New York Giants Help Spark Growth of Girls Flag Football at Shore Conference Clinic

NEPTUNE — It was not the New York Giants on television or under the bright lights of MetLife Stadium — it was the Giants on a local Shore Conference football field in Neptune, close enough to hear cleats in the turf and coaches calling out instructions.

On a cool spring morning at Summerfield Elementary School, where the Neptune Scarlet Fliers call home, more than 200 high school girls from across the Shore Conference spread out across the field, rotating through drills, having fun and laughing between reps and, at times, pausing to take in the moment. This was not just another practice — it felt like something bigger.

Giants players moved from station to station, hands-on and engaged, correcting footwork, demonstrating routes and making sure every athlete felt seen. The message was simple, but it carried weight: flag football is growing, and there’s a place for you in it.

For head coach John Tierney of Pinelands, who organized the event, that growth has been unfolding in real time.

“The first year we had seven teams. Now we’re up to 30 teams,” Tierney said. “We had around 30 girls at this thing the first year we ran this event. Now we’re up over 200. So it’s a great way to teach the game of football. It’s the greatest game ever made. It’s taught me so much. It’s helped me out so much in life. And while you’re doing that, you’re having fun.”

Standing off to the side between drills, Tierney watched players move from one station to the next — a scene that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago. What started as a small idea has quickly turned into something with real momentum.

That momentum is beginning to show up in opportunities beyond the Shore Conference.

“We just had a girl sign with St. Joseph’s in Brooklyn. We have another girl who’s got five offers,” Tierney said. “So the growth is just tremendous. It’s another outlet to get these girls into college. It’s another avenue to get these girls to max out their potential, not just as athletes, but as young women as well.”

It’s not just about numbers or scholarships, though. There’s a noticeable shift in how seriously the sport is being taken — by coaches, schools and especially the players themselves.

“We’ve gone every single day, except for Sunday, the last two weeks, and the girls come every single day willing to work, willing to get better,” he said. “They’re sore, they’re hurt — that means you’re putting them through something. … It’s great to see that the girls take this as seriously as any other sport they play, if not more serious.”

That same energy is showing up across the conference. Julie Thornton, who has been coaching Shore Regional since the program’s launch six years ago, has watched the sport grow from something new into something her players genuinely care about.

“It’s just so exciting to see how the sport has grown and flourished,” Thornton said. “My players, we love it. They’re so into it and so involved. We’re just trying our best every year to make our program stronger.”

With that growth has come a different kind of conversation — one that now includes college opportunities and long-term potential.

“I keep telling my girls, if you are not 100% sure that you’re going to get a scholarship for your other sport, you should really take advantage of this,” Thornton said. “It’s very realistic they could play collegiate flag with how skilled and athletic they are.”

She’s also quick to point out that many of those athletes aren’t just football players — and that’s part of what makes them so effective.

“I have always been a firm believer in multiple sports,” she said. “It’s making them more well-rounded … they’re doing different movements, and I think it’s better for them.”

You could see that play out throughout the morning.

Freshman Destiny Rubin of Central Regional talked about how her basketball background shaped the way she approaches the game.

“Basketball taught me how to cheer on your teammates and how to be aggressive, but also have good sportsmanship at the same time,” Rubin said. “Playing flag kind of taught me the same thing.”

A few stations over, Rumson-Fair Haven junior Dylan Kozinn — part of the defending Shore Conference champions — pointed to soccer and even surfing as part of her development.

“Running in soccer has helped my stamina, endurance, quick movements and trying to get around people, while surfing has helped with my balance,” Kozinn said. “All of this has definitely translated.”

But for Kozinn, what stands out just as much as the physical side is the environment her team has built.

“We do so many team bonding activities just to create a family,” she said. “It’s not just about the sport — we learn how to work together, communicate and grow as people.”

Moments later, she glanced back toward the field, where Giants players were still working through drills, a bit starstruck watching All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas.

“Oh my gosh, it’s the coolest thing ever,” she said. “Thousands of people watch them on TV … and I get the privilege of meeting them in person.”

For players like Pinelands sophomore Bianca Farias, the sport didn’t start with something this big. It started small — a powder puff game — and grew from there.

Now, with Tierney leading the program, it’s become something she takes pride in.

“He taught us a lot,” Farias said. “He’s a very good coach, and he’s always there for us and supports us on and off the field. I wouldn’t want anybody else on the sidelines for us.”

For the Giants players, the day wasn’t about the spotlight — it was about sharing the game they love.

All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas spent time working directly with players, offering tips and encouragement along the way.

“Football, especially in high school, you develop some of your closest relationships,” Thomas said. “Anytime I can come out here and try to help motivate the next generation, I’m going to take the opportunity to do that.”

He knows what moments like this can mean, especially for players just starting to see what’s possible.

“It’s just an example that you can achieve your dreams,” he said. “Whatever I can do to help these kids achieve the same thing, I want to do it.”

Former Giants quarterback Ryan Nassib kept it simple.

“I’ve been thrilled to see the acceleration of football, for both boys and girls,” Nassib said. “I love seeing more and more people getting involved.”

Tight end Chris Manhertz, who played multiple sports in college at Canisius, pointed to that same idea of growth — not just in football, but as an athlete overall.

“It’s good to see all these young ladies out here, having fun, playing football,” Manhertz said. “By playing multiple sports, it’s always good to expose yourself to different things so that you can expand your athletic skill set.”

As the clinic wound down, the field slowly emptied, but the energy didn’t. Players lingered, taking pictures, talking with teammates and holding onto a day that felt a little different than the rest.

Not long ago, this kind of turnout — this kind of attention — would have been hard to picture.

Now, it feels like the start of something that’s only going to keep growing.

And in Neptune, for a few hours, the Giants were not just something to watch.

They were part of the story.