From Thursday, March 3 through Saturday, March 5, more than 1,500 high school athletes will convene in Tampa for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, presented by AdventHealth. Now in its fourth year, the event will welcome nearly 70 girls flag football teams throughout the state of Florida to compete in the three-day, round robin-style tournament, taking place this year at the University of South Florida (4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620).

This Buccaneers preseason event is the largest girls flag football tournament in the nation, with teams representing 17 different counties scheduled to participate – including 25 teams from Hillsborough County and 12 from Pinellas County. Games will take place on Thursday, March 3 from 2:30–9:00 p.m.; Friday, March 4 from 2:30–9:00 p.m.; and Saturday, March 5 from 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. For a full schedule and list of participating schools, see below. The event helps kick off the Florida High School Athletic Association flag football season, which officially begins play on Monday, March 7.

Included in this year's event are three collegiate flag football programs competing from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) – Thomas University, Warner University, and Webber International – which will take the field on Saturday as part of their regular season schedules.

Media is encouraged to attend on Thursday, March 3 beginning at 2:45 p.m. for b-roll of the first round of games. At 3:45 p.m., team representatives including Buccaneers Co-Owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, along with AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Dade City CEO Amanda Maggard, Tampa Bay Sports Commission Vice President of Events Claire Lessinger and City of Tampa Director of Parks and Recreation Sherisha Hills will welcome the student-athletes and wish them luck in their upcoming season. They will also be available for interview opportunities.

Media should RSVP in advance with Allen Barrett (813.767.9862 / abarrett@buccaneers.nfl.com).

Who:       Buccaneers Co-Owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz

AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Dade City CEO Amanda Maggard

Tampa Bay Sports Commission Vice President of Events Claire Lessinger

City of Tampa Director of Parks and Recreation Sherisha Hills

Girls flag football student-athletes and coaches

When:    Thursday, March 3

2:30 p.m. – First round of games begins

3:45 p.m. – Remarks and interview opportunities

4:00 p.m. – Games resume

*Media wishing to attend on Friday/Saturday for photo/video opportunities should RSVP with Allen Barrett in advance* 

Where:    University of South Florida – Fowler Fields

                4202 E. Fowler Ave.

Tampa, FL 33620

About the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Girls Flag Football

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are proud to be at the forefront of supporting gender equality on and off the field by establishing programming and football leagues, creating college scholarships, hosting special events and promoting career development for girls and women. Now in its fourth year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, presented by AdventHealth, is the largest girls flag football tournament in the country and annually showcases some of the top flag football teams in the southeast.

In 2021, the Buccaneers launched the Women's Summit for Careers in Football, an ongoing program that strengthens the pipeline of women pursuing NFL careers through informative, engaging sessions featuring high-profile hosts and Buccaneers leadership. Through the Buccaneers Girls in Football Scholarship, made possible through a $250,000 commitment from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation, the organization became the first NFL team to create an academic scholarship program for girls who play organized football and are passionate about pursuing a career in sports. The team also established the Jr. Bucs Girls Flag Football League, a first-of-its-kind league in the City of Tampa, where the Foundation covers league fees and equipment for girls at 24 Tampa Parks and Recreation centers. And the Buccaneers created the Jr. Bucs Flag Football Program, which grows the game of football in more than 90 Tampa Bay middle schools and supports over 35,000 female students every year. To learn more, visit www.buccaneers.com/community.

Participating Schools: 2022 Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, presented by AdventHealth:

Alonso

Armwood

Avon Park

Belleview

Blake

Bloomingdale

Braden River

Brandon

Brooks DeBartolo

Carrollwood Day

Choctawhatchee

Classical Prep

Countryside

Crystal River

Dixie Hollins

Dunedin

Durant

East Bay

East Lake

Forest

Forest Hill

Fort Pierce Central

Freedom – Orlando

Freedom – Tampa

Gaither

Gibbs

Godby

Harmony

Hillsborough

Lakewood Ranch

Largo

Lecanto

Lennard

Leto

Liberty

Lincoln

Martin County

Miami Central

Miami Edison

Middleton

New Smyrna

Newsome

Northeast

Osceola Fundamental

Pace

Palm Harbor University

Palmetto

Pinellas Park

Plant

Plant City

Riverview

Robinson

Sebring

Seminole

Seminole Ridge

Sickles

Southeast

St. Lucie West Centennial

St. Petersburg

Steinbrenner

Sumner

Tampa Catholic

Tarpon Springs

Trinity Catholic

Wharton

Windermere

*NAIA Teams Participating:

*Thomas University

*Warner University

*Webber International