Somers Youth Sports Organization and Gridiron Partners

Somers, New York - February 6th, 2021 - Present
SYSO Commissioners and Gridiron Partners founders, Katie DiChiaro and Jennifer Kisslinger reached out to us in late 2020 and asked for our administrative guidance and coaching expertise with their brand new girls flag football program.

Having crafted carefully thought out Covid protocols, we held the first of what would be 3 clinics in early 2021 at Solaris Sports Indoor Facility in Somers, New York. Our all female coaching staff was comprised of former NY Shark and current NY Wolves tackle players. Having female coaches was of paramount importance to both Katie and Jennifer as they wanted their girls to see that not only playing football was an option, but coaching as well.

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We held an outdoor clinic for the girls of SYSO in May of 2021, building upon the knowledge and skills from earlier sessions and transitioning into formations, play design, rules and game strategy.

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In late August, 2021, we held our first ever "Not your Kid's Football Clinic" for adult women connected to the SYSO program. This new programming was so well received, that we had a waiting list for the clinic within 5 days and then no one wanted to stop playing when the clinic was scheduled to end so we played for another hour !! What a fabulous day of football, sisterhood and laughter! We held a second clinic for these Mighty Women in November of 2021. Future clinics are in the works!
 

-- Dana Sparling, Executive Director

Clinic for the Staten Island Girls Flag Football Program

Staten Island, 11/9/19

The Foundation hosted and produced this clinic for our Football Sisters on Staten Island in New York City.

Players from the New York Wolves Women's Tackle Football Team coached the event

and we were also joined by the New York Guardians president, Janet Duch.

Special thanks to Coach Mike Colt for assisting in pulling the day together. His dedication to his girls is truly inspiring.

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-- Dana Sparling, Executive Director

(L) Janet Duch, NY Guardians President with (R) Dana Sparling, COO of WGF