EAST TEXAS FLAG FOOTBALL
SAFETY - FUN - COMPETE
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. We're about low-pressure environments where kids can just play! And we’re very much a league for everyone -- whether you're a star or new to flag football. Boy or girl. Rich or poor. Big or small. We believe everyone should have that opportunity.
WHY FLAG FOOTBALL?
Offers Inclusivity: Flag is a great sport for both boys and girls of all ages – even the younger ones. There are no height or weight restrictions, making it a game everybody can play. 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. Limited Contact: 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.
Favors Flexibility: Flag supports all skill levels and sports priorities – from fun competition to learning the fundamentals of football to prepare for a transition into tackle.
Promotes Fitness: Flag encourages physical activity and healthy movement, ensuring your child spends quality time away from the screen.
Introduces Football: Flag provides a natural entry point into the world of football, creating opportunities for your child to learn, engage and grow with the sport.
Teaches Teamwork: Flag instills the critical value of teamwork and teaches your child how to play and interact well with others.
Builds Confidence: Flag equips your child with the skills to build and grow their confidence levels both on and off the field.
Instills Sportsmanship: Flag teaches your child what being a good sport and team player looks like, emphasizing what it means to win and lose gracefully. Low Cost: Costs are minimal since players need little more than a pair of cleats or athletic shoes. 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. As further indication of the growing popularity of the sport The 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games flag football Championships will be held at the historic Rice university in Houston, TX, July 25th-27th. The stadium seats 47000 people and actually seated 70000 when it hosted Super Bowl 8 and was home to the Houston Oilers. 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. 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. Coaches may register their entire team, players may register individually or as part of a team, request a particular coach, request to play with a friend, or be randomly placed on a team with local players. All requests will be honored if feasible. Parents of randomly assigned players will be notified of team placement after registration deadline, 2 weeks prior to first game. We launched the league over a decade ago with less than 30 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 2024 the league attracted over 160 players from Arp, Beckville, Carlisle, Carthage, Cushing, Flint, Henderson, Kilgore, Laneville, Longview, Mt. Enterprise, New Summerfield, Overton, 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Payment is not required to register. 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 but flag football is so much fun it grows on you quickly. 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. According to USA Football, High school girls flag football is now sanctioned in 15 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington. 22 other states, including Texas, 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. TEXAS UPDATE: 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. Fort Worth ISD is making history with a pair of women's varsity flag football signings. Vaughn Aden became the second official member of the inaugural Texas Wesleyan women’s flag football team. Isabel Ibarra, a senior at North Side High School and the Fort Worth ISD 2024-25 Flag Football Most Valuable Player, was the first signing for Texas Wesleyan earlier this month. About two weeks later, Aden became Ibarra's teammate. Aden is a standout senior from Benbrook High School. Texas Wesleyan is the first university in Texas to launch a varsity women’s flag football team that will begin competing in spring 2026. And it seems they've found a pipeline with Fort Worth ISD student-athletes. HOUSTON on April 14, 2025, announced the expansion of their Girls Flag Football Program to more than 80 high schools across Houston and Texas. Now in its third season, the program includes all 25 Houston ISD high schools, as well as high schools in Fort Bend, Alief, Stafford and Texas Charter Schools in the Houston area. The program has also expanded to multiple high schools in Austin and El Paso. "We are so proud to expand our Girls Flag Football Program to even more schools in H-Town and now across Texas," Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation Hannah McNair said. "Our ultimate goal is to create access to girls flag for all girls who want to play and help make Texas the next state to sanction the sport. The bonds girls create and the lessons learned through flag are invaluable, and we look forward to continuing to grow the game for the next generation of female athletes." EL PASO – Region 19 Girls Flag Football officially began its pilot and championship season, the first ever of its kind in El Paso, on Monday, April 21, 2025.39 teams representing eight school districts have the chance to compete throughout the season to grow the sport within the borderland, fostering inclusion, promoting athletic excellence and community engagement within youth sports. Considering the growth of the sport all across the state, EAST TEXAS will not be too far off coach's 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. OTHER STATE UPDATES: The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association on Monday, April 21,2025 announced that girls flag football will become a sanctioned high school sport. "We believe that everyone should have the access and opportunity to play football, and the momentum we've seen for girls flag has been incredible," Mario Bailey, Seahawks vice president of community engagement & legends said. "Sanctioning girls flag is an amazing step in giving these girls a new avenue to pursue playing flag football in college and beyond." 