Some people who believe that Powderpuff is sexist point to the fact that the game is flag football and there are no pads or helmets used, inherently suggesting that girls still can’t play a sport to the intensity that boys do. But let’s be practical. A lot of the equipment the boys use wouldn’t fit the girls. The helmets would have to be refitted and cleared by the athletic trainer. Is it worth buying new padding and helmets for just one game? That’s why flag football is a sensible way for girls to experience football through the powderpuff game.
In terms of safety, it’s true that people are going to play hard. When two rival schools or grades square off in a game of football, it’s naive to trust that all the girls are going to play 100% cleanly. Because most girls only have one shot to win, both teams are going to play their hardest. This sometimes results in tackles or pushes that may not be allowed in a typical flag football game. Some schools point to this risk as a reason to stop the game, but there’s risk in every sport.
Athletes get injured all the time. There are slide tackles in soccer, swinging elbows in basketball, pushes and shoves in ice hockey and some other form of physicality in almost any contact sport. When a girl in flag football does tackle too hard, the referees will almost always call a penalty on that team, which keeps the aggression in check.
In reality, sure, people might get hurt. Yes, people have gotten hurt in the past. But if a soccer player broke her leg because someone slide tackled her, would the school cancel the soccer program? We don’t think so.
The girls who are playing Powderpuff do so voluntarily. No senior is forced to play, so only those who are comfortable with the risk sign up. That’s why for us, the safety argument against Powderpuff isn’t quite valid.
Finally, Powderpuff brings the girls who choose to play together. In Powderpuff, athletes and non-athletes play together. We’ve gotten to spend time with people who we almost never see at school.
Powderpuff provides a unique bonding experience that raises school spirit and pride. We know that when game time comes on Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be competing in one of the highlightof senior year with the rest of our peers. Powderpuff has been a tradition at Heritage for as long as we can remember, and it should stay that way for the years to come. 

Please sign this petition stating that you care about the the proper and fair privlages of any young women who would like to choose to play powderpuff football without being discriminated upon.