Flag football players from the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCK) district will have access to new soccer gear for the district’s first girls soccer season.
Previous Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Gary Stills and former NFL wide receiver Tim Barnett were on hand for a district-wide girls flag football event where athletes and schools were surprised with flag belts and other gear.
Nike provided jerseys through a $100,000 grant.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The Kansas City Chiefs logo before the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
KC Wolf, the Chiefs’ mascot, also made an appearance at the event.
“It’s groundbreaking. We’re making history out here,” said Sheila Sickau, the Chiefs’ director of youth marketing.
Sickau added that the growth of girls soccer helps level the playing field for high school athletes.
The Kansas City Chiefs donated flag football equipment to Kansas City, Kansas Schools. (Fox News)
“I think it’s finally catching up to the times where it gives girls an opportunity to play soccer in a safe place. A lot of the girls, before flag football took off, the only option was co-ed tackle,” Sickau said.
The girls who participated in the event participated in a series of drills as they continued to prepare for a six-week soccer season. Only one KCK school had a girls’ soccer team in 2023, according to Fox 4 Kansas City.
The Kansas City Chiefs logo before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 31, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The high school district’s flag football season begins Sept. 14.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Flag football has become increasingly popular in the United States, and the sport will be included in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles year 2028.
Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage on Xand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.