EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – April 8, 2021 - The New York Giants today announced a $64,000 donation to the Shore Conference (N.J.) in support of the inaugural Girls 7-7 Flag Football League, an 8-team club sport that will debut this spring.
The funds will be used to offset the costs associated with starting the sport, including any personnel costs. After equal distribution, the remaining funds will cover insurance for the 8-team league. Team practices will begin April 12, 2021, with the first games beginning May 1, 2021.
"The New York Giants are thrilled to be able support the launch of the Shore Conference Girls Flag Football League," said ETHAN MEDLEY, Director of Community Relations and Youth Football, New York Giants. "There is plenty of excitement for the opportunity to play this great game, and we fully expect that this is the beginning of a period of dramatic growth of girls flag football at the youth, high school and college levels. Our goal is to see this sport grow and become a state sanctioned varsity sport, and we look forward to being engaged in the process with the Shore Conference and add additional moments or resources to help make this season a success."
Nike, a corporate partner of the Giants, announced a national commitment to growing girls flag football and has generously provided 30 Nike Women's Vapor Flag uniforms to each participating girls flag football team in the Shore Conference.
The seven participating schools that will comprise the 8-team league are: Holmdel High School (Holmdel, N.J.), Matawan High School (Matawan, N,J.), Mater Dei Prep (Middletown Township, N.J.), Middletown North High School (Middletown Township, N.J.), two teams from Middletown South High School (Middletown Township, N.J.), Pinelands Regional High School (Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), and Shore Regional High School (West Long Branch, N.J.).
STEVE ANTONUCCI, Head Football Coach, Middletown South High School, was integral to the creation of this opportunity for high school girls and spearheaded the creation of the club sport. Antonucci is a past recipient of the Giants' Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Year Award in 2015.
"I am excited to help bring high school girls flag football to our great state, and I truly believe that it will continue to grow and level the playing field," said Antonucci. "The vision is quite simple, to provide an opportunity for every female who ever dreamed of the possibility of playing the great game of football to now have the opportunity to experience it in their own way. We have already seen a tremendous turnout in our schools for this opportunity. I truly believe that the game will be a huge success and I look forward to seeing the girls compete and enjoy what the game has to offer."
To celebrate and kick-off the 2021 season, the Shore Conference will host a free clinic for the teams on Sunday, April 11th at Middletown South High School (900 Nutswamp Road, Middletown Township, NJ, 07748) from 9:00am – 2:00pm. Giants Legends JONATHAN CASILLAS and ROMAN OBEN, Vice President of Football Development at the NFL, will be in attendance to assist with the clinic. Middletown South High School alumni and NFL tight end SCOTT SIMONSON will also attend.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY will be held from 11:00am – 12:00pm. Any media interested in attending should e-mail STEVE ANTONUCCI: AntonucciS@middletownk12.org.
FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED.
