2023 12u CHAMPION HENDERSON PACKERS
EAST TEXAS FLAG FOOTBALL
THE EAST TEXAS FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE is a recreational and developmental league for boys ages 5 to 12 and girls ages 5 thru high school. Flag football is a finesse game versus the brute strength game of traditional tackle football. As a limited contact sport flag football brings all the fun of football, just without the pain and high risk of injury. We emphasize the importance of leadership, sportsmanship, and the ability to work in a team. These skills are coupled with an opportunity to get outside and get some exercise in a fun and exciting way. More kids are playing flag football than ever before. And we can see why—it’s engaging and ridiculously fun. Football communities create a sense of belonging. Whether it’s local teams, recreational teams or club teams, kids will find a place and position where they are accepted and valued for their athletic abilities and contribution to the sport. Also, costs are minimal since players need little more than a pair of cleats or athletic shoes.
Currently, flag football is played in over 100 countries. It is a fast-paced, limited-contact sport that doesn't require the purchase of protective gear. It is played by people of all ages and genders. The best part is anyone can learn how to play flag football and everyone on the flag football field is eligible to run and catch the ball. The growth of flag football is attributed to it being very accessible and inclusive. You don’t need a certain build, skill set or prior experience. Many parents don’t realize that girls and boys of all abilities and sizes can learn how to play flag football.
Also, the skills learned in flag football transfer directly to tackle. Especially the East Texas Flag Football League rules which are written to allow a smooth transition to tackle football. Our rules, unlike other flag football leagues rules, closely simulate tackle rules except for outlawing the violent collisions (tackling). For many tackle football families flag is a great starting point to improve technique and learn the fundamentals of the game, especially in the offseason. It’s the perfect introduction to catching, throwing, blocking, formations, routes, defensive skills, and more. Flag football is the ultimate team sport that teaches leadership, sportsmanship, and self-confidence, giving every player a chance to make a big impact and learn valuable lessons both on and off the field. With the non-contact nature, you don't need to be the biggest kid on the field to be successful. Kids go through development at different times of their lives, and so it may be a more accessible to a younger crowd in that way.
As awareness about the long-term impacts of traumatic brain injuries has grown, many parents have had second thoughts about signing their children up for tackle football. The sport has the highest number of sports-related concussions for young people in the US, which can result in everything from temporary headaches to permanent changes in personality and mental health issues. If you are a parent considering enrolling your child in football, the Concussion Legacy Foundation strongly recommends you delay enrolling your child in tackle football until the age of 14. Research continues to show us that the long-term effects of repetitive brain trauma from tackle football can be catastrophic.
Ray Lewis III, son of Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis, has been posthumously diagnosed with CTE, the Concussion Legacy Foundation announced in a press release. His mother, Tatyanna McCall, suspected he was battling the disease. “Little did I know when I put my son in tackle football at age 5, I ran the risk of having to bury him 22 years later,” McCall said in the press release. “I would have done something different now knowing the risks. We need to wait until our babies are at least 14 to allow them to play tackle football. It also breaks my heart that you have to die to get a diagnosis for this disease. Our family is committed to doing whatever we can to help raise funds to further the research so scientists can learn how to definitively diagnose CTE during life.” CTE, short for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a neurodegenartive disease heavily linked to repeated head trauma. A 2023 Boston University study found that odds of developing CTE were closely related to the number and strength of hits to the head football players endure throughout their career, while a 2019 study by the same group found the odds of developing the disease could increase by up to 30 percent with each year of tackle football played
Steve Smith Sr. , five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, was a kid growing up in Los Angeles. He switched to flag football because playing Pop Warner was a financial burden and he didn’t play tackle again until high school. Smith ended up becoming a two-time All-Pro who played 16 seasons with the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.
Football experts , from coaches to Hall of Fame players , remind us that you don't need to start tackle young in order to become a great football player. Until tackle football is proven safe for the developing brain, we urgently recommend flag and other non-tackle versions of football before age 14. As parents, you should be able to make an informed decision about your child's future health. That's why we launched The East Texas Flag Football League, to give parents an option.
We launched the league a little over a decade ago with less than 40 players, all from Henderson. We decided to name it the 'East Texas' league rather than the 'Henderson' league in anticipation of growth. We made the correct decision. In 2023 the league attracted 150 players from Henderson, Arp, Beckville, Carlisle, Carthage, Kilgore, Flint, Laneville, Overton, Mt. Enterprise, Tatum, Troup, Tyler, West Rusk and Whitehouse. This year we hope to continue to grow and we think adding a high school women division is a perfect way to accomplish this.
