With the news that the silver-and-black were bringing girls flag football to town in September came changes that some high school programs were forced to make to their teams. 

“The launch of the inaugural girls flag football season is a game-changer for many youth athletes, and we are truly appreciative of the (NFL’s Las Vegas) Raiders partnership,” Darby NeVille said, president of the Utah High School Girls Football Association. “This partnership gives girls across the state the opportunity to experience the excitement, teamwork and life lessons that flag football offers on and off the field.”

Though the league itself is still not sanctioned by the Utah High School Athletics and Activities Association, or UHSAA, Bingham had so much interest and had so many girls try out for flag football that after it played two games, a decision was made to form two Miners teams. 

Credit for that excitement would have to go in large part to Bingham’s girls’ tackle football program, which has been formed for several years now, and has graduated more than 100 kids. 

That level of support enabled the Miners to defeat their first two opponents in the new GFA, a 21-14 victory over Park City’s red team on Sept. 15 and a 14-12 win Sept. 22 against Granger. 

After Timpview was forced to disband one of its teams after week 2, Bingham’s staff was approached by the league and agreed to split its team into two separate squads, Blue and White. 

Bingham joined Park City, which was the first high school to split their teams before the season started, in that regard. 

Once play got underway with two Bingham teams in week 3, the Miners’ White team lost 66-20 to Skyridge on Sept. 29, and the Miners’ Blue fell to Park City’s black team, 52-12. 

There will likely be a period of adjusting to playing games with two Bingham Miners girls flag teams instead of just one, and yet there must be some admiration for a Bingham program that doesn’t appear to be turning kids away from a sport that often doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to player safety. 

Playing flag football, a sport wholly endorsed – and coached by – BYU and NFL legend Steve Young certainly puts parental concerns more at ease. Furthermore, to have someone the caliber of USC and NFL coaching legend Pete Carroll, who is currently the head coach of the Raiders, providing some level of support doesn’t hurt, either. 

Nor does the fact that wearing football or soccer cleats are merely recommended, a mouthguard is required, and soft-shell headgear is optional in order to play the game. 

With teams stretched out as far as Maple Mountain in Springville to the south of Utah County to the Salt Lake Valley that has three schools participating in year one and east in Park City, there appears to be great interest in the league despite its unsanctioned status. 

In all, 10 teams and eight schools are playing girls flag football in year one. At press time, the three Utah County schools sit at the top of the standings at 3-0, followed by the Miners’ Blue and White teams that stand at 2-1. 

Play in this inaugural girls high school flag football season will continue through the month of October. The final week of the season will take place the week of Nov. 3.