How women's flag football is rapidly growing on college campuses across the US
Augustana University and Concordia University, St. Paul players compete during a women's college flag football game, April 7, 2025, in St. Paul. Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Flag football's popularity is surging among women and girls across the United States, with
Augustana University
and six other
NCAA
schools launching club teams this spring through a $140,000 support from the
Minnesota Vikings
. The sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has further boosted participation, leading to expansion at high school and collegiate levels, with over 42,000 girls playing nationwide in sanctioned programs during the 2023-24 school year.
At Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kiley Coyne, an assistant director of admission for the music department and women's tackle football player, took on coaching duties for the new team.
"I remember saying, 'I just need 10.' If we can have an offense and a defense, let's go," Coyne said. "Now we have 23 people who've gone out for it."
The NFL has been actively supporting the sport's growth, recognizing its accessibility for female athletes.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Susan Boyle Is Now so Thin and Looks Beautiful!
5minstory.com
Undo
"I think one of the beauties of flag football is how accessible it is," said Stephanie Kwok, the league's vice president of flag football. "It's adding to the opportunities for girls to play sports."
The collegiate league includes five institutions in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin, with teams gathering for multiple games at the same site on three Saturdays this month.
Brooklyn Sturm, a freshman at Augustana, found a new athletic pursuit in flag football after playing volleyball, basketball, and softball in high school.
"I thought I needed to focus on academics, but when I got here it felt like a part of me was missing," said Sturm. "If we had this opportunity in high school, I probably would've taken it."
The sport's growth extends beyond collegiate levels, with 14 states now sanctioning girls' flag football and approximately half a million girls ages 6 to 17 participating in organized play.
More than 100 higher-education institutions now offer
women's flag football
as a varsity or club sport, with the NAIA beginning sanctioned competition in 2021.
At Augsburg University in Minneapolis, the program has attracted women new to organized sports.
"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 Melissa Lee, an associate athletic director and team coach at Augsburg University.
"What's their token answer? We played powderpuff at homecoming our junior and senior year," said Lee, who recruited 24 women at the school of about 2,400 undergrads. "That was all it took for me. I said, 'You're on the team.'"
Flag football rules differ significantly from tackle football, featuring smaller fields and 5-on-5 play. Teams have four downs to cross midfield and another four to score, with special rules for rushing the passer and running plays near the goal line.
Plans for next season include expanding to 7-on-7 play and potentially doubling the league's size.
"I just love taking new opportunities," Sturm said, recalling her family's reaction. "Now that they know I'm getting back into it, they're like, 'This is you. This is what you're supposed to do.'"
The NCAA has recommended women's flag football be designated an emerging sport, with at least 20 more teams expected to start in 2026.
Get the latest
IPL 2025
updates on
Times of India
, including
match schedules
,
team squads
,
points table
and
IPL live score
for
CSK
,
MI
,
RCB
,
KKR
,
SRH
,
LSG
,
DC
,
GT
,
PBKS
, and
RR
. Don't miss the list of players in the race for
IPL Orange Cap
and
IPL Purple cap
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
WTC Final: Sarfaraz Khan visits Lord's with father Naushad, watches Australia vs South Africa
Sarfaraz Khan visits Lord's with father Naushad (Screengrab) NEW DELHI: Young Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan made a special visit to Lord's on Thursday alongside his father and long-time coach, Naushad Khan , as the second day of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa unfolded in dramatic fashion. Sarfaraz, who shared glimpses of the visit via his Instagram stories, was seen soaking in the atmosphere at the iconic venue, one where he no doubt dreams of making his mark someday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It was a father-son cricket pilgrimage of sorts, with Naushad having famously mentored Sarfaraz and his younger brother Musheer from Mumbai's maidans to international reckoning. On the field, Australia seized control of the WTC Final, largely thanks to a masterclass in fast bowling from skipper Pat Cummins . Cummins delivered a sensational spell of 6-28, claiming his 300th Test wicket and dismantling South Africa for just 138. He took four wickets for just one run in a post-lunch burst that shredded the Proteas' lower order. South Africa had resumed at 43/4 and managed a brief recovery through a 64-run stand between Temba Bavuma (36) and David Bedingham (45), but collapsed shortly after. Kagiso Rabada had earlier starred with the ball for South Africa, taking 5-51, and he returned in the second innings to remove both Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the same over. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 'Nitish Kumar is a guy who can bowl that magic ball': India bowling coach Morne Morkel At tea, Australia were 32-2, holding a 106-run lead with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith at the crease. As Sarfaraz watched from the stands, he witnessed not just a gripping day of Test cricket but also a landmark moment in Cummins's career, capped by a standing ovation from the Lord's crowd, a far cry from the jeers he received during the 2023 Ashes for the Bairstow incident.
