Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, is gaining popularity among U.S. girls. With its potential inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics, the sport is rapidly growing in youth leagues across the country. This surge in interest has even led to plans for a professional flag football league. Michael Colt, the coach of the Staten Island Giants, believes the sport is following the same growth path as pickleball, the fastest-growing adult sport in the U.S. “It’s crazy,” says Colt, highlighting the rise of flag football as a phenomenon among young athletes.
Growing Popularity and Recognition
Flag football, once a lesser-known sport for girls, has made impressive strides in recent years. Michael Colt co-founded the Staten Island Giants in 2019, and since then, his youth teams have won numerous national titles. Their success has also helped send players to the U.S. national flag football team. However, getting to this point wasn’t easy. Early on, flag football for girls faced significant challenges in gaining recognition. Despite these obstacles, the sport’s trajectory has been remarkable. From 2018 to 2024, participation in girls’ and women’s flag football skyrocketed, with nearly 270,000 girls aged 6 to 17 taking part in 2024, according to USA Football. The league has gained further credibility with backing from the NFL’s New York Giants.
The Growth of Flag Football: A Game Changer for Girls
For many young players, flag football represents a new avenue for athleticism and competition. Many young athletes, such as Brielle Caetano, who has been playing flag football since kindergarten, express that people are often surprised when they tell others about the opportunity to earn a university scholarship through the sport. The appeal of flag football is that it eliminates the high-contact aspects of traditional tackle football, making it safer and more accessible for girls of all ages. In flag football, the focus is on running and throwing, with a player being “tackled” when an opponent pulls one of two flags worn on a belt. The development of women’s flag football continues to change the way people think about gender roles in sports.
The Role of the NFL in Flag Football’s Expansion
USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck attributes much of flag football’s growth to the NFL. He describes the expansion of the sport as “incredible” and highlights the rapid increase in participation, especially among girls and women. The NFL’s support is crucial to flag football’s rise. The league has organized youth tournaments and plans to host a national flag football event for both boys and girls in July this year. This initiative is expected to attract sponsorships and TV deals, further legitimizing the sport at the national level.
Flag Football: A Global Opportunity
While the NFL is a dominant force in U.S. sports, expanding the game internationally has proven challenging. Traditional tackle football has only found footholds in a few countries, such as Germany and Mexico. However, flag football offers a unique opportunity to expand the game globally. The sport’s potential to become an international phenomenon could help spread American football beyond U.S. borders.
The Road to the 2028 Olympics and Beyond
One of the key factors driving the growth of flag football is its potential inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This milestone is a major source of motivation for athletes who see the Olympics as a goal to work toward. The NFL is already planning for the future beyond the Olympics, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioning in February that the league is exploring the creation of a professional flag league for both men and women, with separate leagues for each gender. Coaches believe that a professional flag football league will become a reality by 2032. They are actively working to gather sponsors and build the foundations for a fully established sport by the early 2030s.
