My daughter’s high school recently organized their first Powder Puff event in six years, and I’m so glad my daughter got to be a part of it. Powder Puff flag football is an annual tradition for many high schools in the United States, and one that I had actually never heard of until my daughter came home with news that she had made the sophomore team.

Confused as to what Powder Puff is about, I did some research and discovered that it is a one-off event where the girls get out on the field and play football, while the boys stand on the sidelines and cheer. The first Powder Puff games supposedly began back in the early 1970s as a friendly and fun way to entice more girls into the athletic arena. I don’t know if Powder Puff is what got the ball rolling, but if it is, then I am eternally grateful to those who recognized that not just boys, but girls too, could most certainly reap the benefits of playing a sport.