Earlier this year, flyers promoting a new women’s flag football club began to circulate at Augustana University, complemented by an all-student email. This initiative is inclusive, welcoming all interested participants to join the team.
Kiley Coyne, who serves as the assistant director of admission for the music department, also plays on a women’s tackle football team outside of her professional responsibilities. She enthusiastically took on the role of coach for this new club team at the university, which has a student body of approximately 2,000 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“I remember saying, ‘I just need 10.’ If we can have an offense and a defense, let’s go,” said Coyne. “Now we have 23 people who’ve gone out for it.”
The growth of flag football among girls is particularly notable, especially as the sport has been officially added to the lineup for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The NFL has been a strong advocate for this increase in participation.
“One of the beauties of flag football is how accessible it is,” expressed Stephanie Kwok, the league’s vice president of flag football. “It’s adding to the opportunities for girls to play sports.”
The college level is positioned to experience significant growth in flag football participation. Augustana University is one of seven NCAA schools participating in a club league initiated with $140,000 and logistical backing from the Minnesota Vikings. This league features teams from five Minnesota institutions and one from Wisconsin, and schedules have been organized for multiple games over three Saturdays this month, culminating in a championship tournament.
Brooklyn Sturm, a freshman who arrived at Augustana last fall, had initially planned to limit her athletic commitments to intramurals. However, she has transitioned to playing quarterback for the flag football team.
“I thought I needed to focus on academics, but when I got here it felt like a part of me was missing,” Sturm shared, reflecting on her experience as she and her teammates traveled to Northwestern University in Roseville, Minnesota, for their first games on April 6. “If we had this opportunity in high school, I probably would’ve taken it.”
Data from the National Federation of High Schools indicates that 14 states now recognize girls’ flag football as an official sport, with nearly 43,000 players participating nationwide for the 2023-24 school year. This figure does not account for club or intramural play, and it is estimated that around 500,000 girls aged 6 to 17 are involved in some form of organized flag football. In Minnesota specifically, the Vikings helped establish a pilot program with four teams at the high school club level last spring, which has expanded to include 51 schools in the league this year.
Over 100 colleges across NCAA, NAIA, and junior college divisions now offer women’s flag football as either a varsity or club sport, according to the NFL. The NAIA first sanctioned competition in 2021, and currently, 16 institutions have NCAA varsity programs, with additional teams anticipated to emerge by 2026. Earlier this year, the NCAA suggested that women’s flag football be classified as an emerging sport.
A noteworthy trend in Minnesota is the response from women who have never before engaged in organized sports. Melissa Lee, an associate athletic director at Augsburg University, who has stepped in to coach her school’s team, emphasizes the importance of providing opportunities for such individuals. “Why am I doing this? It’s for those women who’ve never worn a uniform, who’ve never been part of the school spirit of being part of a team,” said Lee.
At Augsburg University, 24 women signed up, with many having only participated in informal powderpuff games during high school. “That was all it took for me. I said, ‘You’re on the team,’” Lee recounted.
Coaching staff, including those from men’s tackle teams who have taken on roles in women’s flag football, are also navigating a learning curve. The rules of flag football introduce various unique elements compared to tackle football. The field dimensions are smaller, and games typically consist of 5-on-5 matches. Offenses have four attempts to advance past midfield, followed by another four downs to score. Punts are verbally signaled rather than kicked, and the defensive team can rush the passer from a specified distance behind the line of scrimmage.
Looking ahead to next season, Coyne hopes to transition to 7-on-7 games to enhance player engagement. There is sufficient interest that the league could potentially double its size, and there are aspirations for varsity status pending sustainable funding solutions.
Sturm expresses her enthusiasm about her involvement. “I just love taking new opportunities,” she reflected, noting the surprise from her family regarding her decision to re-engage in sports after initially focusing solely on academics. “Now that they know I’m getting back into it, they’re like, ‘This is you. This is what you’re supposed to do.’”
