By Jessica Carr, Submitted Story
There’s a new sports team in town and it’s a first for the South Bossier Community. The Black Widows are an all-girls flag football team of Elm Grove Middle School students.
With Head Coach Nekia Yeglic, Defensive Coordinator Latorya Green, and Assistant Coaches Adam Green and Kurvis Sharp, they aren’t just teaching the game; they are offering up valuable life lessons, creating friendships, and helping young girls realize their potential.
Yeglic began coaching after years of her son continuously asking to have her to coach an all-girls team. Her son was a player on the All Day Boys team, and they helped organize the Black Widows, and now they are in action.
“I had to keep my word because I said all those years he’s been asking me, I had to finally practice what I preach and come out and help,” Yeglic explained. “So, that’s how it got going.”
Having two kids of her own, Yeglic wanted to be able to pass on the knowledge that she’s received to new players as well as provide that encouragement and stay connected to the flag football community in the local area.
Plus, it helps that she’s an empty nester with her son graduating from high school so she tells everyone she has the time to invest and be a part of the experience.
Once the coaching staff was organized, including a current teacher at Elm Grove, they advertised through the school to gain some interest. They had about 30 girls sign up to try out for the team.
With this being a new program to the area, there are about 12 teams that signed up that could potentially play. However, due to it being a newer sport, not all 12 are expected to play during the season.
“We’re trying to see who’s going to get involved, who’s going to actually show up, who’s going to come to the games,” Yeglic said. “So it’s a work in progress.”
When they are playing, they are expected to have around 12 games during their season. For the games and tournaments they take part in, they are up against other all-girls teams that are also in the team’s age group.
While the age ranges from 11 to 14, the youngest Black Widow player on the team doesn’t let that stop her as she is willing to advance and play teams that are older. Especially if it gains the team more experience.
When asked what her favorite part of coaching is, Yeglic shares that it’s truly the team building and camaraderie of it all. Each girl on the team tried something new with new people and have since then created a family. They are able to develop new skills, make a great play or catch all by putting in the hard work and practice with their team, but most importantly, care for their fellow player.
During a time like middle school, they now have a group to bond with and grow into great leaders on and off the field.
Photos courtesy of Head Coach Nekia Yeglic