Coaches may register their entire team, players may register individually as part of a team, request a particular coach, play with a friend, or be randomly placed on a team with local players. Parents of randomly assigned players will be notified of team placement after registration deadline, 2 weeks prior to first game.
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A HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN DIVISION will be added this fall to give local young ladies another opportunity to showcase their athletic ability and possibly earn a flag football scholarship that is now being offered by many universities and Jr. colleges.
The ladies are able to register here on line (Link Above), by text or email. Also, just like the coed division, they are able to register as part of a team or individually and be placed on a team with other local players.
For those ladies who are hesitant about playing football, you are not alone. It may feel a little intimidating to some at first glance but flag football is so much fun it grows on you quickly. Our goal is to get more girls involved in high school sports. A little more than 15,000 girls played high school flag football in 2022. The number rose to 21,000 high school girls in 2023.
Over the last decade, the growth of girls flag football has continued to accelerate. At the high school, collegiate, national and international levels, more and more female athletes are getting a chance to play the great game of football. Flag football being added to the slate for the 2028 Summer Olympics marks a giant leap forward for the game and its athletes High Schools can only benefit from the increased competition. It will likely drive more high schools to start teams and hopefully pave the way for the game to continue to grow. Eight states added flag football as a varsity sport in 2023 (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and New York). 22 other states now are considering similar action. Flag football is now played by more than 2 million U.S. children and we hope to see even more growth in this game as more states offer flag football at a sanctioned level. The sport’s inclusivity, low costs and fast-paced play make it an excellent addition to high school or college athletic departments. Over 85 high schools in Alabama have initiated flag football in their athletic programs The Alabama High School Athletic Association held its first state championship this past December in conjunction with the boys state football championships at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The AHSAA embarked on a groundbreaking pilot program to bring girls' flag football to Alabama in 2021. Now, during the 2024-25 season, the AHSAA has sanctioned girls' flag football as an official high school sport, marking a historic moment for Alabama. A total of 112 high schools across the state have embraced this initiative, providing invaluable opportunities for student-athletes to excel on the field. The Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association, after starting as a pilot program in 2013, has offered a girls flag football championship since 2017, and interest continues to grow with more than 1,600 participants and three classes of championships. Nearly 100 middle school girls were introduced to flag football on Friday at the UNLV Peter Johann Memorial Soccer Field . The Las Vegas Raiders funds the program, while professors with the UNLV School of Public Health teach the pre-teens how sports can have a positive impact on their lives.“There are many health benefits of girls participating in sports,” said Dr. Jennifer Pharr, a professor of public health at UNLV. “Girls who participate in sports have a lower risk of chronic diseases later in life. They have improved mental health, so better well-being, less anxiety, less depression". Louisiana just recently announced the launch of the Saints School Flag Footballs Girls High season, marking a historic milestone in youth sports in Louisiana as part of the NFL-wide initiative to promote Girls High School Flag Football. Saints representative said, " The inaugural season (2024) embodies a significant step toward promoting diversity in athletics with the goal of having the Louisiana High School Athletic Association officially recognize Girls Flag Football as a sanctioned sport". In New York, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association held its first girls flag championship June 1-2 after several years as a pilot program. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association teamed up with the state’s NFL teams, including the Bills, to bring girls high school flag football to New York.“[It's] to encourage more girls and women to participate in sports, specifically football, a game that we all love very much,” said Preston Teague, the senior director of community relations and youth football for the Buffalo Bills. Georgia reported almost 5,000 participants last year. The Georgia High School Association held its third state championship last December – and the girls play alongside the boys in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons announce that 20 high schools across Atanta will receive grants to launch girls' flag football programs. This announcement underscores the Falcons' unwavering commitment to empowering young women through the launch of girls' flag football programs. