NORWICH – The City of Norwich Youth Bureau has opened registration for its new Girls’ Flag Football program, which begins Monday, July 13. The free program is open to girls ages 8 to 14 and will be held Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. at Perry Browne Intermediate School in Norwich. Families can find the sign up link on the City of Norwich Youth Bureau Facebook page.

In just one day of registration being open, already eight girls have signed up for the program as of Tuesday morning. Registration will remain open throughout the program which will run between six to eight weeks depending on interest.

Youth Bureau Director Anthony Testani said the new offering is designed to give girls in the community more opportunities in a sport that is growing in popularity nationwide. “Flag football is a growing sport for girls,” said Testani, “It's now a scholastic sport at the high school level, and we're trying to get more kids interested in that activity.”

The Girls’ Flag Football program will be coached by teacher Frankie Garcia, someone who Testani says has been instrumental in developing youth bureau programming. Garcia previously led the bureau's wrestling program and proposed launching girls’ flag football this summer.

Testani emphasized that the program will be instructional, focusing on the sport’s fundamentals, and hopes it will prepare young athletes for a future playing on the school's varsity team.

“We do offer a flag football program for everybody of all ages, boys and girls,” said Testani, “That's more geared towards having fun. This program is going to be geared more towards teaching girls the fundamentals of flag football.”

Parents signing up their child for the first time should know that the program is beginner-friendly with the goal of getting girls interested in playing as they age into school-level teams and making sure they leave with an understanding of how the game is played.

“Like all our programs, it's free to play and participate in,” said Testani, “If it's your daughter's first time playing flag football, we're going to teach them the basics so they can get an understanding of the sport.”

There are no equipment or gear requirements to participate, Testani said participants can simply wear comfortable athletic clothing, sneakers or cleats if you have them already. He also encourages families to send their children with water.

To sign up your child for the Girls Flag Football program visit the City of Norwich Youth Bureau Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066677711836