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. New York State Public High School Athletic Association held its first girls flag championship June 2024, after several years as a pilot program. 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. 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. Tennessee became the tenth state to have girls flag football as an officially-sanctioned high school varsity sport! 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." 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. Ohio is likely to become the next state to make girls flag football a varsity sport when they meet later this year, with the help and support from the Cleveland Browns. Oklahoma Public Schools 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. 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 2025, with rosters filled with athletes from other sports as well as students who have not previously played sports. 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 sanctioned the sport for the first time in 2024. Michigan announced the return of the girls high school flag football league in 2024 for its "Second Season," which kicked off on April 29 and will run through May 19. 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. That is a total of 28 states off and running with this new opportunity for 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. In Alabama over 85 high schools have initiated flag football in their athletic programs. 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. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES are becoming more involved with women flag football. Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. At least 65 NCAA schools are sponsoring women's flag football at either the club or varsity level this year, with more slated to join in 2026. Flag football also has been added as a sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The sport has cleared another step to becoming an officially sanctioned NCAA varsity sport. On April 16, 2025 the NCAA’s committee on women’s athletics voted in support of giving flag football a key designation that would move it one step closer to official college sports. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have become key players in the rapid growth of women’s flag football. This offers new opportunities for female athletes in a sport that is gaining national and global recognition. Recent and Upcoming Women’s Flag Football Program Announcements: Concordia University Texas (Texas) – Launched a varsity flag football program in October 2024, with plans to compete as a club sport in 2026 and as a varsity sport in 2027. Texas Wesleyan University (Texas) – Announced the formation of a flag football team, aiming to start playing in the 2026 season as part of the NAIA. Roberts Wesleyan University is gearing up to start an NCAA women’s flag football team. The university announced on Tuesday April 22, 2025 that the team is expected to start competition in the spring of 2026. Because Roberts Wesleyan is a Division II school, athletic scholarships will be available starting this fall. The university says it’s already working to recruit athletes. 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. Virginia Wesleyan University is forming its first women's flag football team for 2026 — this comes as other teams have popped up throughout Hampton Roads.“We will be one of the first [colleges] in the Commonwealth to offer women’s flag football,” said Andrea Hoover, executive director for intercollegiate athletics at Virginia Wesleyan University. The University of Tampa fielded its 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.” King University added women's flag football this July, 2024 as its next sanctioned varsity sport to begin in 2026 . King University 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. The Atlantic East Conference became the first Division III NCAA conference to officially sponsor the sport in the spring 2025 season.The season’s official kickoff was celebrated with a Women’s Flag Football Media Day on March 3, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field, hosted by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Participating AEC Institutions:Marymount University (Virginia)Neumann University (Pennsylvania)Eastern University (Pennsylvania)Holy Family University (Pennsylvania)Immaculata University (Pennsylvania)Cabrini University (Pennsylvania)Penn State Schuylkill (Pennsylvania)
