CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — With gray clouds overhead and orange flags on their hips, youth flag football teams from Glenview, Northbrook and New Trier stepped onto Soldier Field, and played in the same place as many of their football heroes.
Tom Godbout, the coach and director of the Glenview Junior Titans girls flag football division, said they’re learning more than just how to run routes.
“All seven players have a role in that offense and that play, and if everybody can do their role — even though it might not be the most exciting part of the play, it still has a function,” he said.
Godbout said he had been showing his daughters clips of famous Bears players ahead of the game.
“I don’t know who’s more excited: me or the kids,” he said. “I have not set foot on that grass either, so it’ll be down there where the greats, like Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, and Singletary and these guys were playing is pretty amazing for me, but also it’s really exciting for the kids.”
Their team of fifth and six grade girls got started playing co-ed and has grown — along with interest in the sport.
“It’s a great transition and progression for the girls to compete against each other, which is really great,” he said. “The sport’s absolutely exploding right now.”
Godbout is actually a Patriots fan but is still appreciative of the chance to watch his kids play at Soldier Field.
“Hey, it’s also ground Tom Brady played on, but I shouldn’t say that too loud around here,” he said.
The Chicago Bears and Nike are supporting flag football leagues that launched in Chicago Public Schools two years ago, with the goal of getting enough high schools involved to make it an IHSA varsity sport.
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