Latest news with #flagfootball
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PFT PM Mailbag: Could flag football phase out NFL?
Mike Florio opens the mailbag to answer questions surrounding where agents fall in the relationship between the NFL and union, if flag football could phase out the league, and favorite football movie.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Game changer: Girls flag football to join OHSAA varsity lineup in 2026
COLUMBUS — The high school gridiron is getting bigger in Ohio, and no longer a sport reserved just for the boys beginning in the spring of 2026. High school girls across the state will soon have their own path to win a state football championship on the field after the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced last Thursday, July 17th that it will sanction a state championship event in girls flag football. Dates for competition and the 2026 state tournament will be determined in the near future. A pair of area athletic directors in Cambridge High's Jeff Wheeler and Craig Taylor of Buckeye Trail each gave the decision by the OHSSA a big thumbs up for the move that opens up a new chapter for Ohio high school sports More: Gridiron Boot Camp: Buckeye Trail football builds brotherhood with 'Military Games' "It's a great opportunity for young ladies to play a sport and be involved in teamwork, discipline, dedication, leadership, skills, and competitiveness," Taylor said. "I'm a big believer in the benefits of competition and all the good habits that come from it." "We recently added a trap shooting team and used to offer boys volleyball," Taylor added. "So we have a record of providing non-traditional opportunities for our students. So we would not be opposed to adding girls flag football if it looks like good fit." Taylor explained that discussions among the administrators and board of education for the East Guernsey School District would be the first step in deciding if this is an opportunity they want to provide for Buckeye Trail students. Wheeler, who served on the OHSAA Board of Directors 3 years ago when girls wrestling became a sanctioned varsity sports by the OHSAA was also in support of girls flag football being added. "I think it is awesome," Wheeler offered. "Anytime you can create more opportunities for kids inside and outside of the classroom, it is a great thing. If there is enough interest from our female athletes, I would do everything I could to make it happen." NFL support helps make decision to pull the trigger easier The announcement was made at a press conference in Canton alongside representatives from the National Football League, the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the NFL FLAG Championships presented by Toyota. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute and OHSAA staff have been meeting with Ohio flag football leaders for several years. The growth of girls flag football began in 2021 with the creation of the first Girls High School Flag Football division in Northeast Ohio, led by the Cleveland Browns. Three years ago, there were 20 schools in Ohio that had a team. There are currently 80 high schools in Ohio that have a team and that number is expected to continue to grow. 'We are pleased that the OHSAA Board of Directors has approved the sanctioning of girls flag football as an OHSAA sponsored championship event,' said Ute. 'Flag football is growing rapidly and we look forward to working closer with teams, coaches and schools to help that growth. The Browns, Bengals and NFL have already put in so much work to promote the game and bring us to this moment to welcome girls flag football to the OHSAA.' Flag football has been added by 100 college club and varsity programs and now 17 high school state associations have sanctioned the sport with a state tournament. It will be included as a new sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Numbers could be problem area for local schools Spring sports is already a crowded sports season, and especially at some smaller school districts the amount of eligible female student-athletes might be an issue. Girls who currently participate in track, softball or other spring sports might be forced to choose between their current sport and flag football, potentially thinning out rosters in the more traditional sports such as softball and track. "Us being a small school my only concern would be taking student-athletes away from track and softball." Taylor said. "I think our question will be is if we have enough students to support the three sports in the spring if we did offer flag football." More: Cambridge YMCA Gymnastics team excels at Nationals Meadowbrook athletic director Johnny Jones feels a possible solution could be the various sports sharing student-athletes that often already happens within smaller school districts. "Our annual powder puff football game amongst female high school athletes always draws a large turnout each year," Jones said. "So I think with the right leadership and drive, Meadowbrook is a prime candidate to add flag football." "The obvious barrier for us and other schools is how to make the numbers work," Jones continued. "Last year we had 70 girls involved with track and 22 in softball. We would probably need to work on cooperation between sports and share the girls." Other potential issues could come with resource allocation, budget concerns, ample facilities, equipment and uniforms, transportation, scheduling conflicts to name a few. But despite the potential issues, sanctioning girls flag football is a forward-thinking move by the OHSAA that will provide valuable opportunities for young female student-athletes in Ohio. "Adding girls flag football is something we will take a hard look at," Ridgewood athletic director Jesse Smolder said. "We are always interested in providing positive opportunities for our students. I feel we do a good job of doing that, and its something we want to continue to do. So we will take a hard look at adding girls flag football." KSutton1@ X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: A new era: Girls flag football set for varsity debut in Ohio for 2026 season
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charlotte Royals triumph in NFL Flag National Championship in Canton
A local team known as the Royals represented the Carolina Panthers at the NFL Flag National Championship in Canton, Ohio. Panthers highlight flag football in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools before preseason game The Royals, a girls flag football team from the Charlotte Premier Sports League, are competing in the championship under the guidance of their coach from Palisades High School. The team includes student athletes from Palisades, Mooresville, and Ardrey Kell High Schools. On Friday, the Royals secured a victory with a score of 13-6, following a series of tight losses on Thursday. VIDEO: Mooresville girls' flag football player nominated for national award
Washington Post
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Texas Fury Texans and Jaguars Elite win titles at NFL Flag Championships
CANTON, Ohio — The Texas Fury Texans and Jaguars Elite won titles in the NFL Flag Championships on Sunday. The Texans beat the Bad Rabbits Cowboys 19-0 to win the High School Girls division. The Jaguars beat Showtime 13-0 to take the 14U Boys championship. Emery Beckett completed all eight of her pass attempts in the title game for the Texans, throwing two touchdown passes to Zahra Hill and one to Kelsey Quinn. Their coach, Keenan Hughes, was recently hired as the first coach for the women's flag football team at Concordia University in Austin, Texas. The Jaguars were led by tournament MVP Brysen Wright, whose one-handed catch earlier in the event drew an incredulous social media response from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The 14-year-old Wright scored 10 touchdowns in seven games. 'It's a fast-paced, exciting and explosive game,' Jaguars coach David Price said. 'I think guys like Brysen are really going to help get more eyes on the sport.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OHSAA officially adds girls flag football in Ohio
Girls flag football is now officially a sanctioned sport here in Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OSHAA) announced that it will sanction girls' high school flag football in the spring of 2026, according to an OSHAA spokesperson. This makes Ohio the 17th state to sanction girls flag football in the United States. 'Ohio becoming the latest state to sanction girls flag football is a testament to the strong growth and appeal of the sport,' said Stephanie Kwok, NFL Vice President, Head of Flag Football. 'This is an exciting time with 17 states having sanctioned girls flag football, and we're thankful to the Browns, Bengals, and OHSAA for their support in growing the sport.' TRENDING STORIES: Possible tornadoes reported in Clark, Shelby counties 2-week-old baby dies after being found unresponsive at area home PHOTOS: Possible tornado reported in Clark County The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns hosted the inaugural Girls High School Flag Football State Championship title in Massillon back in May. Badin High School won the state tournament. 'We are pleased that the OHSAA Board of Directors has approved the sanctioning of girls flag football as an OHSAA-sponsored championship event,' said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. 'Flag football is growing rapidly, and we look forward to working closer with teams, coaches, and schools to help that growth. The Browns, Bengals, and NFL have already put in so much work to promote the game and bring us to this moment to welcome girls flag football to the OHSAA.' Three years ago, 20 schools in Ohio had a girls flag football team. That number has grown to 80 high schools, OHSAA said. Girls flag football will be included as a new sport in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
