Nearly 100 middle school girls participated in an introduction to flag football event at the UNLV Peter Johann Memorial Soccer Field on Friday through the RUSH program. RUSH stands for Raiders, UNLV, Sport, and Health, with funding from the Las Vegas Raiders and instruction from professors with the UNLV School of Public Health. The program aims to show the positive impact sports can have on the lives of young girls.
Dr. Jennifer Pharr, a professor of public health at UNLV, emphasized the many health benefits of girls participating in sports. These benefits include a lower risk of chronic diseases, improved mental health, better well-being, and the development of skills like leadership, goal-setting, and competition. The goal of the RUSH program is to encourage girls to continue playing sports through high school, especially considering that girls in middle school drop out of sports at a higher rate than boys.
Flag football was chosen as the core sport of the RUSH program due to its increasing popularity, especially following the establishment of a girls’ flag football league by the Clark County School District in 2012. Participation in the program has tripled in three years, with some students even earning scholarships to NIAA colleges and universities to play flag football. The sport will make its debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The RUSH program was developed in response to an increase in anxiety and depression among youth during the pandemic. Dr. Pharr noted that girls who drop out of high school often cite peer pressure, body image issues, or insecurities as reasons for their decision. Conversely, girls who participate in high school sports are less likely to experience pregnancy, dropout, or health challenges later in life. The ultimate goal is to equip young girls in Las Vegas with the tools to not just survive their teen years, but thrive in the long term.