Corona del Mar sophomore aims to empower other flag football players with new book – Los Angeles Times

Report on Youth Initiative Advancing Sustainable Development Goals Through Flag Football

1.0 Introduction

• This report details an initiative by high school sophomore AnnaSofia Dickens to promote girls’ flag football, an effort that aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The core of the initiative is the publication of a guide titled “We Run This House: The Girls’ Guide to Flag Football.”
• The project capitalizes on the sport’s increasing popularity and its recent inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games to advance global goals related to gender equality, quality education, and well-being.

2.0 Alignment with SDG 5: Gender Equality

2.1 Empowerment and Participation

• The initiative directly promotes female participation in a sport traditionally associated with males, contributing to the elimination of gender stereotypes in athletics.
• The book serves as a tool to empower young women with the knowledge and confidence to pursue flag football, fostering equal opportunities in sports.
• The formal recognition of women’s flag football as an Olympic sport for the LA 2028 Games provides a global platform for female athletes, which is a significant milestone for gender equality.

2.2 Visibility and Role Models

• The project enhances the visibility of female athletes by featuring insights from prominent figures, including Diana Flores, captain of the Mexican flag football team, and Vanita Krouch, quarterback for the U.S. national team.
• Dickens’ creative contributions, such as composing a theme song for the NFL Females in Flag movement, help establish new and accessible role models for aspiring female players.

3.0 Contribution to SDG 4: Quality Education

• The guide functions as an educational resource, providing accessible and practical knowledge, tips, and advice to a wide audience of young athletes.
• It facilitates a transfer of knowledge from elite professionals to a new generation, promoting lifelong learning skills in physical literacy, strategy, and sportsmanship.
• By disseminating expert advice, the initiative aims to provide more inclusive and equitable quality learning opportunities within the sport, addressing the principles of SDG 4 beyond traditional classroom settings.

4.0 Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The project actively encourages an active lifestyle among girls and young women, which is fundamental to promoting physical and mental well-being for all ages.
• The documented growth of flag football at high school (CIF Southern Section sport) and collegiate levels signifies an expansion of opportunities for structured physical activity.
• This increased participation directly supports global health objectives by fostering habits that reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.

5.0 Broader Implications and Partnerships (SDG 10 & SDG 17)

5.1 Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10)

• The initiative seeks to reduce inequalities by democratizing access to high-level sports knowledge, benefiting girls who may lack established programs or coaching.
• The development of new collegiate and professional pathways for women in flag football, including NCAA programs and national teams, helps reduce gender-based inequalities in athletic career opportunities.

5.2 Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

1. The book was developed through multi-stakeholder partnerships within the football community.
2. Collaborations included interviews with high-profile athletes from the NFL (Matthew Stafford, Bryce Young, Jared Goff, Michael Strahan) and international women’s flag football.
3. A partnership with the NFL was demonstrated through the adoption of Dickens’ song as a theme for the Females in Flag movement, showcasing a public-private collaboration to advance a shared goal of inclusion.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals addressed are:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The central theme of the article is the empowerment of girls and women in flag football, a sport traditionally dominated by men. It focuses on providing girls with equal opportunities, resources, and role models to participate and excel. AnnaSofia Dickens’s book and her mission to “inspire other girls” directly support the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article discusses the creation of an educational resource, the book “We Run This House: The Girls’ Guide to Flag Football.” This book serves as a tool for informal education, providing “tips and advice” to help girls acquire the knowledge and technical skills needed to succeed in the sport. This aligns with the SDG 4 aim of promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By promoting participation in flag football, the article implicitly addresses the importance of physical activity for a healthy lifestyle. The growth of the sport among girls, from youth leagues to high school and college levels, contributes to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article showcases the breaking down of barriers for girls in football, challenging the stereotype that it is a “boys’ sport.” The creation of girls’ leagues and teams provides opportunities that may have been previously unavailable.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in public life. This is demonstrated through the growing participation of girls at all levels, from youth leagues to national teams. The article mentions girls serving as team captains (AnnaSofia Dickens), playing on national teams (Makenna Cook, Kate Meier), and having a pathway to the Olympics, which represents the pinnacle of participation in public sporting life.
2. Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical skills, for employment and entrepreneurship. The book written by Dickens is a tool designed to impart technical skills and knowledge about flag football. These skills can lead to opportunities like college scholarships (“She received her first college offer last month”) and playing professionally or in the Olympics.
3. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. Promoting active participation in sports like flag football is a key preventative measure for non-communicable diseases and is essential for physical and mental well-being among adolescents. The article’s description of the sport “exploding” in popularity points to a positive trend in youth physical activity.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article contains several explicit and implicit indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicators for SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
  • The official inclusion of women’s flag football in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
  • The establishment of girls’ flag football as a CIF Southern Section sport, complete with playoffs.
  • The increasing number of NCAA Division I programs and club teams for women’s flag football at universities (e.g., Alabama State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo).
  • The number of girls receiving college offers and scholarships for flag football.
• Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education):
  • The publication and release of the book “We Run This House: The Girls’ Guide to Flag Football” as an available educational resource.
  • The planned release of podcast episodes featuring interviews, which serves as another medium for knowledge dissemination.
• Indicators for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
  • The described growth in participation, with the sport “bursting at the seams with talent” and “exploding” in popularity among girls.
  • The existence and growth of organized leagues and clubs for girls, such as the Matt Leinart Flag Football League and high school teams across Orange County.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: latimes.com