On the left: Muskegon’s Larissa Kirksey, an elementary interventionist and para-pro at Muskegon Public Schools, is one of the founders of the Elite Women’s Football League, with her cousin Jabrea McQuarter. Right: The EWFL has 11 teams that battle it out at Smith-Ryerson Park in Muskegon.
(Photos by Leo Valdez)
By Nate Thompson
LocalSportsJournal.com
A passion for Muskegon’s Larissa Kirksey is bringing improvement to her community, whether it be Easter egg hunts, Trunk or Treats at Halloween, or other events and programs to get families involved and active.
The latest project for Kirksey, a longtime elementary interventionist and para-pro at Muskegon Public Schools, was geared toward women in Muskegon, ranging in ages 18-36.
And, so far, the Elite Women’s Football League has been a rousing success, with 11 teams battling it out through two weeks of games on Sundays at Smith-Ryerson Park in Muskegon.
Kirksey’s cousin, Jabrea McQuarter, said she has been trying to organize a flag football league for women for the past three years. So when she was able to convince Kirksey there could be quite a few women interested in playing, the duo decided to go full force in creating the EWFL.
“I thought it would be a great idea to bring the women of this area together, all different generations and skill sets connecting,” said McQuarter, 31, a Muskegon High graduate. “Something to inspire our children and bring together these strong, black women. Plus, it’s something that allows us to get out and be active. Really, there’s not much to do in our community for women.”
Despite starting the league at the most basic grassroots level – posting a flyer on Facebook and word of mouth – sign-ups spread wildly, making both Kirksey and McQuarter stunned at how
many women wanted to experience their own gridiron glory.
“Most of the teams started with like four or five girls, and they would add two to three more people, usually their friends,” Kirksey explained. “And if there were stragglers that didn’t have a team, we would assign them to whichever team needed the numbers.
“I’m so shocked (at the turnout),” she added. “I was a little nervous at the start, because I wasn’t sure what the numbers would look like. Would it be 7-on-7 instead of the standard 11-on-11? But, right now, each team has 14 to 16 players, so we’re stacked.”
All of the coaches and referees are volunteers, Kirksey noted.
“Most of the fellas coaching us are guys who have coached high school football, or they’re coming right after coaching Little League.”
There is a strong family feel at the games, which also has helped with participation, McQuarter said. Some of the teams practice as much as three times a week.
“There’s a lot of girls who said they need to find a sitter to get to practice, but we want them to bring the kids there so they can watch their moms,” she said. “There’s a girl on our team that has four or five kids and you would never know it because she moves so fast. She’s so active. She has to be a great mom with how quick she moves.
“Most of these women are moms and probably 95 percent are football moms that have dragged our kids to football practice throughout the years,” added Kirksey.
Saquoia Hudson, a 2008 graduate of Muskegon Heights, and a player on the Cleat Cuties, is one of those football moms. She said she’s cherished having her kids being able to watch her in action.
“I take pride in keeping my kids active,” she said. “They’re playing travel football all over. And I tell you what, when I caught an interception today and I saw the smile on my son’s face, that meant the world seeing that.”
Kirksey spent her own money on all of the flags and footballs for the league, but the teams were responsible for their own uniforms.
“I wasn’t too picky (about uniforms),” Kirksey said. “Just something to identify themselves.”
Each team also came up with their own team name and there’s definitely nothing run-of-the-mill like Wildcats or Bulldogs. Kirksey plays on the Motion Girlz, while McQuarter laughs about how her teammates settled on the name Pink Panties.
“We wanted it to be something with Pink and we kept on throwing out different names and finally someone said ‘Pink Panties’ and it stuck,” she said. “Whatever, it works. I love my team.”
Some of the other creative team names include the Slicc Gang, Cleat Cuties, Westside Divas, and the Bad Bittys.
Like any tackle football game, the flag football version has a center and pass rushers, receivers, running backs, quarterbacks, and plenty of fast-paced action. They play on a 50-yard field instead of the full 100, however. They have two 15-minute halves and a five-minute halftime.
“I was a basketball player growing up, not a football player, so I had to learn some things about the game, the different plays and how to line up,” McQuarter said. “But an athlete is an athlete. I can still leap up and make a catch.”
With two weeks of games completed, Kirksey said they’re aiming for five or six more games this summer and then semifinal playoff games and a championship. And with numbers at well over 160 players, she said they’ve all but assured teams there will be a Year 2.
