Gold Crown Foundation Grows Their Girls' Sports Opportunities By Adding A New Sport To The Roster
LAKEWOOD, CO (August 24, 2023) — The Gold Crown Foundation (GCF), longstanding youth nonprofit plans to launch a Girls Flag Football program this fall. The clinic series will run on Saturday mornings, September 23 - October 7 at Keli McGregor Field at Coca-Cola All Star Park in Lakewood, Colo. The series is open to current 6th - 8th grade girls who are interested in learning the fastest growing female sport in the nation. Registration is $45 per player, and scholarships are available for those in need of financial assistance.
“We started this foundation to support girls in sports and we will always continue down that path,” said GCF Co-Founder, Ray Baker. “The decline in youth female participation in sports is alarming and a space where we know the foundation can make an impact.”
The clinic series will include an introduction to the game, basis fundamentals and drills for each position, small team competition and scrimmages. Each week will build on the skills previously learned.
GCF partnered with current players from the Denver Bandits, Colorado's Women's National Football Team, who will serve as the clinic coaching staff. Amber Craft, the 2021 Women's Flag Football National Champion, 2022 US Women's National Tackle Team World Champion and current Athletic Trainer with Children's Hospital Colorado is the Camp Director.
"Playing football as a female was unheard of when I was young," says Craft. "I'm excited to share my knowledge with the next generation of girls and see women and girls playing football becoming the norm. The sky's the limit for these girls and I'm so excited I get to support them."
CHSAA approved High School Girls Flag Football for a pilot season in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 season involved the Denver Broncos and included teams from Jeffco Public Schools, Denver Public Schools and Cherry Creek Public Schools, with more districts to join this season. GCF's model has been about operating middle school sports leagues that eventually feed into the high school teams. The Competitive Basketball League is entering its 30th season and many state champions over the years had strong feeder programs.
More information and a link to registration can be found at at www.goldcrownfoundation.com.
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About Gold Crown Foundation: The Gold Crown Foundation, a Colorado nonprofit 501(c)3, offers youth sports and education programs to nearly 17,000 boys and girls annually throughout Colorado and the surrounding states. Founded in 1986 by former Denver Nugget player and coach, Bill Hanzlik, and his business partner Ray Baker, Gold Crown Foundation’s mission statement is “Educating Youth and Community through Sports and Enrichment Programs.” Through basketball, volleyball, golf and educational programs, Gold Crown teaches youth life skills and grants almost $500,000 in scholarships annually to kids ages 8-20. Gold Crown operates two sports complexes and two enrichment facilities; Coca-Cola All-Star Park, Gold Crown Field House, Best Buy Teen Tech Center and the Gold Crown Clubhouse at Edgewater. The 56,000 square foot Gold Crown Field House has approximately 450,000 participants and visitors come through its doors each year. The facilities allow for youth participation in a clean, safe, and one-of-a-kind environment. Find more information at www.goldcrownfoundation.com.