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GRIDIRON GIRLS Girls flag football quickly gains in popularity through CYO program

STORY BY MOIRA CULLINGS / PHOTOS BY JAY SOLDNER

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Organizers call it the “Patrick Mahomes effect.”

“With the boys, the participation has definitely increased,” said Kevin Neenan. “I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t carry over to the girls.”

Boys and girls around the archdiocese are eager to follow in the footsteps of their favorite Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and play football.

Thanks to the Catholic Youth Organization of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties (CYO) and coaches like Neenan, both groups now have the chance to do so.

Last year, CYO launched a girls flag football league to an emphatic response — 350 girls signed up for the pilot program.

This spring, more than 450 are taking the field.

‘Confidence booster’

The girls flag football league is made up of 43 teams of third through eighth graders on the Kansas side, as well as girls from Missouri’s Parochial League of Kansas City (PLKC).

John McGoldrick, executive director of CYO, said starting the league was a no-brainer.

“Flag football is a great confidence booster for young girls,” he said, “and it also gives girls the opportunity to become a leader.

“Every team needs someone that can bring everyone together and set an example.”

Neenan, who helped the league get off the ground last season, has coached tackle football through CYO for the past 15 years. His sons have gone on to play at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park.

Now, he coaches a team of seventh grade girls from St. Agnes School in Roeland Park, including his daughter Kelly.

“They play football at recess,” said Neenan. “I knew that they had been doing that for the last several years.

“I think the opportunity to play is what they’re most excited about.”

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