The Essence of Coaching Foundation hosted its first annual She Is Athlete Girls Football Camp on Saturday, May 16 at Ridge Road Recreation Center in Washington, D.C.
An initiative created through the Essence of Coaching Foundation, She is Athlete is dedicated to empowering female football and flag football players. The platform provides opportunities for development, mentorship, and exposure.
The Essence of Coaching Foundation and She Is Athlete Founder Marcellus Wiley shared that his daughter was the inspiration behind the girls football camp.
“I have a six-year-old daughter,” said Wiley. “So that’s a part of the reason why I wanted to establish something for female athletes as well because of the nature of how she was raised. She was always on the field as a kid. That was one of the biggest things of like how can something be created to truly impact not just my [daughter] but others as well that may enjoy the game.”
The free event welcomed girls in grades eight through 12 for an immersive training and evaluation, giving them the opportunity to sharpen their skills and showcase their talents.
Participants were tested in several key performance metrics, such as: the 40-yard dash, shuttle runs, L-drills, and a unique short-range 10-yard split assessment. The event also included on-field instruction and drills focused on wide receiver-running back route running, play calling, and seven-on-seven competition.
“I had a vision for the combine and the camp aspect because I’ve been on the camp circuit in the male space since 2022,” Wiley told The Informer. “The vision for She Is Athlete is exactly what is occurring [in football] right now. We wanted to setup a recruiting database.”
The event was held at a pivotal moment for the growth of women’s flag football across the country. Earlier this year, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) officially added women’s flag football as an emerging sport at the Division I level. This opened the door for colleges and universities to offer varsity programs and scholarships for girls flag football.
“We had two universities on site at our event, which was huge for us because it was the first time event,” said Wiley. “First time ever in Washington, D.C., that [our] camp and combine structure is happening. Going from that is what led into the 16 young ladies being able to be invited up to Penn State Harrisburg on July 18 for an official visit.”
This momentum continues to build locally as well.
In Maryland, girls flag football was sanctioned by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) as its 26th varsity championship sport. The inaugural state championship tournament is set to debut in fall 2026, with title games taking place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Meanwhile, in the District, the D.C. Public Schools Athletic Association (DCIAA) has been running strong in girls flag football for a while. In addition to this, the nation’s capital reached a historic milestone in girls flag football back in April. The DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA), in partnership with the Washington Commanders, officially recognized the women’s sport as a state championship program.
“[Girls football] has been stagnant [in the DMV] for a while,” said Wiley. “A lot of people don’t even know that the D.C. Public School system has had female flag football as a sport for about four or five years now. So it’s been going on for years, it’s just been stagnant… Because everyone is coming to the party right now, I believe that 2027 will be a huge year for [girls flag football in the DMV].”
Clarksburg Coyotes Celebrated at Northwest Stadium
The Commanders’ efforts in girls flag football is just getting started.
On Tuesday, May 19, the Washington franchise honored the Clarksburg High School Coyotes with a championship ring ceremony inside of the team’s locker room at Northwest Stadium.
Washington legend Gary Clark presented the rings to the team.
The Clarksburg Coyotes are now back-to-back state champions after finishing with a flawless 13-0, marking such an incredible run for the program and a memorable moment for years to come.
“This will be an unforgettable memory,” Grace Gentili said to WUSA9. “I will look back in 20, 30, 40 years and never forget the opportunities and experiences and friendships that flag football has brought into my life.”
