The Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is set to kick off its fourth straight year of the Girls on the Gridiron flag‑football clinic, a program that introduces teenage girls to the fundamentals of the sport while signaling the start of the 2026 MEAC football season.
Scheduled for July 19, 2026, the clinic will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore, with check‑in opening at 5:00 p.m. Participants, girls aged 12 and older, will rotate through skill stations and drills led by MEAC football student‑athletes and coaches.
A Community‑Driven Vision
MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills emphasized that the event is more than a training session; it is a deliberate effort to broaden access for young women in a region where girls’ flag football is gaining momentum. “Expanding opportunities on the field translates into confidence off it,” Stills said.
Morgan State Vice President for Athletics Dena Freeman‑Patton echoed the sentiment, noting the rising interest in the DMV area and the importance of providing a welcoming environment for newcomers. “We want every girl who wants to play to feel she belongs,” she added.
The National Football League’s Troy Vincent highlighted the clinic’s role in building pathways for participation and leadership in flag football, a sport the league has been actively promoting as a gateway to broader involvement in the game.
All attendees will receive a complimentary camp uniform kit, and participants are encouraged to wear athletic gear and bring a water bottle. Pre‑registration is free and can be completed online, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent interested girls from taking part.
Beyond the immediate clinic, the initiative reflects the MEAC’s broader mission as an eight‑member consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities founded in 1970, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. By partnering with the NFL and local institutions, the conference is positioning flag football as a vehicle for community engagement and athletic development.