“There will be for sure,” she said. “And hopefully next year will be bigger and we can attract some sponsors. We’re also planning a league for high schoolers as well.”
LocalSportsJournal.com
A passion for Muskegon’s Larissa Kirksey is bringing improvement to her community, whether it be Easter egg hunts, Trunk or Treats at Halloween, or other events and programs to get families involved and active.
The latest project for Kirksey, a longtime elementary interventionist and para-pro at Muskegon Public Schools, was geared toward women in Muskegon, ranging in ages 18-36.
And, so far, the Elite Women’s Football League has been a rousing success, with 11 teams battling it out through two weeks of games on Sundays at Smith-Ryerson Park in Muskegon.
Kirksey’s cousin, Jabrea McQuarter, said she has been trying to organize a flag football league for women for the past three years. So when she was able to convince Kirksey there could be quite a few women interested in playing, the duo decided to go full force in creating the EWFL.
“I thought it would be a great idea to bring the women of this area together, all different generations and skill sets connecting,” said McQuarter, 31, a Muskegon High graduate. “Something to inspire our children and bring together these strong, black women. Plus, it’s something that allows us to get out and be active. Really, there’s not much to do in our community for women.”
Despite starting the league at the most basic grassroots level – posting a flyer on Facebook and word of mouth – sign-ups spread wildly, making both Kirksey and McQuarter stunned at how
many women wanted to experience their own gridiron glory.
“Most of the teams started with like four or five girls, and they would add two to three more people, usually their friends,” Kirksey explained. “And if there were stragglers that didn’t have a team, we would assign them to whichever team needed the numbers.
“I’m so shocked (at the turnout),” she added. “I was a little nervous at the start, because I wasn’t sure what the numbers would look like. Would it be 7-on-7 instead of the standard 11-on-11? But, right now, each team has 14 to 16 players, so we’re stacked.”
All of the coaches and referees are volunteers, Kirksey noted.
“Most of the fellas coaching us are guys who have coached high school football, or they’re coming right after coaching Little League.”
There is a strong family feel at the games, which also has helped with participation, McQuarter said. Some of the teams practice as much as three times a week.
“There’s a lot of girls who said they need to find a sitter to get to practice, but we want them to bring the kids there so they can watch their moms,” she said. “There’s a girl on our team that has four or five kids and you would never know it because she moves so fast. She’s so active. She has to be a great mom with how quick she moves.
“Most of these women are moms and probably 95 percent are football moms that have dragged our kids to football practice throughout the years,” added Kirksey.
Saquoia Hudson, a 2008 graduate of Muskegon Heights, and a player on the Cleat Cuties, is one of those football moms. She said she’s cherished having her kids being able to watch her in action.
“I take pride in keeping my kids active,” she said. “They’re playing travel football all over. And I tell you what, when I caught an interception today and I saw the smile on my son’s face, that meant the world seeing that.”
Kirksey spent her own money on all of the flags and footballs for the league, but the teams were responsible for their own uniforms.
“I wasn’t too picky (about uniforms),” Kirksey said. “Just something to identify themselves.”
Each team also came up with their own team name and there’s definitely nothing run-of-the-mill like Wildcats or Bulldogs. Kirksey plays on the Motion Girlz, while McQuarter laughs about how her teammates settled on the name Pink Panties.
“We wanted it to be something with Pink and we kept on throwing out different names and finally someone said ‘Pink Panties’ and it stuck,” she said. “Whatever, it works. I love my team.”
Some of the other creative team names include the Slicc Gang, Cleat Cuties, Westside Divas, and the Bad Bittys.
Like any tackle football game, the flag football version has a center and pass rushers, receivers, running backs, quarterbacks, and plenty of fast-paced action. They play on a 50-yard field instead of the full 100, however. They have two 15-minute halves and a five-minute halftime.
“I was a basketball player growing up, not a football player, so I had to learn some things about the game, the different plays and how to line up,” McQuarter said. “But an athlete is an athlete. I can still leap up and make a catch.”
With two weeks of games completed, Kirksey said they’re aiming for five or six more games this summer and then semifinal playoff games and a championship. And with numbers at well over 160 players, she said they’ve all but assured teams there will be a Year 2.
“There will be for sure,” she said. “And hopefully next year will be bigger and we can attract some sponsors. We’re also planning a league for high schoolers as well.”
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