At Bethel Park High School, 11 seniors are helping pave the way for flag football to become the official sport of the WPIAL. Pictured from left: Etta Jackson, Lily Sielka, Alex Francas, Emerson Crawford, Brooklyn Jones, Essa George, Grace Lindblom, Sam Carn, Katie Clouston, Faith Cloonan, Brooke Kessler. .
Bethel Park will participate in women's flag football competition for the first time this spring. The Ladyhawks will hold a showcase on May 5th. The game will be played at Bethel Park Stadium starting at 1 p.m. Steelers mascots and players will be featured, as Pittsburgh and the NFL are sponsors of the newly formed league, which aims to become a sanctioned sport in the PIAA and eventually the WPIAL.
Vinny Ziccardi has coached under Nick Saban at Alabama and Mack Brown at Texas, but the former Coral Springs High School captain has no better job than his most recent stint at Bethel Park High School. was never given. The Florida native is the head coach of the Ladyhawks flag football team.
Although this is the Ladyhawks' first season, flag football is still in its infancy in Western Pennsylvania. With 103 schools sponsoring clubs across the state, the PIAA, which sanctioned women's wrestling the year before, may be moving forward with women's flag football as the next emerging sport.
“Excitement for the sport is growing,” Ziccardi said. “We're giving more girls the opportunity to play sports and we're building a culture from the ground up (at Bethel Park).”
Although not yet a WPIAL sanctioned sport, women's flag football is an academic activity sponsored by the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles provide uniforms to teams in the western and eastern parts of the state. They paid for travel expenses and coaches' allowances, as well as provided equipment such as flags and soccer balls.
“The school teams didn't have to pay a dime,” Ziccardi said. “(The Steelers) want this game to grow.”
Flag football is also growing in other parts of the country. Universities like the University of Florida, NAIA schools, and even Saint Vincent College in La Trobe offer scholarships. Moreover, this sport will be introduced for the first time at his 2028 Summer Olympics. The Olympics in Los Angeles will feature two events: men's and women's.
“The momentum is building. The excitement is through the roof,” Ziccardi said.
Bethel Park is excited to host the showcase on May 5th. All eight teams from the South Division will participate, including nearby rivals such as Upper St. Clair, Mount Lebanon and South Fayette.Games will take place at 1 and 3 p.m.
Several Steelers and mascot Steely McBeam will make guest appearances during the event.
In addition, the league will hold its championship on May 19th at Carnegie Mellon University. The top three teams in each division (North, South, East, West, Central) qualify for the tournament.
The Lady Hawks, who are 2-2 overall and have six games left in their 10-game schedule, are in contention for a playoff spot.
“It's been a great experience so far,” Ziccardi said. “It's become a fun environment. We're teaching the basics and each week we're getting better and more knowledgeable.
“For a while, everything felt rushed because we were playing catch-up,” he continued. “You may know about football, but you don't know until you play. As we've grown, you can see the growth and confidence in the girls. It's been amazing.”
Ziccardi is pleased not only with the Ladyhawks' talent display, but also with their flexibility. A number of rule changes and adaptations to the game were made this spring.
Last year's action was 5-on-5. This year it's 7-7.
The field now measures 35 yards wide instead of 30 yards. It is 56 yards long.
The match consists of two parts, each lasting 20 minutes. Halftime is 5 to 7 minutes. Unless there is overtime (sudden death), games will end within one hour.
No kicks, no field goals. Teams score by running on offense, intercepting on defense, or passing.
“There’s a no-lan zone,” Ziccardi explained.
“They want you to throw the ball,” he added. “So you need to understand the rules and knowledge to use them to your advantage.”
Like Bethel Park, most teams entering the league were at a disadvantage when it came to scheduling practice time because they had just found out they were going to be on the team this spring. Admission to the stadium will be limited due to track meets, lacrosse games, and other spring activities. As a result, the Ladyhawks may practice two days a week in preparation for Sunday's games, which would not be compatible with other sports.
“We're not a WPIAL sport, so we don't have priority,” Ziccardi said. “We understand the situation we are in and for the most part everyone has been very kind.”
The Ladyhawks were welcoming. The team is comprised of athletes who have never competed in the sport before and experienced veterans, some of whom intend to compete in designated competitive activities in college.
“We're giving the girls another outlet and a fun environment to compete in,” Ziccardi said.
Ziccardi believes flag football enhances rather than detracts from other sports, especially spring activities such as track. He pointed out how expensive AAU volleyball and basketball have become, especially with travel costs, and suggested flag football as a bridge.
“Unless you're in the 1 percent playing at a higher level, flag football can be a way to stay in shape, keep training and not lose anything. If coaches can work together and be flexible, it can be used in other sports as well. Helpful: There are many examples of soccer players going to track and field events with their buddies.
“Flag football is an avenue or gateway into another sport. This is good for other sports as well and is a great way to enhance flag football.”
In an effort to build a team, Ziccardi didn't have to establish an aggressive attitude at Bethel Park. Nor did he have to instill desire in his players. Since he moved to the community last August, he's noticed that this is an innate characteristic of the residents.
“There's a vibe here,” Ziccardi said. “That allows me to coach different types of kids. We have tough girls. They get knocked down, but they get back up. They don't shy away from a challenge. They stand up for themselves and They're putting their bodies at risk. They want to win. They're relentless.
“They're just as fierce as the boys and never back down. They're creating excitement in a sport that continues to grow. It's amazing. We're giving more girls a place to play and a culture. We are building
This year's team has 11 seniors: Etta Jackson, Lily Sierka, Alex Francas, Emerson Crawford, Brooklyn Jones, Essa George, Grace Lindblom, Sam Carn, and Katie Clouston. , Faith Cloonan, Brooke Kessler. they are pioneers.
“For the upperclassmen, it’s a little bittersweet because they competed on the ground floor, but in the long run, they’re doing something good for women’s sports, building a program and making other women want to come out and compete. “And we're creating an atmosphere where we can win games.” The ultimate goal is to make the playoffs, but the immediate goal is to improve each week. We don't want to sacrifice short-term goals for long-term goals. We want this to be a sport, not a fun hobby,” Ziccardi stressed.
“These girls are part of something special because it's going to grow up. Someday they're going to look back and say, 'I was on that team too, but look at it now.'”
Mr. Ziccardi has a vested interest in the prosperity of flag football. In addition to being a physical education and health teacher at Perry High School, he is married to Lauren Ziegler, a former cheerleader at Seton LaSalle High School and Slippery Rock College. He is also the father of two-year-old daughter Capri.
Ziccardi pointed out that last year, she was strapped to her chest during instruction. Now, Capri enjoys running around, pulling flags, shouting words of encouragement, and watching practices and games.
“She’s why I want to do this,” Ziccardi said. “In 10 years, it's going to be her turn to step on the ball, and she's going to have great role models. She's not only watching the boys, she's watching the girls play.” he said. “She's going to be just as fierce and she doesn't have to back down. She's going to have a lot more opportunities because of the girls that have come and played before her.”