LATHAM, N.Y. – The United East announced today the anticipated addition of women's flag football as a conference-sponsored sport starting in 2025-26. The United East becomes the second Division III conference to announce its sponsorship of women’s flag football (Atlantic East) and the fourth conference among all divisions in the NCAA (Division II’s Conference Carolinas & Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association)."There is undoubted momentum and growth in women’s flag football and we are extremely excited to begin sponsoring this sport in the United East,” shared United East Commissioner Stephanie Dutton. Participating UEC Institutions: Gallaudet University Keystone College Lancaster Bible College Penn College Rosemont College Charlotte, N.C. - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is excited to announce the launch of Women’s Flag Football at seven of its member institutions, set to kick off in Spring 2025. The CIAA appreciates the commitment and support of these institutions in introducing Women’s Flag Football as part of their athletic programs. This new venture not only promotes female participation in sports but also aligns with the NCAA's consideration of women’s flag football as an emerging sport in the coming year. Participating CIAA Institutions: Bluefield State University Bowie State University Claflin University Fayetteville State University Johnson C. Smith University Virginia Union University Winston-Salem State University
The Minnesota Vikings have partnered with six NCAA institutions to launch a collegiate women’s flag football league, with inaugural competitions starting in April 2025. Participating NCAA Institutions:University of Wisconsin-Stout (Wisconsin)Augustana University (South Dakota)Concordia College Moorhead (Minnesota)Gustavus Adolphus College (Minnesota)Bethel University (Minnesota)University of Northwestern – St. Paul (Minnesota)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)The NAIA has been a pioneer in adopting women’s flag football, officially recognizing it in the 2020–21 season. Participating NAIA Institutions:Ottawa University (Kansas)Keiser University (Florida)Kansas Wesleyan University (Kansas)Thomas University (Georgia)Baker University (Kansas)Midland University (Nebraska)Warner University (Florida)Cottey College (Missouri)Webber International University (Florida)Southwestern College (Kansas)St. Thomas University (Florida)Milligan University (Tennessee)Reinhardt University (Georgia)University of Saint Mary (Kansas)Point University (Georgia)Campbellsville University (Kentucky)Life University (Georgia)Florida Memorial University (Florida)Graceland University (Iowa)Bethel College (Kansas)
The National Junior College Athletic Association recognized women’s flag football as an emerging sport starting in 2023. (NJCAA) has announced 10 colleges will be recipients of $10,000 grants, distributed by the NJCAA Foundation, to support each school's commitment to add women's flag football as an intercollegiate varsity sport. Participating NJCAA Institutions:Bryant & Stratton College (Wisconsin)Fort Scott (Kansas)Pratt (Kansas)Florida Gateway College (Florida) Kennedy King College (Chicago, IL) Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (Clifton Forge, VA) Hocking College (Nelsonville, OH) Nassau Community College (New York) Union County College (Cranford, NJ) The Empire 8 is excited to announce the addition of women’s flag football as a conference-sponsored championship sport for the 2025-26 season. Empire 8 becomes the third Division III conference to announce its sponsorship of women’s flag football and the fifth among all NCAA divisions. Participating E8C Institutions: SUNY Brockport Elmira College Hartwick College SUNY Geneseo Russell Sage College Conclusion: The Future of Women’s Flag Football in Colleges:The rapid expansion of women’s flag football at the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA levels highlights the growing demand and institutional support for the sport. With new teams launching, conferences embracing the game, and partnerships forming with major organizations like the Minnesota Vikings, the landscape of women’s collegiate athletics is evolving. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. “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". 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.”
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. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Board: Zella Tamplin - Marquese Polk - Lauren Polk - Bob Tamplin (Revised 4/29/25)
Offers Inclusivity: Flag is a great sport for both boys and girls of all ages – even the younger ones. There are no height or weight restrictions, making it a game everybody can play. 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. Limited Contact: 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.
Favors Flexibility: Flag supports all skill levels and sports priorities – from fun competition to learning the fundamentals of football to prepare for a transition into tackle.
Promotes Fitness: Flag encourages physical activity and healthy movement, ensuring your child spends quality time away from the screen.
Introduces Football: Flag provides a natural entry point into the world of football, creating opportunities for your child to learn, engage and grow with the sport.
Teaches Teamwork: Flag instills the critical value of teamwork and teaches your child how to play and interact well with others.
Builds Confidence: Flag equips your child with the skills to build and grow their confidence levels both on and off the field.
