Monroe-Woodbury coaches, students ask board to add junior-varsity girls flag football program

Coach Elaine Sjellberg, the varsity girls flag football coach and a Monroe-Woodbury teacher, and three current players asked the Board of Education on June 18 to create a junior-varsity (JV) girls flag football team to expand participation and improve skill development.

Sjellberg told the board that flag football is the fastest-growing youth sport in the nation and said Monroe-Woodbury had launched a varsity program in 2023 with initial support from the New York Jets. The varsity team has won Section 9 championships and earned other recognitions, she said, but participation at upper-grade levels is constrained because the district offers only a varsity roster.

“From the first tryout, we at Monroe have had an average athletes,” Sjellberg said, noting many students never try out because there are few roster spots on a varsity-only team. She said equipment needs for a JV program would be minimal and that the program already has extra flags, footballs and basic uniforms to help reduce costs.

Student speakers said a JV team would give newcomers a less pressured setting to learn the game. “When I joined flag football as a freshman, I came in with no knowledge or prior experience…JV would have given me a chance to learn on a slower and more detailed pace,” Natalie Beers said. Chloe Ahorio described volunteer-run clinics for grades 3–8 that draw more than 50 young athletes, and Maddie McCleary said starting earlier would help players gain confidence before moving to varsity.

The presentation asked the board to consider the program expansion; no formal action or vote on creating a JV team was recorded during the meeting. Board members did not debate the request at length during the public-comment segment, and school staff did not provide an immediate cost estimate or timeline.

Meeting context: the request came during the public comment portion of the June 18 board meeting after a lengthy series of commendations and recognitions. The board did not indicate a procedural next step on the record; district staff or committees (athletics, budget) may need to assess costs, schedule and Title IX implications before the board could act.

Ending: Board members thanked the students and coaches for their presentation; the district did not announce a follow-up meeting or report timeline during the session.