In just 90 minutes Saturday, 175 girls ages 10-18 had the opportunity to develop flag football skills, meet running back Kyle Monangai and learn from Team USA women's flag football cornerback Laneah Bryan, all as part of the Bears' Monster Flag Football clinic in Rockford.

Now in its third year, the Monsters Flag Football program provides training sessions to boys and girls across Illinois as a way to introduce new players to flag football or allow experienced players to sharpen their skills.

"Girls flag football has grown a lot, obviously, in the past few years," Monangai said. "To see it in person and be hands-on with it is cool because you really see the interest level and the intent. They're just as competitive as the boys are, so it's really cool to be a part of."

Despite being 80 miles northwest of Chicago, where the Bears originally launched their high school girls flag football program in 2021, Rockford quickly became involved and was one of the first areas the sport expanded to in Illinois. In 2022, Rockford was home to the Northern Illinois Girls Flag Football league and even had representation in the inaugural State Championships at Halas Hall, where Rockford Guilford placed fourth.

Rockford University also helped make history at the college level, when they faced off against Benedictine University in Illinois' first collegiate women's flag football game, which was hosted by the Bears at Halas Hall last March.

"It is important for us to continue to have our youth football programs present in Rockford, as it is a hub for northern Illinois," Bears director of football development Gustavo Silva said. "The Rockford community has always embraced our efforts around inclusion, access and equity for girls, most recently adding a youth girls flag league to complement their middle school and high school flag football programs. Having both Kyle and Laneah participate in the clinic was so impactful because every participant felt represented and seen. They embody the mission of 'football for all.'"

Bryan traveled in from Texas for the clinic and joined Monangai in Rockford on Friday for the park district's autograph dinner. A former Division I women's basketball player at the University of New Mexico, Bryan didn't begin playing flag football until age 24.

Within five years, she went from playing in a local league in El Paso, Texas, to earning a spot on the national team .Bryan has since competed in one World Games, one IFAF World Championship and two IFAF Americas Continental Championships.

"Any chance I get to be a part of the youth and what they have going on in flag football is really great," Bryan said, "because when I was their age, I would have loved to have opportunities like this. Where I lived, there wasn't girls flag football, so I ended up playing basketball, which was great, but I just love seeing them being able to have these opportunities, and I think it's really amazing how much work the Bears have done.

"I've been able to be a part of conversations this weekend about what's happening here, and it's just really exciting. It means a lot to me that we have people that are invested into this sport."

The clinic gave the girls opportunities to learn the sport's fundamentals with drills that focused on flag-pulling, route-running and catching as well as agility and hand-eye coordination. Each station was led by either a college coach, high school coach or collegiate flag football player, all of whom were able to provide hands-on teaching.

"I want to do my part in helping these young ladies get better at the sport," Whitney Young high school coach Valerie Spann said. "There's so much young talent out there, so I want to play my part and give back to them what was given to me in terms of opportunities through flag football."

Coaches like Spann, who were equally as starstruck by Monangai and Bryan as the girls were, felt inspired by seeing the support and passion the two professional athletes exuded to help grow the game.

"Doing so alongside athletes like Kyle and Laneah is exceptional because they could be anywhere, but they chose to be here on this Saturday morning, bright and early, to spend time with these young ladies and with the young boys earlier to give back," Spann said.

Monangai and Bryan, both of whom wear No. 25, also got involved with the drills, serving as quarterbacks at the wide receiver drill and stopping at each station to provide help and chat with the girls.

Helping provide the next generation opportunities and access to football in ways that weren't previously possible has been a special experience for Bryan. Her partnering with the Bears and Monangai, an organization and player that are equally as committed to girls flag football, was an impactful moment.

"Kyle and those guys are what football has been," Bryan said, "and you have so many people that look up to them and love the Bears and love the players. So when they show love and support for flag football and for girls flag football, it really helps bring the two communities together.

"It really empowers these girls, and this space, and just gives them more motivation, more of a platform, more opportunity, which is really impactful."

While Monangai's football journey may be different than Bryan's or the girls at the clinic, he shares their love for the sport and knows what it takes to be successful.

When Monangai spoke with the girls as a group and in individual moments, he relayed that sentiment and expressed his support of their own journeys.

"Continue to have fun with it," Monangai said. "At the end of the day, it is a game. At their age, I just had a love for the game, and that's what drove my passion for it. So I'd say just keep having fun with it, enjoy it and stay competitive."