Instills Sportsmanship: Flag teaches your child what being a good sport and team player looks like, emphasizing what it means to win and lose gracefully. Low Cost: Costs are minimal since players need little more than a pair of cleats or athletic shoes. 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. As further indication of the growing popularity of the sport The 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games flag football Championships will be held at the historic Rice university in Houston, TX, July 25th-27th. The stadium seats 47000 people and actually seated 70000 when it hosted Super Bowl 8 and was home to the Houston Oilers. 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. 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. Coaches may register their entire team, players may register individually or as part of a team, request a particular coach, request to play with a friend, or be randomly placed on a team with local players. All requests will be honored if feasible. Parents of randomly assigned players will be notified of team placement after registration deadline, 2 weeks prior to first game. We launched the league over a decade ago with less than 30 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 2024 the league attracted over 160 players from Arp, Beckville, Carlisle, Carthage, Cushing, Flint, Henderson, Kilgore, Laneville, Longview, Mt. Enterprise, New Summerfield, Overton, 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Payment is not required to register. 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 but flag football is so much fun it grows on you quickly. 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. According to USA Football, High school girls flag football is now sanctioned in 15 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington. 22 other states, including Texas, 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. TEXAS UPDATE: 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. Fort Worth ISD is making history with a pair of women's varsity flag football signings. Vaughn Aden became the second official member of the inaugural Texas Wesleyan women’s flag football team. Isabel Ibarra, a senior at North Side High School and the Fort Worth ISD 2024-25 Flag Football Most Valuable Player, was the first signing for Texas Wesleyan earlier this month. About two weeks later, Aden became Ibarra's teammate. Aden is a standout senior from Benbrook High School. Texas Wesleyan is the first university in Texas to launch a varsity women’s flag football team that will begin competing in spring 2026. And it seems they've found a pipeline with Fort Worth ISD student-athletes. HOUSTON on April 14, 2025, announced the expansion of their Girls Flag Football Program to more than 80 high schools across Houston and Texas. Now in its third season, the program includes all 25 Houston ISD high schools, as well as high schools in Fort Bend, Alief, Stafford and Texas Charter Schools in the Houston area. The program has also expanded to multiple high schools in Austin and El Paso. "We are so proud to expand our Girls Flag Football Program to even more schools in H-Town and now across Texas," Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation Hannah McNair said. "Our ultimate goal is to create access to girls flag for all girls who want to play and help make Texas the next state to sanction the sport. The bonds girls create and the lessons learned through flag are invaluable, and we look forward to continuing to grow the game for the next generation of female athletes." EL PASO – Region 19 Girls Flag Football officially began its pilot and championship season, the first ever of its kind in El Paso, on Monday, April 21, 2025.39 teams representing eight school districts have the chance to compete throughout the season to grow the sport within the borderland, fostering inclusion, promoting athletic excellence and community engagement within youth sports. Considering the growth of the sport all across the state, EAST TEXAS will not be too far off coach's 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. OTHER STATE UPDATES: The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association on Monday, April 21,2025 announced that girls flag football will become a sanctioned high school sport. "We believe that everyone should have the access and opportunity to play football, and the momentum we've seen for girls flag has been incredible," Mario Bailey, Seahawks vice president of community engagement & legends said. "Sanctioning girls flag is an amazing step in giving these girls a new avenue to pursue playing flag football in college and beyond." 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. New York State Public High School Athletic Association held its first girls flag championship June 2024, after several years as a pilot program. 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. 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. Tennessee became the tenth state to have girls flag football as an officially-sanctioned high school varsity sport! 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." 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. Ohio is likely to become the next state to make girls flag football a varsity sport when they meet later this year, with the help and support from the Cleveland Browns. Oklahoma Public Schools 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. 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 2025, with rosters filled with athletes from other sports as well as students who have not previously played sports. 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 sanctioned the sport for the first time in 2024. Michigan announced the return of the girls high school flag football league in 2024 for its "Second Season," which kicked off on April 29 and will run through May 19. 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. That is a total of 28 states off and running with this new opportunity for 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. In Alabama over 85 high schools have initiated flag football in their athletic programs. 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. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES are becoming more involved with women flag football. Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. At least 65 NCAA schools are sponsoring women's flag football at either the club or varsity level this year, with more slated to join in 2026. Flag football also has been added as a sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The sport has cleared another step to becoming an officially sanctioned NCAA varsity sport. On April 16, 2025 the NCAA’s committee on women’s athletics voted in support of giving flag football a key designation that would move it one step closer to official college sports. