(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: As the beautiful Fall 2023 weather here in our City of L.A. and the entire Southern California basin arrived on a 9/23, Saturday morning, it would serve as a fantastic backdrop for the First Annual L.A. Rams Girls’ Flag Football Jamboree, presented by Bridgestone. It all took place on the campus of Loyola Marymount University.

In what became a very historic, dynamic, and highly successful event at focusing even more attention on the recently included State of California’s CIF/Southern Section (CIF/SS) and L.A. City Section (LACS) Girls’Varsity Flag Football programs, this great gathering was near perfect for competing and exercising in an outdoor activity such as flag football, and there couldn’t have been a better day to have programmed one.

The full day of the Jamboree started at 9:00 am and lasted until 6:00 pm. The 80 degree day welcomed some 1,000 high school varsity flag football student-athletes onto the Campus’ spacious athletic field where four football fields were specially marked to conduct the competition among the 50 teams that were in attendance. The Burns Recreation Center’s gymnasium was utilized to provide an educational and informative one hour workshop, entitled “Women In Business” which offered all of the participants an opportunity to learn from a distinguished panel of professionals, about future careers and internships in the ever-growing sport of professional football.

The true essence of enjoying and experiencing a Jamboree of this type, as envisioned by the Rams, and presented by Bridgestone, was to provide a memorable day of celebrating the arrival and completion of the first season of Varsity Girls’ Flag Football as sanctioned by the aforementioned CIF/SS and CIF/LACS. That mission was accomplished by observing the great “esprit de corps” of the teams and then looking at the young, competitive, and happy faces of the players who departed LMU with more motivation and heightened enthusiasm to prepare for season number two in 2024. The Rams and Bridgestone will continue their strong efforts to grow the sport and encourage many more new students and athletes to try-out for their respective high schools as each new season begins. 

Please be sure to view our comprehensive (28:00) minute highlight video of the competitions and the Jamboree’s highly informative interviews with Brittany Ramos, Los Angeles Rams, Senior Director of Partnership Management and Caitlyn Ranson, Bridgestone Americas, Head of Partnership Marketing. They can both be viewed in the second half of this video. Both were panelists for their presentations during the “Women In Business” forum.

Here is the full announcement of the event as published by the Rams Communications staff. 

LOS ANGELES RAMS HOST INAUGURAL GIRLS’ FLAG JAMBOREE PRESENTED BY BRIDGESTONE

More Than 50 High School Girls’ Flag Football Teams Competed in Celebration of Inaugural Season in California

LOS ANGELES, SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 – The Los Angeles Rams hosted their inaugural Girls’ Flag Jamboree, presented by Bridgestone for more than 50 high school teams and over 1,000 student-athletes on Saturday, September 23 at Loyola Marymount University, the exclusive higher education partner of the Rams. This event gave high school girls’ varsity flag football teams throughout Southern California the opportunity to compete against other teams in celebration of their inaugural season as a sanctioned sport in California.

The free event featured jamboree-style games, with each team facing off against three different opponents for a half each. The student-athletes also competed in multiple tug-of-war tournaments. Torrey Pines High School, Valley View High School, Westlake High School and WISH Academy High School came out victorious and received Oakley sunglasses. In addition, Rams proud partner El Torito provided lunch for all participants.

Following the games, participants enjoyed a “Women in Business” panel featuring Bridgestone Americas Head of Partnership Marketing, Caitlyn Ranson and moderated by Los Angeles Rams Executive Vice President of Community Impact & Engagement, Molly Higgins. Attendees also received giveaways and prizes at a vendor village.

In addition to the Jamboree, the Rams and Bridgestone recently launched the LA Rams Girls’ Flag “Game of the Week” to highlight eight high school games during the inaugural season of girls’ flag football in California.

From September 11 through October 28, the Rams and Bridgestone are activating onsite at each game to host halftime competitions for fans and give away swag. Each participating team will receive a $1,000 equipment donation for their program provided by presenting sponsor Bridgestone as well as USA Football.

“Participation in sports like flag football empowers girls to chase their passions and build skills that can be translated on and off the field,” said Caitlyn Ranson, head of partnership marketing, Bridgestone Americas. “We believe that every girl should have the opportunity to participate in flag football, and our support of today’s Jamboree reflects Bridgestone’s commitment to serving communities where we move, live, work, and play. What really matters is creating equitable access to opportunity today and for generations to come, and we look forward to continuing to champion the limitless potential of girls in Southern California and beyond.”

Earlier this year with the support of Bridgestone, the Rams and USA Football provided 165 high schools with Girls’ Flag Football Equipment Kits to grow the game. Each kit contained all the tools needed to facilitate practice and games. In addition, the Rams and USA Football provided more than 200 high school teams with Girls’ Flag Football Resource Packages. Each resource package included information about rules, grants, practice plans and a playbook.

“The Rams are thrilled to celebrate girls’ flag football and commemorate its inaugural season with our Girls’ Flag Jamboree, presented by Bridgestone,” said Noel Grigsby, head of girls’ flag, Los Angeles Rams. “We are grateful for our partnership with Bridgestone and their commitment to girls’ flag football this season, alongside the support of partners like Nike, Gatorade, Oakley, El Torito, USA Football and LMU. Since the launch of our Girls’ Flag League of Champions in 2021, we’ve aimed to break barriers and create platforms for young girls to shine, both on and off the field.”

On Thursday, September 29, 2022, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section voted to make girls’ flag football an official sport beginning in the 2023-24 school year. This year on Friday, February 3, California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) voted to sanction girls’ flag football in high schools across California.

The Rams and Bridgestone believe football is a game that helps young women develop transferable life skills that build a foundation of confidence, character, and work ethic they’ll employ both on and off the field.

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[About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.]

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 45,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

[About Los Angeles Rams]

The Los Angeles Rams – Los Angeles’ original professional sports team and Super Bowl LVI Champions – stand as one of the oldest franchises in the National Football League and since its founding in 1937, have garnered four World Championships and sent 30 of its members to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a professional sports team, the organization is committed to be a valuable civic partner and serving the greater Los Angeles area 365 days a year. The Rams play their home games at SoFi Stadium, which is located at Hollywood Park, a 298-acre sports and entertainment destination being developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke in Inglewood, CA.