NDTV
28 minutes ago
- NDTV
Sift Kaur Samra Wins Shooting World Cup Bronze In Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions
Top Indian shooter Sift Kaur Samra tackled a strong field with aplomb to claim the bronze medal in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event at the ISSF World Cup on Thursday. The 23-year-old Samra, who holds the current world record in women's 50 metre rifle three positions event which she had set while winning the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games, shot 453.1 in the eight-player final. Norway's Jeanette Hegg Duestad won the gold medal with 466.9, while Emely Jaeggi of Switzerland bagged silver with 464.8. In the men's 10m air rifle competition, Ankush Jadhav narrowly missed out on the finals and settled for the 11th place in the qualifications with a total of 631.7 across six series. Umamahesh Maddineni ended seventh with 632.3 but was not eligible to enter the final as he was shooting for ranking points only (RPO). Arjun Babuta was placed 43rd with 629.1, while Sandeep Singh was 53rd with 628.3. Earlier in the day, Emely was placed ninth in the qualifications of the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event with 590, but made the final as two markswomen among the top eight were shooting for ranking points. Samra, who is from Faridkot, Punjab, was second in the qualifications with a total of 592 across the three stages of kneeling, prone and standing. She won a gold medal at the World Cup in Buenos Aires earlier this year, starting the season on a rousing note after a disappointing campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics. France's Agathe Cecile Camille Girard, who also shot 592, topped the qualifications on the account of having more inner 10 (Xs), while Switzerland's Audrey Gogniat was placed third heading into the finals. The other Indians in the competition, Ashi Chouksey finished 11th with 589, while Anjum Moudgil ended 27th with 586. Shriyanka Sadangi was 53rd with 582, and Nischal was further down at 60th position.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Pakistan selectors rule out T20 role for Babar, Rizwan and Afridi in near future
Pakistan selectors have ruled out any role for senior players -- Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi -- in the team's upcoming T20 series against West Indies and Bangladesh. The Pakistani selectors including Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are likely to announce the T20 squad for the series in the West Indies and Bangladesh next week. The two series will be played in July-August. The selectors and head coach Mike Hesson have already conveyed to Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen that they are not required for the upcoming T20 series and should focus more on the ICC World Test Championship and ODIs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chuck Norris Begs Seniors: Avoid These 3 Foods Like The Plague Roundhouse Provisions Learn More Undo Pakistan is due to tour the West Indies in the last week of July to play three T20 internationals and three ODIs. Pakistan, after playing in the Caribbean, fly to Bangladesh for a three match T20 series but suggestions have been made to convert into a five match series in August. Live Events Pakistan is also due to host Afghanistan for a T20 series in late August, all in preparation for the Asia Cup in September (not confirmed as yet) and early next year's ICC World T20 Cup. A source close to a national selector said that the panel and Hesson wanted to give a proper run to the new young players in the T20 squad in the series ahead. "The idea is that if things go south then the selectors can always go back to Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen." Ironically, Shaheen has now led the Lahore Qalandars franchise to its third Pakistan Super League title in five years. Babar on the other hand is set to announce a first time appearance in the Big Bash for Sydney Sixers later this week after the board gave him and some other players NOCs to play in the event between December 28 and late January. The three seniors have not been picked in the national T20 squad for Pakistan's last two series against New Zealand and Bangladesh and even before that Babar was overlooked for T20 series in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
