The News, Now
Key developments across the organization, from the front office to the coaching staff and everything in between
This past week was the inaugural girls flag football week presented by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and hosted by the Atlanta Falcons. Along with highlighting the work across nearly a decade of work, the Falcons hosted a free girls flag football clinic, where girls were able to come to the Falcons practice facility to practice their skills.
Former and current Falcons players led the girls through drills and practice.
"This was an amazing opportunity — actually a new opportunity for me — to learn so much about what's going on," Jalon Walker said.
"I heard earlier that you can get college scholarships from girls flag football now which is just amazing. So, having these girls come out here to show their talent, to come out and enjoy themselves? It's great."
One of the best stories to come out of the clinic was 11 girls from Valdosta High School made the six-hour trip to Flowery Branch to attend. According to head coach Sandy Turner, they wouldn't have missed it.
"We just have a microcosm of what's going on for girls flag football," Turner explained. "The first year, girls were hesitant. ... But our numbers have constantly risen. More girls are interested, and actually we have started a middle school league, because it has taken off so much."
To end the week, the GACA All-Star games were played at the Falcons facility. Along with the games, two-time gold medalist in women's flag for the Mexico national team Diana Flores spoke to the girls invited to represent their programs at the games.
"I almost can't believe where we are today when looking back and seeing where we came from," Flores said. "Nobody talked about the sport. Nobody knew what it was. Nobody believed in the game. And now, thanks to organizations like (the Falcons), people who believed in maybe what even we couldn't see or imagine years ago, it's now a reality. It's going beyond what we could have ever dreamed."