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors approved Girls Flag Football during their meeting on February 5, 2024, becoming the 9th state to sanction the sport. The IHSA will offer girls flag as a fall sport in 2024 and conduct its first state championship October 18-19. The IHSA has commitments from over 100 schools to participate in the inaugural season in 2024, while nearly 40 other schools have expressed that they anticipate fielding a team in 2025. Craig Anderson, IHSA executive director, said "The addition of girls flag football furthers the IHSA mission of creating participation opportunities for high school students in Illinois". Tennessee became the tenth state to have girls flag football as an officially-sanctioned high school varsity sport! The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) voted on April 9, 2024 for approval in a unanimous decision. Varsity flag football programs will be officially-sanctioned beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Burke Nihill, Tennessee Titans President and CEO, said "Girls flag football has emerged as one of the most competitive and exciting sports offered at the high school level, and has already impacted the lives of many young athletes with the rise of collegiate opportunities within the sport. We look forward to seeing its reach grow across the state as it becomes an officially-sanctioned sport" Colorado became the 11th state in the U.S. to sanction girls flag football as a high school sport in April 2024, thanks to an assist from the Denver Broncos. Kylie Russell, Director of Athletics said "To have this become sanctioned is a no brainer in my opinion. It was a win for females all across the state of Colorado and we all know the benefits that sports play in our children's lives." The decision was praised across the state, including by the Denver Broncos. The NFL team has been very active in the community by their promoting flag football for girls. CHSAA representative said "With the Olympics coming up in 2028, this gives Colorado girls a leg up to be able to compete for those sports. I wouldn't be surprised if we did have someone or multiple girls from the state of Colorado that compete on those Olympic teams." Hawaii is now the 12th state to sanction girls’ flag football as an official high school sport -- marking the first time Hawaii has added a girls’ high school sport since water polo back in 2001. School officials say flag football has grown in popularity and they are excited to meet the demand. Ohio is likely to become the 13th state to make girls flag football a varsity sport when they meet later this year, with the help and support from the Cleveland Browns. Ultimately, the Browns are focused on creating a pathway for Girls High School Flag Football to become a sanctioned varsity sport under the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). OHSSA representative said, "Flag football’s draw is that it opens doors for those who have been on the sidelines: girls, women, people with disabilities, and families who can’t afford full-contact equipment. Simply put, flag is the most inclusive, accessible version of America’s most popular sport. It’s truly football for all". Washington state has been one of the latest states to push and urge the schools to sanction the sport. Later this year the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association will vote, and if passed, Washington could be the 14th state to make girls flag football an official high school sport. Tulsa, Oklahoma Public Schools (TPS) announced on May 6, 2024 the launch of Oklahoma's first girls high school flag football league . "The league aims to provide a platform for young female athletes to showcase their talent, passion, and dedication to the game of football," TPS said in the announcement. TPS said the season is kicking off in October with 10 teams. “ We are excited to introduce the emerging sport of flag football to the girls of Tulsa Public Schools and to make history as we launch Oklahoma's first high school girls flag football league right here in Tulsa," said Mick Wilson, TPS Executive Director of Athletics. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) staged its first event this past November, 2023. A total of 54 schools competed . The AIA expects another 40-50 schools in 2024, with rosters filled with athletes from other sports as well as students who have not previously played sports. “The girls deserve the sport, it’s the number one sport, football’s the number one sport in America and Arizona, by a wide margin, and the fact that we have denied it to girls for a hundred years, it doesn’t say a lot good for us as a school system,” said Hamilton girls flag football coach Matt Stone, whose team finished as a semifinalist in the 6A state playoffs. California is one of the more recent states to add flag football to its list of sanctioned high school sports, approving it in February 2023. California is sanctioning the sport for the first time in 2024. Although the California Interscholastic Federation is not conducting a state championship yet, schools will begin offering the sport, thanks to support from the Los Angeles Rams and USA Football. The Detroit Lions have announced the return of the Michigan girls high school flag football league in 2024 for its "Second Season," which kicked off on April 29 and will run through May 19. Detroit Lions Executive Director of Football Education Chris Fritzsching said "Our focus has always been on improving girls' opportunities in football, and the increase in participation reaffirms our commitment. The interest is undeniable, and we expect more growth in the coming years to aid in establishing high school flag football as an official interscholastic sport for girls in Michigan." Montana is also expected to sanction flag this year and 17 other states are in various stages of pilot programs. That a total of 28 states off and running with this new opportunity for girls. Girls flag football started as a pilot project in Montana High Schools. Three high schools initially took the ball and ran with it in 2022. Then, in 2023, two more high schools fielded teams. The results have apparently been life changing for many of these young ladies. The number of high schools in Western Pennsylvania now fielding girls flag teams says all you need to know about how the sport has fallen into favor with girls. Two years ago, the Pittsburg Steelers started a league for district schools and it had six teams. The league is now called the 'High School Girls Flag Football League ' and has 36 teams this season. Steelers representative said. “I think what makes it exciting for these girls now is they represent their school. Before, they might have been playing in youth leagues with kids from anywhere on