familiar faces
■ by Madelyn Rosenberg | photo by Skip Brown
Coaches Mike Rivera (left) and Russ Burd at flag practice
Girls of the Gridiron In the world of flag football, the Virginia Hurricanes are known as the team to beat. THE CICADAS ARE belting out their final chorus on a hot day in June as the Virginia Hurricanes take the field for flag football practice at Dorothy Hamm Middle School. It’s 5 o’clock on a Monday, the practice time that worked best
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for this group of 12-year-old girls, all of whom play other sports but still want to play “flag.” Coach Mike Rivera built a spreadsheet to figure out when all could meet and still attend their various other practices.
“Again,” Rivera calls. The players line up along what would be the 50-yard line, if the practice field were marked. The center snaps the ball and the girls move in formation. Hand off. Reset. Pass. Reset.
September/October 2021 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
familiar faces.indd 18
7/29/21 9:51 AM
