BUCS CHAMPION GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL, WITH EYES ON OLYMPICS
February 23, 2024
Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and is especially gaining traction among women and girls around the world. In 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the sport’s rise by announcing that women’s and men’s flag football will make its debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This decision marks a significant milestone for the sport as the IOC continues to make efforts to diversify the Olympic program by introducing sports that resonate with broader audiences.
Flag football is fast modified version of American football designed to minimize physical contact while preserving the fundamental elements of the sport. Players make “tackles” by removing flags attached to their opponent’s waist. Recognized for its accessibility, an estimated 20 million people play the sport in more than 100 countries. As a “no contact” form of football, it has become an emerging platform for women athletes, particularly, to excel, foster teamwork and even secure scholarships.
Thousands of girls showed up to the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa last week cleated up to play as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off its sixth annual Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic. The four-day event, the largest girls flag football tournament in the country and largest held by the Bucs to date, fielded over 109 teams and 2,000 athletes.
Flag football is currently played in various formats, including recreational leagues, state high school leagues, organized tournaments and now at the professional level, showcasing its versatility and widespread appeal. Presented by AdventHealth, the tournament officially kicked off the Florida girls flag season. The high school flag football 2022-2023 season saw a 32% increase in girls participation, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The sport's popularity among younger students has been no less dramatic. From 2014 to 2022, the participation rate for girls aged 6-12 years in flag football shot up by 178%, according to research by USA Football.
Over the past decade, the NFL has led efforts to expand the flag football movement and advance women's participation in the sport, with an emphasis on inclusivity as it becomes more popular. According to the NFL “there’s a position for everyone” in this sport. For the first time this summer, the league is launching the NFL Flag Championships, hosted by the NFL, ESPN, RCX Sports and Omaha. The tournament will showcase the very best of girls’ and boys’ youth flag and take place in Canton, Ohio from July 19-21.
For its part, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have encouraged girl athletes to shoot for the stars, with all eyes now set on the Olympics. During last week’s tournament, Bucs co-owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz hosted a panel discussion for the athletes called “Flag Football on the International Stage: The Pathway to Becoming an Olympian.” The panel showcased guests including U.S. women’s national team quarterback Vanita Crouch, NFL executives Troy Vincent Sr. and Dasha Smith and USA Football executive Scott Hallenbeck, among others.
The visibility of women and girls in flag football underscores their determination not to be excluded from the gridiron. The sport was first brought to the States by American soldiers who played it for recreation during World War II. The first national league founded in the 1960s. Since then, women have propelled the sport toward mainstream success. The first flag football tournament sanctioned by the United States Flag Football Association that included women’s teams occurred in 1974 in Ohio. Flag football's recent inclusion in the Olympic program opens doors for increased participation and interest in the sport at local and international levels.
The United States is one of the leaders in the international sporting community in flag football championships for both men and women. Team USA women have brought home the world title twice and are the current reigning champions. The next women’s IFAF Flag Football World Championship will take place in 2024 in Finland.
The sport also continues to gain traction among female athletes across the world. Team Mexico’s star flag quarterback, Diana Flores, appeared in a 2023 Super Bowl commercial, highlighting increasing recognition for women's participation in the sport. Mexico’s women’s team has won the world championship three times.
Last week’s tournament demonstrated that girls are gearing up for the opportunity of a lifetime to represent their countries at the 2028 Summer Games. They are not merely preparing to play a game; they are ready to shatter barriers, challenge stereotypes and inspire a new generation of young girls who now see the Olympic stage as a place where their flag football dreams can unfold.
Header photo: Larry D. Moore/Creative Commons