KANEOHE and PEARL CITY, Hawaii — The Hawaii Department of Education and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks collaborated on two clinics over the weekend to help introduce flag football to about 300 local girls ahead of the sport’s sanctioned high school debut.

Teams across the state enter their tryout week on Monday. Forty-six DOE and charter schools are participating in Year 1, plus 12 private schools.

There are no classification tiers in the pilot year of competition. OIA games will typically take place as doubleheaders at one site.

[Note: See below for more photos of the HIDOE/Seattle Seahawks flag football girls clinics.]

According to an OIA schedule reviewed by Spectrum News, that OIA playoffs begin April 14.

Enthusiasm was high at the two camps at Castle and Pearl City on Saturday and Sunday. A Seahawks contingent, including team mascot Blitz, led the way plus a handful of local coaches.

Michael Bennett, a retired 11-year NFL defensive end most known for his tenure with the Seahawks, appeared at the Sunday clinic at Pearl City and assisted with pointers and encouragement at one of about eight drill stations, plus a relay sprint competition at the end of the day.

Seattle Seahawks mascot Blitz posed with clinic participants at Pearl City. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Mascot Blitz greeted the Pearl City clinic most outstanding participant winner with a Geno Smith signed jersey. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Clinic coach Ashley (last name not given) greeted participants after she was announced as the best coach of the day at Pearl City. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Pearl City participants did a relay sprint. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Blitz posed with the relay winners by high school class. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

The freshman class, the largest group at the Pearl City clinic, lined up for a relay sprint. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Participants worked through a footwork drill at Pearl City High. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

More footwork drills at Pearl City. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

A participant threw a pass at the Pearl City clinic. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Rows of pass throwers for a drill. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

A group gathering after one drill was completed. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Seahawks mascot Blitz prepared to fire a pass at Pearl City. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Michael Bennett, left, gave instructions to participants in 1-on-1 pass-catching competitions. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Michael Bennett reacted after a participant caught a pass for a touchdown. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Michael Bennett lofted a deep ball. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Michael Bennett threw a short pass for a slant route. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

A participant slung a pass next to Michael Bennett. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

A participant went for a deep ball as Michael Bennett observed. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Note: This story will be updated.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.