Having been awarded the United Kingdom as an International Home Market Area (IHMA), the Bears and New York Jets have teamed up to create a flag football league in London for girls ages 12-14.
The 12-team league—which consists of two six-team conferences—is in the midst of a six-week schedule that will culminate in a championship event May 22. Games are played at the Ealing Trailfinders Sports Club every Thursday.
The Bears helped launch the inaugural United Kingdom NFL Girls Flag League in March in West London with support from Nike. Receiver Chase Claypool and Jets tight end C.J. Uzomah attended the event, participating on a panel discussion and conducting drills for about 100 girls competing in the league.
The panel discussed the barriers for girls to continue participating in sports throughout secondary school and highlighted how NFL Flag can help engage young girls. Following the discussion, the girls received their official Nike and team-branded uniforms.
The Bears have been instrumental in the growth of female flag football, seeing a 300% increase in just one year, with 1,200 girls in Illinois now participating in flag leagues.
One of the girls competing in the UK league, Majeedah Emilola from Elmgreen School in London, announced the selection of Roschon Johnson, a fourth-round pick of the Bears last Saturday, from the UK.
Former Bears safety Shaun Gayle is scheduled to attend the May 22 championship event, which will celebrate the inaugural season via a cookout with all teams on hand.
All teams will participate in two playoff brackets, one for the Bears Conference and one for the Jets Conference.
Take a look at some of Thursday's exciting action from the Bears' girls flag football league in the United Kingdom.