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have become key players in the rapid growth of women’s flag football. This offers new opportunities for female athletes in a sport that is gaining national and global recognition. Recent and Upcoming Women’s Flag Football Program Announcements: Concordia University Texas (Texas) – Launched a varsity flag football program in October 2024, with plans to compete as a club sport in 2026 and as a varsity sport in 2027. Texas Wesleyan University (Texas) – Announced the formation of a flag football team, aiming to start playing in the 2026 season as part of the NAIA. Roberts Wesleyan University is gearing up to start an NCAA women’s flag football team. The university announced on Tuesday April 22, 2025 that the team is expected to start competition in the spring of 2026. Because Roberts Wesleyan is a Division II school, athletic scholarships will be available starting this fall. The university says it’s already working to recruit athletes. 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. Virginia Wesleyan University is forming its first women's flag football team for 2026 — this comes as other teams have popped up throughout Hampton Roads.“We will be one of the first [colleges] in the Commonwealth to offer women’s flag football,” said Andrea Hoover, executive director for intercollegiate athletics at Virginia Wesleyan University. The University of Tampa fielded its 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.” King University added women's flag football this July, 2024 as its next sanctioned varsity sport to begin in 2026 . King University 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. The Atlantic East Conference became the first Division III NCAA conference to officially sponsor the sport in the spring 2025 season.The season’s official kickoff was celebrated with a Women’s Flag Football Media Day on March 3, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field, hosted by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Participating AEC Institutions:Marymount University (Virginia)Neumann University (Pennsylvania)Eastern University (Pennsylvania)Holy Family University (Pennsylvania)Immaculata University (Pennsylvania)Cabrini University (Pennsylvania)Penn State Schuylkill (Pennsylvania)
LATHAM, N.Y. – The United East announced today the anticipated addition of women's flag football as a conference-sponsored sport starting in 2025-26. The United East becomes the second Division III conference to announce its sponsorship of women’s flag football (Atlantic East) and the fourth conference among all divisions in the NCAA (Division II’s Conference Carolinas & Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association)."There is undoubted momentum and growth in women’s flag football and we are extremely excited to begin sponsoring this sport in the United East,” shared United East Commissioner Stephanie Dutton. Participating UEC Institutions: Gallaudet University Keystone College Lancaster Bible College Penn College Rosemont College Charlotte, N.C. - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is excited to announce the launch of Women’s Flag Football at seven of its member institutions, set to kick off in Spring 2025. The CIAA appreciates the commitment and support of these institutions in introducing Women’s Flag Football as part of their athletic programs. This new venture not only promotes female participation in sports but also aligns with the NCAA's consideration of women’s flag football as an emerging sport in the coming year. Participating CIAA Institutions: Bluefield State University Bowie State University Claflin University Fayetteville State University Johnson C. Smith University Virginia Union University Winston-Salem State University
The Minnesota Vikings have partnered with six NCAA institutions to launch a collegiate women’s flag football league, with inaugural competitions starting in April 2025. Participating NCAA Institutions:University of Wisconsin-Stout (Wisconsin)Augustana University (South Dakota)Concordia College Moorhead (Minnesota)Gustavus Adolphus College (Minnesota)Bethel University (Minnesota)University of Northwestern – St. Paul (Minnesota)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)The NAIA has been a pioneer in adopting women’s flag football, officially recognizing it in the 2020–21 season. Participating NAIA Institutions:Ottawa University (Kansas)Keiser University (Florida)Kansas Wesleyan University (Kansas)Thomas University (Georgia)Baker University (Kansas)Midland University (Nebraska)Warner University (Florida)Cottey College (Missouri)Webber International University (Florida)Southwestern College (Kansas)St. Thomas University (Florida)Milligan University (Tennessee)Reinhardt University (Georgia)University of Saint Mary (Kansas)Point University (Georgia)Campbellsville University (Kentucky)Life University (Georgia)Florida Memorial University (Florida)Graceland University (Iowa)Bethel College (Kansas)
The National Junior College Athletic Association recognized women’s flag football as an emerging sport starting in 2023. (NJCAA) has announced 10 colleges will be recipients of $10,000 grants, distributed by the NJCAA Foundation, to support each school's commitment to add women's flag football as an intercollegiate varsity sport. Participating NJCAA Institutions:Bryant & Stratton College (Wisconsin)Fort Scott (Kansas)Pratt (Kansas)Florida Gateway College (Florida) Kennedy King College (Chicago, IL) Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (Clifton Forge, VA) Hocking College (Nelsonville, OH) Nassau Community College (New York) Union County College (Cranford, NJ) The Empire 8 is excited to announce the addition of women’s flag football as a conference-sponsored championship sport for the 2025-26 season. Empire 8 becomes the third Division III conference to announce its sponsorship of women’s flag football and the fifth among all NCAA divisions. Participating E8C Institutions: SUNY Brockport Elmira College Hartwick College SUNY Geneseo Russell Sage College Conclusion: The Future of Women’s Flag Football in Colleges:The rapid expansion of women’s flag football at the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA levels highlights the growing demand and institutional support for the sport. With new teams launching, conferences embracing the game, and partnerships forming with major organizations like the Minnesota Vikings, the landscape of women’s collegiate athletics is evolving. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. “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". 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.”
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. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Board: Zella Tamplin - Marquese Polk - Lauren Polk - Bob Tamplin (Revised 4/29/25)
THANKS TO GRIFFIN TOWING FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP