From Thursday, March 3 through Saturday, March 5, more than 1,500 high school athletes will convene in Tampa for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, presented by AdventHealth. Now in its fourth year, the event will welcome nearly 70 girls flag football teams throughout the state of Florida to compete in the three-day, round robin-style tournament, taking place this year at the University of South Florida (4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620).
This Buccaneers preseason event is the largest girls flag football tournament in the nation, with teams representing 17 different counties scheduled to participate – including 25 teams from Hillsborough County and 12 from Pinellas County. Games will take place on Thursday, March 3 from 2:30–9:00 p.m.; Friday, March 4 from 2:30–9:00 p.m.; and Saturday, March 5 from 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. For a full schedule and list of participating schools, see below. The event helps kick off the Florida High School Athletic Association flag football season, which officially begins play on Monday, March 7.
Included in this year's event are three collegiate flag football programs competing from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) – Thomas University, Warner University, and Webber International – which will take the field on Saturday as part of their regular season schedules.
Media is encouraged to attend on Thursday, March 3 beginning at 2:45 p.m. for b-roll of the first round of games. At 3:45 p.m., team representatives including Buccaneers Co-Owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, along with AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Dade City CEO Amanda Maggard, Tampa Bay Sports Commission Vice President of Events Claire Lessinger and City of Tampa Director of Parks and Recreation Sherisha Hills will welcome the student-athletes and wish them luck in their upcoming season. They will also be available for interview opportunities.
Media should RSVP in advance with Allen Barrett (813.767.9862 / abarrett@buccaneers.nfl.com).
Who: Buccaneers Co-Owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz
AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Dade City CEO Amanda Maggard
Tampa Bay Sports Commission Vice President of Events Claire Lessinger
City of Tampa Director of Parks and Recreation Sherisha Hills
Girls flag football student-athletes and coaches
When: Thursday, March 3
2:30 p.m. – First round of games begins
3:45 p.m. – Remarks and interview opportunities
4:00 p.m. – Games resume
*Media wishing to attend on Friday/Saturday for photo/video opportunities should RSVP with Allen Barrett in advance*
Where: University of South Florida – Fowler Fields
4202 E. Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33620
About the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Girls Flag Football
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are proud to be at the forefront of supporting gender equality on and off the field by establishing programming and football leagues, creating college scholarships, hosting special events and promoting career development for girls and women. Now in its fourth year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, presented by AdventHealth, is the largest girls flag football tournament in the country and annually showcases some of the top flag football teams in the southeast.
In 2021, the Buccaneers launched the Women's Summit for Careers in Football, an ongoing program that strengthens the pipeline of women pursuing NFL careers through informative, engaging sessions featuring high-profile hosts and Buccaneers leadership. Through the Buccaneers Girls in Football Scholarship, made possible through a $250,000 commitment from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation, the organization became the first NFL team to create an academic scholarship program for girls who play organized football and are passionate about pursuing a career in sports. The team also established the Jr. Bucs Girls Flag Football League, a first-of-its-kind league in the City of Tampa, where the Foundation covers league fees and equipment for girls at 24 Tampa Parks and Recreation centers. And the Buccaneers created the Jr. Bucs Flag Football Program, which grows the game of football in more than 90 Tampa Bay middle schools and supports over 35,000 female students every year. To learn more, visit www.buccaneers.com/community.
Participating Schools: 2022 Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, presented by AdventHealth:
Alonso
Armwood
Avon Park
Belleview
Blake
Bloomingdale
Braden River
Brandon
Brooks DeBartolo
Carrollwood Day
Choctawhatchee
Classical Prep
Countryside
Crystal River
Dixie Hollins
Dunedin
Durant
East Bay
East Lake
Forest
Forest Hill
Fort Pierce Central
Freedom – Orlando
Freedom – Tampa
Gaither
Gibbs
Godby
Harmony
Hillsborough
Lakewood Ranch
Largo
Lecanto
Lennard
Leto
Liberty
Lincoln
Martin County
Miami Central
Miami Edison
Middleton
New Smyrna
Newsome
Northeast
Osceola Fundamental
Pace
Palm Harbor University
Palmetto
Pinellas Park
Plant
Plant City
Riverview
Robinson
Sebring
Seminole
Seminole Ridge
Sickles
Southeast
St. Lucie West Centennial
St. Petersburg
Steinbrenner
Sumner
Tampa Catholic
Tarpon Springs
Trinity Catholic
Wharton
Windermere
*NAIA Teams Participating:
*Thomas University
*Warner University
*Webber International