their team or maybe a powderpuff game at their school. But they weren’t representing their school against other schools. Now, these girls are playing against other schools that they might have school rivalries with.” Oregon didn't take long for high school girls flag football to take off. After debuting in the spring of 2023 with eight teams, the sport blew up this year with 575 players from 32 schools. It is making steady progress toward being considered as an officially sanctioned OSAA sport. Delaware is planning to debut Girls Flag Football club sport programs this fall, hoping they can be on the ground floor of the first new DIAA girls, non-unified sport since Lacrosse was made official in 1998.DMA Athletic Director Jeremy Jeanne said his interest has been perked by the success of the school's annual power-puff football games. "We have hundreds of kids participating in it, and they love it. Just seeing their level of interest when we do that one event, I thought it would be good to have this sport and pilot it." As for Texas, Fort Worth has become a national hot bed for girls high school flag football and has drawn the attention of college flag football coaches nation wide since the district added the sport in 2022. Being less than a couple hundred miles away, East Texas will not be too far off coaches radar. We plan to make sure of that by inviting each colleges flag football coach to include the East Texas Flag Football League in their scouting and recruiting process. In 2023 two college flag football coaches had committed to scout the league if it had made. Unfortunately it did not. However, we are confident that the increase in popularity and exposure will attract the interest of more coaches and the Women Division should become a reality this fall. Also, the Houston Texans announced on June 4, 2024 the expansion of their Girls FLAG Football Program. “In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re proud to expand our Girls FLAG Football Program following the success of our inaugural season,” Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation Hannah McNair said. “It’s incredibly special for us to provide female athletes with an opportunity to do what they love through this initiative.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The NFL’s dedication to expanding flag football starts at the top. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been fully invested in growing the non-contact version of the most popular sport in the United States. Flag football introduces more people, including folks around the world, to the NFL so it’s a wise commitment for a league that wants to become a global powerhouse. “We always thought it was important,” Goodell told The Associated Press about making flag football a priority. “But I think we really feel, at this time, there is strong momentum, strong need, particularly for women, to be able to participate in a sport that they hadn’t had the opportunity to do. This was a chance for us to do it internationally on a global basis, with young women and young boys, and really build it across different levels, from youth to high school to college and maybe someday a professional league". The league is continuing to showcase the sport's growth and popularity with a recently announced Flag Football Championship that will be broadcast across multiple ESPN platforms and on NFL+ July 17-19, 2024. Flag football's Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles is for men and women. Several NFL stars have expressed interest in becoming Olympians, including reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and electric Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, one of the most enthusiastic competitors in last year's Pro Bowl flag game. Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown and Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, who joined Hill in being voted to this season's All-Pro team, have thrown their hats in the ring too. Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson, who stars in a commercial for flag football that airs regularly during NFL games, seems like another possibility. Aaron Rogers, the New York Jets quarterback is a big fan of the sport, recently holding a fundraising tournament and hinting he may play it after his NFL career. Rodgers said in a statement “The recent growth of flag football has been exciting to watch. With it being an Olympic sport in 2028 and the potential for the NFL players to get involved, who knows? It could be part of the next chapter in my football career.” According to Rogers. Is Joe Burrow Olympics-bound?"I think it's exciting," Burrow told Glenn Cole at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France last June. "I think it's going to be great for the game. ... That would be exciting to play in, that'd be a lot of fun. Especially when I think, the Olympics is such an international brand. But when that starts to happen, that's going to really grow the game a lot." Venus Williams says “It’s great for me to be able to branch into something like flag football. I think there were probably a lot of girls who thought they wouldn't be able to play football, but now here they are; girls are playing this sport and playing it well. So I think this is a great opportunity for me to be inspired by these young women”. Brock Purdy is the only Mr. Irrelevant (Last pick in draft) to ever throw an NFL pass, much less lead his team to a Super Bowl. However, his uncommon road to NFL stardom began much earlier and might well be the path of the future. Purdy was a product of flag football, having played until he was 12 years old prior to making the transition to tackle football. “Any time I’m talking to family and friends, I always encourage kids growing up to start off with flag football and play really as long as they can to help develop those kinds of skills.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES are becoming more involved with women flag football. The Atlantic East Conference made headlines in 2022 when it announced it'll become the first NCAA conference to offer female varsity flag football. 