The Bears are continuing to inspire the next generation of girls in football, this time in Spain through the launch of an official girls flag football league.
In the coming weeks, leagues in Madrid and Barcelona will begin their inaugural seasons, giving hundreds of girls across 12-16 teams from eight different schools the opportunity to play a sport that is rapidly expanding around the world.
Having first introduced girls flag football through clinics in Spain three years ago, Bears director of football development Gustavo Silva knew the country’s passion for the sport was special.
“Spain is a market for the Chicago Bears that we got in 2022, alongside the UK,” Silva said. “We always liked Spain since we believe it’s a country that is very similar to the community of Chicago. It’s very similar in they love sports, and they have a lot of passion for their sports. We just had a feeling; something just felt right about being here. Girls flag football is very important because girls have less opportunities in sport across the globe.
“A lot of times, it’s during their teen years when they abandon sports, so that’s why we chose these girls, these age groups, from 12-15. On the contrary, we believe these are key years to be playing sports because there are a lot of opportunities in the sport of flag football for girls and women.”
The Bears have now created opportunities for girls to compete in flag football in both Illinois and their two international markets. They first started a program in Chicago in 2021 which, three years later, turned into girls flag football becoming an IHSA-sanctioned sport. In 2023, the Bears launched the first girls flag football league in the United Kingdom and this spring, they expanded the program to three cities in its third season.
Silva and the Bears spent several days in Madrid and Barcelona to host kickoff events and clinics to celebrate the league’s launch, generate enthusiasm and teach fundamental skills of flag football.
“First of all, I wanted the girls to feel welcomed and I wanted them to know they are valued by us, the Chicago Bears and by the sport of flag football and American football,” Silva said. “There are a lot of values that boys have benefitted from in sports that girls also have a right to experience, like working hard, commitment, setting goals. Those things will help them be successful in life, not only in sport.”