Women are tackling football in increasing numbers Sunday, June 27, 2010 By Michael Sanserino, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Football has been pivotal to Pittsburgh's identity. Now the city has become a key player in the growth of football -- among women. Two Western Pennsylvanians are playing for the U.S. national women's tackle football team in the inaugural Women's World Championship, which will begin today in Stockholm, Sweden.
And Pittsburgh is one of several cities the National Football League has selected to sponsor teams in its Girls Flag Football Leadership Program, which attempts to build intramural teams at the middle school and high school levels.
It is the most recent validation for a sport that has been building women's participation for the past decade.
Today, there are hundreds of professional women's tackle football leagues throughout the country, and the NFL estimates 19,000 middle school and high school girls play flag football on organized teams. Pittsburgh is home to two women's tackle teams, the Pittsburgh Passion and the Pittsburgh Force.