29 Junior colleges and universities offered flag scholarships in 2023 and the number is growing rapidly. This may be a relatively small number of institutions but the pool of talent for these colleges and universities to choose from is smaller as only a few states currently sanction high school women flag football. GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas announced Tuesday the addition of women's flag football as a conference sponsored sport starting in 2025-26. Conference Carolinas is the first NCAA Division I or II conference to sponsor women's flag football, and second NCAA conference, joining Division III's Atlantic East. The league will have at least six institutions in the inaugural season. The University of Tampa will field it's first-ever flag football team in 2024 and named Jimmy Barbarise head coach. Barbarise said "The University of Tampa Women's Flag Football team is a great way to participate in a fun and competitive football environment". Alabama State made history on June 4, 2024 with the announcement that a women’s flag football program will be joining the university’s list of athletic offerings. Hornets athletic director Jason Cable.adds, “The University is proud to be the first Division I Historically Black College and Universities school to offer a women’s flag football program.” Alabama State becomes the second HBCU overall to offer women’s flag football as a varsity sport. Florida Memorial University has played women’s flag football since 2021. King University added women's flag football this July, 2024 as its next sanctioned varsity sport to begin in 2026 . King Universit adding girls flag football as a sanctioned sport next year opens the door for more colleges and universities to begin the program and have enough players to compete. As more schools begin the process, it is likely women's flag football will be a mainstay in NCAA Championships and the Olympic Games - something King's Athletic Director, David Hicks is excited to be a part of. "Women's flag football is growing very rapidly at the youth and high school level. The NFL at the highest level is supporting it, as well, like the Tennessee Titans. Colleges and Universities With Flag Football as of June, 2024: Atlantis UniversityFlorida Memorial UniversityKeiser UniversitySt Thomas UniversityUniversity of Fort LauderdaleWarner UniversityWebber International UniversityLife UniversityReinhardt UniversityThomas UniversityGraceland UniversityBethel CollegeFort Scott CCHesston CollegeKansas Wesleyan UniversityOttawa UniversityPratt Community CollegeUniversity of Saint MaryCampbellsville UniversityCottey CollegeMidland UniversityNassau Community CollegeHocking CollegeMilligan CollegeBryant & Stratton CollegeThe University of Tampa -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As an added attraction we plan to host the inaugural 'TEXAS CHALLENGE' flag football tournament for all divisions on November 9 to coincide with the world famous 'Henderson Syrup Festival'. We will invite teams from all over the state. We hope to make this tournament an annual event and become a regular added attraction for tourists to visit Henderson for the Festival. Come enjoy the festival between or after your games. It's family entertainment at it's best. Click link above to register or for more details. Please contact us if you have any additional questions. Volunteer coaches, referees and sponsors are crucial to the success and growth of our league. We'd like to thank ALL for volunteering their time, talents and resources to improve our youth sports programs. (Revised 7/30/24)
Over the last decade, the growth of girls flag football has continued to accelerate. At the high school, collegiate, national and international levels, more and more female athletes are getting a chance to play the great game of football. Flag football being added to the slate for the 2028 Summer Olympics marks a giant leap forward for the game and its athletes High Schools can only benefit from the increased competition. It will likely drive more high schools to start teams and hopefully pave the way for the game to continue to grow. Eight states added flag football as a varsity sport in 2023 (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and New York). 22 other states now are considering similar action. Flag football is now played by more than 2 million U.S. children and we hope to see even more growth in this game as more states offer flag football at a sanctioned level. The sport’s inclusivity, low costs and fast-paced play make it an excellent addition to high school or college athletic departments. Over 85 high schools in Alabama have initiated flag football in their athletic programs The Alabama High School Athletic Association held its first state championship this past December in conjunction with the boys state football championships at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The AHSAA embarked on a groundbreaking pilot program to bring girls' flag football to Alabama in 2021. Now, during the 2024-25 season, the AHSAA has sanctioned girls' flag football as an official high school sport, marking a historic moment for Alabama. A total of 112 high schools across the state have embraced this initiative, providing invaluable opportunities for student-athletes to excel on the field. The Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association, after starting as a pilot program in 2013, has offered a girls flag football championship since 2017, and interest continues to grow with more than 1,600 participants and three classes of championships. Nearly 100 middle school girls were introduced to flag football on Friday at the UNLV Peter Johann Memorial Soccer Field . The Las Vegas Raiders funds the program, while professors with the UNLV School of Public Health teach the pre-teens how sports can have a positive impact on their lives.