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to support grassroots football programs. Organizations like PALs of South Florida do a wonderful job of breaking down barriers and providing new and exciting pathways for athletes to learn and play football,” said USA Football Senior Director of Grants, Beth Porreca. “The rapid growth PALs of South Florida is experiencing is exactly why we offer a girls’ flag grant. Girls want to play football; they just need someone to provide the opportunity. PALs of South Florida is doing tremendous work in the communities it serves.” 

Flag football, which is a sanctioned high school varsity sport for girls in 14 states, including Florida, is exploding in popularity. Per USA Football research, the number of girls ages 6-12 playing flag football has increased 222% in the past decade, surpassing 129,300 participants. During the same time, there was a 44% increase in girls ages 6-17 playing the sport, surpassing 230,800 participants. The NCAA is exploring adding girls flag football as part of its Emerging Sports for Women Program.  

PALs OF SOUTH FLORIDA GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND 

Who: Fifth to eighth grade athletes participating in PALs of South Florida’s girls flag football league.  

Interview opportunities expected with: 

• Tim Albury, Executive Director, PALs of South Florida 

• Select youth athletes from PALs of South Florida 

• USA Football representatives are available virtually for pre-or-post event coverage. Note: In-person availability of a USA Football representative is currently TBD.   

What: PALs of South Florida’s Girls Flag Football League Championship Weekend 

When: Saturday, March 29, 2025 

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (approximately) 

Where: Ezell Hester, Jr. Community Center & Park 

1901 N. Seacrest Boulevard 

Boynton Beach, FL 33435 

About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American Football in the United States. As a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football, USA Football selects, trains and leads the U.S. National Teams in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways.  

About Police Athletic Leagues of South Florida: The mission of PALs of South Florida is to create a safe environment to provide educational and athletic mentorship paired with crime prevention activities through a cooperative partnership between the police and community. PALs of South Florida is comprised of 21 chapters, including Boynton Beach PAL, Cape Coral PAL, Coral Gables PAL, Davie PAL, Fort Myers PAL, Hallandale Beach PAL, Hollywood PAL, Homestead PAL, Key Biscayne PAL, Key West PAL, Martin County PAL, Miami Beach PAL, Miami Dade PAL, Miami Gardens PAL, Miami PAL, Miramar PAL, North Miami Beach PAL, North Miami PAL, Palm Beach County PAL and South Miami PAL.