U.S. women's flag football seeing significant growth toward the 2028 Olympics appearance
Vibrant Flag Football Takes Youth America by Storm
Flag football, a more accessible version of American football, is sweeping across the U.S., particularly among girls, as it eyes a spot in the 2028 Olympics. The excitement surrounding this non-contact sport is so dizzying that even plans for a professional league are on the horizon.
Michael Colt, the coach of the triumphant Staten Island Giants – last year's under-18 US champions, likens flag football to pickleball, the hip adult sport. In his words, "It's crazy."
Colt co-founded the Giants club in 2019, and since then, the club's youth teams have racked up an impressive array of national titles and propelled several players to the national team. Yet, initially, recognition and support were tough to come by.
"We fought for everything," Colt recalls. "We were kind of always pushed to the side, like this wasn't serious." A sentiment echoed in the beginning phase of the sport itself, which emerged as an alternative to the collision-heavy tackle football.
Fast forward to 2024, and participation in girls' and women's flag football surged to an astounding 270,000 amongst 6 to 17-year-olds, according to USA Football, the association governing U.S. teams in tackle and flag football. The growth is so rapid that even the influential NFL is jumping on the flag football bandwagon, promising to help cultivate the sport.
For the uninitiated, flag football is a game where an offensive player is "tackled" by pulling flags attached to a belt around the hips. No blocking is allowed, making it safer and focusing on running and throwing skills.
For 14-year-old Brielle Caetano, who has been playing since kindergarten, the sport often leaves people "very in shock." But when she shares the news of potential university scholarships, the disbelief doubles.
"Football has always been considered a boy's sport," explains 16-year-old Annie Falcone, referring to the rough-and-tumble tackle football and its showcase, the NFL. "But flag football has grown so much for women of all ages."
The ambition doesn't stop at the domestic front. The NFL aims to make flag football an international game-changer, with Olympic inclusion in Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032) as significant stepping-stones.
Given the rapid growth and global potential, the NFL is exploring the development of professional flag football leagues for both men and women. Alexis Ohanian-backed companies have expressed interest in investing in these leagues, although a definitive confirmation is still pending.
The drive to professionalize the sport is evident in the NFL's youth initiatives, sponsorship, and TV broadcasting contracts. But expanding tackle football outside the U.S. has struggled, with only select nations like Germany and Mexico managing a foothold.
Despite the uncertainties, flag football's momentum and global appeal show no signs of slowing down. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell foresees a professional flag league launching by 2032, and with sponsorship deals in the pipeline, Colt agrees: "It's going to be a professional sport by 2032."
- Flag football, with its increasing popularity and eyeing a spot in the 2028 Olympics, definitely has the potential to become a significant sports phenomenon at the national level.
- The surprising growth of flag football among youth in America has led to an impressive number of 270,000 participants aged 6 to 17, according to USA Football.
- The dream of an Olympic appearance and the emergence of professional leagues has made flag football an international game-changer, aiming to make its debut in Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032).
- Caetano, a 14-year-old flag football player, often leaves people in shock with her skills, but the disbelief doubles when she discusses potential university scholarships for the sport.
- Flag football's growth has had a particularly significant impact on women's sports, with Annie Falcone noting that it has raised the profile of female athletes in a traditionally male-dominated field.
- The NFL's ambition doesn't stop at domestic growth; they aim to create professional flag football leagues for both men and women by 2032, with investments from companies like those backed by Alexis Ohanian.