“There are many health benefits of girls participating in sports,” said Dr. Jennifer Pharr, a professor of public health at UNLV. “Girls who participate in sports have a lower risk of chronic diseases later in life. They have improved mental health, so better well-being, less anxiety, less depression". Louisiana just recently announced the launch of the Saints School Flag Footballs Girls High season, marking a historic milestone in youth sports in Louisiana as part of the NFL-wide initiative to promote Girls High School Flag Football. Saints representative said, " The inaugural season (2024) embodies a significant step toward promoting diversity in athletics with the goal of having the Louisiana High School Athletic Association officially recognize Girls Flag Football as a sanctioned sport". In New York, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association held its first girls flag championship June 1-2 after several years as a pilot program. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association teamed up with the state’s NFL teams, including the Bills, to bring girls high school flag football to New York.“[It's] to encourage more girls and women to participate in sports, specifically football, a game that we all love very much,” said Preston Teague, the senior director of community relations and youth football for the Buffalo Bills. Georgia reported almost 5,000 participants last year. The Georgia High School Association held its third state championship last December – and the girls play alongside the boys in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons announce that 20 high schools across Atanta will receive grants to launch girls' flag football programs. This announcement underscores the Falcons' unwavering commitment to empowering young women through the launch of girls' flag football programs. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors approved Girls Flag Football during their meeting on February 5, 2024, becoming the 9th state to sanction the sport. The IHSA will offer girls flag as a fall sport in 2024 and conduct its first state championship October 18-19. The IHSA has commitments from over 100 schools to participate in the inaugural season in 2024, while nearly 40 other schools have expressed that they anticipate fielding a team in 2025. Craig Anderson, IHSA executive director, said "The addition of girls flag football furthers the IHSA mission of creating participation opportunities for high school students in Illinois". Tennessee became the tenth state to have girls flag football as an officially-sanctioned high school varsity sport! The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) voted on April 9, 2024 for approval in a unanimous decision. Varsity flag football programs will be officially-sanctioned beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Burke Nihill, Tennessee Titans President and CEO, said "Girls flag football has emerged as one of the most competitive and exciting sports offered at the high school level, and has already impacted the lives of many young athletes with the rise of collegiate opportunities within the sport. We look forward to seeing its reach grow across the state as it becomes an officially-sanctioned sport" Colorado became the 11th state in the U.S. to sanction girls flag football as a high school sport in April 2024, thanks to an assist from the Denver Broncos. Kylie Russell, Director of Athletics said "To have this become sanctioned is a no brainer in my opinion. It was a win for females all across the state of Colorado and we all know the benefits that sports play in our children's lives." The decision was praised across the state, including by the Denver Broncos. The NFL team has been very active in the community by their promoting flag football for girls. CHSAA representative said "With the Olympics coming up in 2028, this gives Colorado girls a leg up to be able to compete for those sports. I wouldn't be surprised if we did have someone or multiple girls from the state of Colorado that compete on those Olympic teams." Hawaii is now the 12th state to sanction girls’ flag football as an official high school sport -- marking the first time Hawaii has added a girls’ high school sport since water polo back in 2001. School officials say flag football has grown in popularity and they are excited to meet the demand. Ohio is likely to become the 13th state to make girls flag football a varsity sport when they meet later this year, with the help and support from the Cleveland Browns. Ultimately, the Browns are focused on creating a pathway for Girls High School Flag Football to become a sanctioned varsity sport under the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). OHSSA representative said, "Flag football’s draw is that it opens doors for those who have been on the sidelines: girls, women, people with disabilities, and families who can’t afford full-contact equipment. Simply put, flag is the most inclusive, accessible version of America’s most popular sport. It’s truly football for all". Washington state has been one of the latest states to push and urge the schools to sanction the sport. Later this year the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association will vote, and if passed, Washington could be the 14th state to make girls flag football an official high school sport. Tulsa, Oklahoma Public Schools (TPS) announced on May 6, 2024 the launch of Oklahoma's first girls high school flag football league . "The league aims to provide a platform for young female athletes to showcase their talent, passion, and dedication to the game of football," TPS said in the announcement. TPS said the season is kicking off in October with 10 teams. “ We are excited to introduce the emerging sport of flag football to the girls of Tulsa Public Schools and to make history as we launch Oklahoma's first high school girls flag football league right here in Tulsa," said Mick Wilson, TPS Executive Director of Athletics. