Grown adults may recall middle school as a challenging time in their lives. Data shows that the experience hasn’t gotten any better. In fact, for girls, it’s getting worse.

According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year, nearly three in five (57%) U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021 — double that of boys, representing a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade.

UNLV School of Public Health professor Jennifer Pharr is determined to provide youth in Las Vegas with the tools to not only survive their teen years, but thrive for years to come. Pharr’s research includes mental health and the use of sports to promote health, particularly for women. 

“Girls who drop out of high school often do so due to peer pressure, body image issues, or general insecurities,” Pharr said. “Conversely, girls who participate in high school sports are less likely to experience pregnancy, dropout, or health challenges later in life.”

Pharr has been dreaming about a collaboration with a professional sports team long before Las Vegas had an NFL team of their own. With the support of the Las Vegas Raiders, that became a reality earlier this year.

Raiders, UNLV, Sport, and Health (RUSH) is a hands-on one-day event that introduces 200 sixth- through eighth-grade girls to flag football, encourages them to pursue sports in high school, and addresses issues of mental health and nutrition.

“Having witnessed the impact of sports in my own life and through research on women and girls, I saw a natural opportunity for a partnership with the Raiders,” Pharr said.

To kick off the inaugural event, students arrived by bus to the Raiders headquarters at the Intermountain Health Performance Center. They were served a nutritious breakfast on the way, given a variety of swag, and then spent the next three hours rotating through four stations. Each station focused on one of these elements: flag football, exercise, nutrition, and mental health.

Why Middle School Girls?

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, by the age of 14, girls drop out of sports at two times the rate of boys. In order for girls to reap the holistic benefits sports participation provides, they can’t give up.

Through sports, girls learn important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and confidence, Pharr notes. In fact, high school female athletes tend to have a more positive body image than non-athletes, and more than three-quarters of working women feel that sports participation helps enhance their self-image.

Participation in sports also has positive effects on women’s health. Research has found that girls active in sports during adolescence and young adulthood are 20% less likely to get breast cancer later in life. 

A Future in Flag Football

For the last decade, flag football has been sanctioned as an approved sports program for girls in the Clark County School District (CCSD). Girls have the opportunity to play at the freshman, junior varsity, or varsity levels. In 2012, its inaugural year, 748 girls participated in flag football, which nearly tripled to 1,926 in three short years.

Several girls graduating from CCSD schools have now been offered college scholarships to play collegiate flag football at NAIA colleges and universities. 

The popularity of the sport is growing globally. In 2028, women’s flag football will debut at the Olympics in Los Angeles.

Partnerships with a Purpose

What makes RUSH different from a basic flag football clinic is the partners who are committed to educating the young participants about caring for their bodies on all levels.

Additionally, UNLV public health students play essential roles as bus chaperones, activity assistants, and swag distributors. And, PE teachers and coaches from the selected schools are invited to participate so they can provide additional support once the students return to school.

Pharr and the UNLV School of Public Health have selected key collaborators to make the biggest impact on the lives of these girls. These partners include:

The Defensive Line

A nonprofit co-founded by former Las Vegas Raider defensive lineman Solomon Thomas (current NY Jet) and his parents Martha and Chris, The Defensive Line is committed to suicide prevention through education. Solomon’s sister Ella died by suicide at the age of 24. The organization provides a workshop on mental health during RUSH.

UNR Cooperative Extension

The UNR Cooperative Extension provides a nutrition session, helping students understand how to eat for health and to support a lifestyle that includes sports and mental health.

Three Square

Three Square provides breakfast and lunch to all RUSH participants. According to Healthy Southern Nevada, 24.8% of children in Clark County are impacted by food insecurity. During breaks between drills and physical activities, healthy snacks will be provided and accompanied by discussions about the importance of eating healthy. 

Las Vegas Raiders

In addition to funding and helping organize the inaugural event, the Raiders run the students through skill drills that include throwing, catching and receiver routes, defensive coverage and interception, handoff and running, and speed, agility, and field awareness. 

In addition to funding and hosting the inaugural event, the Raiders run students through football fundamentals, agility drills, and skill development.

“The Raiders organization is passionate about supporting local youth in every way possible,” said Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan. “We are committed to year-round efforts to support the physical and mental well-being of local teenage girls, and this RUSH event provides much needed awareness around how valuable sports can be in helping these young adults shape a positive self-image.”

What’s Next

With RUSH's successful launch, Pharr and UNLV’s School of Public Health are considering future partnerships to introduce more young people to sports.

“As Las Vegas cements its status as a sports hub, partnering with professional sports teams like the Raiders for community betterment is logical,” said Shawn Gerstenberger, dean of the School of Public Health. “We appreciate the Raiders’ impactful leadership, significantly influencing these young women’s lives.”

To learn more about the program or to donate, visit the RUSH website.