Girls flag football kicks off at Austin public schools
Why it matters: Women's sports are growing in Austin, from soccer to rugby to flag football.
The big picture: Texas' University Interscholastic League (UIL) doesn't formally consider flag football a high school sport, but it has grown nationwide as another option for female athletes.
This year, the NCAA's Atlantic East Conference introduced women's flag football. Men's and women's flag football will also debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Austin-based Concordia University Texas launched a varsity women's flag football team in the fall.
What they're saying: "Football has given me so much. Now, as a 'Girl Dad' myself, I want to thank the girls for paving the way today, and for breaking barriers to grow the game," Prescott said in a statement earlier this year announcing the Cowboys' partnership with AISD and other Texas public school districts.
Zoom out: The NFL has been working since 2016 to encourage more girls to play flag football.
It is now a varsity sport in 14 states and at more than 50 colleges and universities, per the Cowboys.
UIL has said more schools need to establish programs for the league to consider sanctioning the sport in Texas.
Zoom in: The Houston Texans earlier this year announced partnerships with Round Rock ISD and Pflugerville ISD to support girls flag football programs.
📍 If you go: Squads from a dozen AISD high schools will compete today and tomorrow, starting at 5:30pm at the Toney Burger Athletic Center in South Austin. Admission is free.
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