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) staged its first event this past November, 2023. A total of 54 schools competed . The AIA expects another 40-50 schools in 2024, with rosters filled with athletes from other sports as well as students who have not previously played sports. “The girls deserve the sport, it’s the number one sport, football’s the number one sport in America and Arizona, by a wide margin, and the fact that we have denied it to girls for a hundred years, it doesn’t say a lot good for us as a school system,” said Hamilton girls flag football coach Matt Stone, whose team finished as a semifinalist in the 6A state playoffs. California is one of the more recent states to add flag football to its list of sanctioned high school sports, approving it in February 2023. California is sanctioning the sport for the first time in 2024. Although the California Interscholastic Federation is not conducting a state championship yet, schools will begin offering the sport, thanks to support from the Los Angeles Rams and USA Football. The Detroit Lions have announced the return of the Michigan girls high school flag football league in 2024 for its "Second Season," which kicked off on April 29 and will run through May 19. Detroit Lions Executive Director of Football Education Chris Fritzsching said "Our focus has always been on improving girls' opportunities in football, and the increase in participation reaffirms our commitment. The interest is undeniable, and we expect more growth in the coming years to aid in establishing high school flag football as an official interscholastic sport for girls in Michigan." Montana is also expected to sanction flag this year and 17 other states are in various stages of pilot programs. That a total of 28 states off and running with this new opportunity for girls. Girls flag football started as a pilot project in Montana High Schools. Three high schools initially took the ball and ran with it in 2022. Then, in 2023, two more high schools fielded teams. The results have apparently been life changing for many of these young ladies. The number of high schools in Western Pennsylvania now fielding girls flag teams says all you need to know about how the sport has fallen into favor with girls. Two years ago, the Pittsburg Steelers started a league for district schools and it had six teams. The league is now called the 'High School Girls Flag Football League ' and has 36 teams this season. Steelers representative said. “I think what makes it exciting for these girls now is they represent their school. Before, they might have been playing in youth leagues with kids from anywhere on their team or maybe a powderpuff game at their school. But they weren’t representing their school against other schools. Now, these girls are playing against other schools that they might have school rivalries with.” Oregon didn't take long for high school girls flag football to take off. After debuting in the spring of 2023 with eight teams, the sport blew up this year with 575 players from 32 schools. It is making steady progress toward being considered as an officially sanctioned OSAA sport. Delaware is planning to debut Girls Flag Football club sport programs this fall, hoping they can be on the ground floor of the first new DIAA girls, non-unified sport since Lacrosse was made official in 1998.DMA Athletic Director Jeremy Jeanne said his interest has been perked by the success of the school's annual power-puff football games. "We have hundreds of kids participating in it, and they love it. Just seeing their level of interest when we do that one event, I thought it would be good to have this sport and pilot it." As for Texas, Fort Worth has become a national hot bed for girls high school flag football and has drawn the attention of college flag football coaches nation wide since the district added the sport in 2022. Being less than a couple hundred miles away, East Texas will not be too far off coaches radar. We plan to make sure of that by inviting each colleges flag football coach to include the East Texas Flag Football League in their scouting and recruiting process. In 2023 two college flag football coaches had committed to scout the league if it had made. Unfortunately it did not. However, we are confident that the increase in popularity and exposure will attract the interest of more coaches and the Women Division should become a reality this fall. Also, the Houston Texans announced on June 4, 2024 the expansion of their Girls FLAG Football Program. “In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re proud to expand our Girls FLAG Football Program following the success of our inaugural season,” Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation Hannah McNair said. “It’s incredibly special for us to provide female athletes with an opportunity to do what they love through this initiative.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The NFL’s dedication to expanding flag football starts at the top. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been fully invested in growing the non-contact version of the most popular sport in the United States. Flag football introduces more people, including folks around the world, to the NFL so it’s a wise commitment for a league that wants to become a global powerhouse. “We always thought it was important,” Goodell told The Associated Press about making flag football a priority. “But I think we really feel, at this time, there is strong momentum, strong need, particularly for women, to be able to participate in a sport that they hadn’t had the opportunity to do. This was a chance for us to do it internationally on a global basis, with young women and young boys, and really build it across different levels, from youth to high school to college and maybe someday a professional league". The league is continuing to showcase the sport's growth and popularity with a recently announced Flag Football Championship that will be broadcast across multiple ESPN platforms and on NFL+ July 17-19, 2024. Flag football's Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles is for men and women. Several NFL stars have expressed interest in becoming Olympians, including reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and electric Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, one of the most enthusiastic competitors in last year's Pro Bowl flag game. Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown and Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, who joined Hill in being voted to this season's All-Pro team, have thrown their hats in the ring too. Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson, who stars in a commercial for flag football that airs regularly during NFL games, seems like another possibility. Aaron Rogers, the New York Jets quarterback is a big fan of the sport, recently holding a fundraising tournament and hinting he may play it after his NFL career. Rodgers said in a statement “The recent growth of flag football has been exciting to watch. With it being an Olympic sport in 2028 and the potential for the NFL players to get involved, who knows? It could be part of the next chapter in my football career.” According to Rogers. Is Joe Burrow Olympics-bound?"I think it's exciting," Burrow told Glenn Cole at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France last June. "I think it's going to be great for the game. ... That would be exciting to play in, that'd be a lot of fun. Especially when I think, the Olympics is such an international brand. But when that starts to happen, that's going to really grow the game a lot." Venus Williams says “It’s great for me to be able to branch into something like flag football. I think there were probably a lot of girls who thought they wouldn't be able to play football, but now here they are; girls are playing this sport and playing it well. So I think this is a great opportunity for me to be inspired by these young women”. Brock Purdy is the only Mr. Irrelevant (Last pick in draft) to ever throw an NFL pass, much less lead his team to a Super Bowl. However, his uncommon road to NFL stardom began much earlier and might well be the path of the future. Purdy was a product of flag football, having played until he was 12 years old prior to making the transition to tackle football. “Any time I’m talking to family and friends, I always encourage kids growing up to start off with flag football and play really as long as they can to help develop those kinds of skills.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES are becoming more involved with women flag football. The Atlantic East Conference made headlines in 2022 when it announced it'll become the first NCAA conference to offer female varsity flag football. 29 Junior colleges and universities offered flag scholarships in 2023 and the number is growing rapidly. This may be a relatively small number of institutions but the pool of talent for these colleges and universities to choose from is smaller as only a few states currently sanction high school women flag football. GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas announced Tuesday the addition of women's flag football as a conference sponsored sport starting in 2025-26. Conference Carolinas is the first NCAA Division I or II conference to sponsor women's flag football, and second NCAA conference, joining Division III's Atlantic East. The league will have at least six institutions in the inaugural season. The University of Tampa will field it's first-ever flag football team in 2024 and named Jimmy Barbarise head coach. Barbarise said "The University of Tampa Women's Flag Football team is a great way to participate in a fun and competitive football environment". Alabama State made history on June 4, 2024 with the announcement that a women’s flag football program will be joining the university’s list of athletic offerings. Hornets athletic director Jason Cable.adds, “The University is proud to be the first Division I Historically Black College and Universities school to offer a women’s flag football program.” Alabama State becomes the second HBCU overall to offer women’s flag football as a varsity sport. Florida Memorial University has played women’s flag football since 2021. King University added women's flag football this July, 2024 as its next sanctioned varsity sport to begin in 2026 . King Universit adding girls flag football as a sanctioned sport next year opens the door for more colleges and universities to begin the program and have enough players to compete. As more schools begin the process, it is likely women's flag football will be a mainstay in NCAA Championships and the Olympic Games - something King's Athletic Director, David Hicks is excited to be a part of. "Women's flag football is growing very rapidly at the youth and high school level. The NFL at the highest level is supporting it, as well, like the Tennessee Titans. Colleges and Universities With Flag Football as of June, 2024: Atlantis UniversityFlorida Memorial UniversityKeiser UniversitySt Thomas UniversityUniversity of Fort LauderdaleWarner UniversityWebber International UniversityLife UniversityReinhardt UniversityThomas UniversityGraceland UniversityBethel CollegeFort Scott CCHesston CollegeKansas Wesleyan UniversityOttawa UniversityPratt Community CollegeUniversity of Saint MaryCampbellsville UniversityCottey CollegeMidland UniversityNassau Community CollegeHocking CollegeMilligan CollegeBryant & Stratton CollegeThe University of Tampa -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As an added attraction we plan to host the inaugural 'TEXAS CHALLENGE' flag football tournament for all divisions on November 9 to coincide with the world famous 'Henderson Syrup Festival'. We will invite teams from all over the state. We hope to make this tournament an annual event and become a regular added attraction for tourists to visit Henderson for the Festival. Come enjoy the festival between or after your games. It's family entertainment at it's best. Click link above to register or for more details. Please contact us if you have any additional questions. Volunteer coaches, referees and sponsors are crucial to the success and growth of our league. We'd like to thank ALL for volunteering their time, talents and resources to improve our youth sports programs. (Revised 7/30/24)
THANKS TO GRIFFIN TOWING FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP