Flag football gives female players sense of community, scholarship options and soon shot at Olympics
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Flag football gives female players sense of community, scholarship options and soon shot at Olympics

Associated Press  

DENVER — There were times when Jo Overstreet felt all alone as a standout flag football player on boys teams growing up in Texas. Eight states have sanctioned girls flag football as a high school varsity sport — more are initiating pilot programs — and college scholarships are now offered for female players on the NAIA level. “And with the sport being added to the Olympics, the future is just tremendous.” Ashlea Klam was back home in Austin in October — lobbying for Texas high schools to include girls flag football as a varsity sport — when she awoke to a text from her parents. “We can really show everyone that flag football deserves to be there — and that flag football should be everywhere.” The U.S. and Mexico already have a robust rivalry on the women’s side. “It’s been an explosion of participation.” Receiver Madison Fulford discovered flag football nearly two years ago while playing in an intramural league.

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History of this topic

Flag football scours nation with talent camps to uncover next wave of stars
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Flag football scours nation with talent camps to uncover next wave of stars

Associated Press  

DENVER — So you’re the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. That’s something to aspire to,” said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL’s vice president of flag football. “You grow up watching …

The NFL executive and former advertising man who helped to sell flag football to the Olympics
1 month, 2 weeks ago

The NFL executive and former advertising man who helped to sell flag football to the Olympics

New York Times  

Brett Gosper knows all about winning pitches. The 65-year-old, now the NFL’s head of Europe & Asia-Pacific, used the powers of persuasion he honed in advertising to full effect when he played an instrumental role in getting flag football — a non-tackling version of American football — into the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, putting what the NFL says is …

Houston Stars: Andre Johnson Encourages Female Participation in Flag Football
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Houston Stars: Andre Johnson Encourages Female Participation in Flag Football

Associated Press  

Hall of Famer Andre Johnson encourages female participation in flag football in Houston. The Texans are working to get more girls involved in football in the city and the team's foundation sponsors flag football teams at 12 high schools in the Houston Independent School District and nine more from charter schools. Johnson starred as a receiver for the Texans from …

Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub should be a lesson as U.S. flag football considers NFL stars
4 months ago

Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub should be a lesson as U.S. flag football considers NFL stars

New York Times  

Darrell Doucette is the Diana Taurasi of U.S. Olympic flag football. But they work in this way: The people who will be choosing the flag football team that will compete for the first time in the 2028 Los Angeles Games should take cautionary instruction from the people who chose the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team that just scratched out a …

With an assist from the Denver Broncos, Colorado becomes 11th state to sanction girls flag football
7 months, 4 weeks ago

With an assist from the Denver Broncos, Colorado becomes 11th state to sanction girls flag football

Associated Press  

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Colorado became the 11th state in the U.S. to sanction girls flag football as a high school sport this week, thanks to an assist from the Denver Broncos. The Colorado High School Activities Association’s legislative council approved the fall sport following a three-year pilot program supported by the team and its foundation. More young women will join …

Girls gain yards on flag football field
10 months, 1 week ago

Girls gain yards on flag football field

China Daily  

Players practice with Texas Fury, an all-women flag football team on Dec 10, 2023, in Austin, Texas. The women's game is enjoying surging popularity in North America, with the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics adding to its appeal. AP There were times when Jo Overstreet felt all alone as a standout flag football player on boys' teams growing …

Girls gain yards on flag football field
10 months, 1 week ago

Girls gain yards on flag football field

China Daily  

Players practice with Texas Fury, an all-women flag football team on Dec 10, 2023, in Austin, Texas. The women's game is enjoying surging popularity in North America, with the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics adding to its appeal. AP There were times when Jo Overstreet felt all alone as a standout flag football player on boys' teams growing …

Girls gain yards on flag football field
10 months, 1 week ago

Girls gain yards on flag football field

China Daily  

Sonya Chalil jumps between Kirby White and Bella Franks during a Texas Fury practice session in Austin, Texas, last year. Ashlea earned a flag football scholarship at Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida, one of nearly two dozen NAIA schools that have programs. Last May, Ottawa University in Kansas cemented its dynasty by winning the program's third straight NAIA …

NFL players enthusiastic about prospect of pursuing Olympic gold when flag football debuts in 2028
10 months, 2 weeks ago

NFL players enthusiastic about prospect of pursuing Olympic gold when flag football debuts in 2028

Associated Press  

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tyreek Hill is a five-time All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion. Hill, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and running back Raheem Mostert, Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram are among the players representing the AFC and NFC at the Pro Bowl Games, which conclude Sunday with a …

Mexico QB Diana Flores leads the charge as women’s flag football makes gains internationally
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Mexico QB Diana Flores leads the charge as women’s flag football makes gains internationally

Associated Press  

Diana Flores has starred in a Super Bowl halftime ad, signed a deal with Under Armour and even coached girls at a clinic in Morocco. When it comes to gold medals, the women’s side seems better positioned to crack American dominance as NFL fans pencil in Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill for a U.S. men’s dream team in Los Angeles. …

Flag football catching on and will be featured at the 2028 LA Games, maybe even with NFL players
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Flag football catching on and will be featured at the 2028 LA Games, maybe even with NFL players

Associated Press  

DENVER — Imagine Tyreek Hill catching passes again from Patrick Mahomes. The NFL has jumped on board, too, adding flag football to the league’s Pro Bowl activities. “It’s that simple.” What can this mean for flag football going forward? There are eight states — Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and New York — that have sanctioned girls flag …

Flag football gives female players sense of community, scholarship options and soon shot at Olympics
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Flag football gives female players sense of community, scholarship options and soon shot at Olympics

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Eight states have sanctioned girls …

Analysis: NFL wants to make football more popular than futbol globally
1 year, 2 months ago

Analysis: NFL wants to make football more popular than futbol globally

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The king of American sports wants to take over the world. I think it’s a great opportunity for the NFL, and I think it’ll be a great opportunity for people to understand football and what it brings to the world.” The league has long viewed flag football as a catalyst for its international strategy. “That pathway to …

Tyreek Hill, other NFL stars might get an opportunity to play flag football in the 2028 Olympics
1 year, 2 months ago

Tyreek Hill, other NFL stars might get an opportunity to play flag football in the 2028 Olympics

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — If Tyreek Hill and other NFL players want to switch to flag football for a summer and compete in the Olympics, the possibility is becoming more real. NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said Tuesday the league will work with the players’ union on allowing current and former players to participate after flag football was among five sports officially …

Flag football will be part of 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Here’s what to know
1 year, 2 months ago

Flag football will be part of 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Here’s what to know

New York Times  

Flag football — yes, flag football — will be part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after it was approved Monday in a vote by the International Olympic Committee. While the pandemic stalled efforts for about a year, “all the stars aligned” and officials found themselves facing L.A. 2028 organizers and the IOC with “some real enthusiasm around …

Cricket and NFL-style flag football two of five new sports put forward for 2028 Olympics in LA
1 year, 2 months ago

Cricket and NFL-style flag football two of five new sports put forward for 2028 Olympics in LA

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “But I …

Column: Flag football at the Olympics? Stop chuckling, it might happen
1 year, 3 months ago

Column: Flag football at the Olympics? Stop chuckling, it might happen

Associated Press  

Flag football at the Olympics? Then again, the Summer Games are supposed to be for the best athletes in sports that are popular across a wide range of nations, a standard that flag football doesn’t come close to meeting. “If others are able to watch me and some of my teammates go out and compete in the Olympics, that would …

Column: Debut of girls’ flag football starts with a learning curve for players and coaches
1 year, 3 months ago

Column: Debut of girls’ flag football starts with a learning curve for players and coaches

LA Times  

Crenshaw’s Alani Anderson, left, and Talita Robinson reach to try to make an interception during an 18-0 flag football win over Hawkins. It was the first Coliseum League girls’ flag football game, and the smartest player was Crenshaw linebacker Cheyenne Hickman, who found the only shade on the sideline. Crenshaw’s Cheyenne Hickman finds shade under a desk during a girls’ …

Mexican football star Diana Flores’ Super Bowl ad broke barriers. Can she empower women?
1 year, 9 months ago

Mexican football star Diana Flores’ Super Bowl ad broke barriers. Can she empower women?

LA Times  

Her fans know that Diana Flores is a slippery, moving target who leaves rivals gasping and grasping at air. But it took a Super Bowl halftime ad for millions more to see why the Mexico City native is not only flag football’s biggest star, but also an emerging emblem of female empowerment. Keep practicing and don’t listen to the detractors.” …

NFL and flag football: Why the league has taken interest, invested heavily in it
2 years ago

NFL and flag football: Why the league has taken interest, invested heavily in it

New York Times  

The quality of the NFL Pro Bowl saw such a decline in competitiveness and contact that it had become practically tackle-free in recent years. Jeff Lewis, who runs the American Flag Football League, which is scheduled to launch next year in five cities as the first pro flag football league, said the answer to the NFL’s flag epiphany is simple: …

Women fueling flag football’s surging popularity: ‘It’s accessible and inclusive’
2 years, 3 months ago

Women fueling flag football’s surging popularity: ‘It’s accessible and inclusive’

LA Times  

At a sinewy 5-foot-3, Andrea Castillo looks like a soccer player — something she once was growing up in Panama. The Rams and Chargers are sponsoring a league that includes 16 girls’ flag football teams in Southern California, and more than 10,000 girls are playing in NFL- With more than half a million participants and 1,640 active leagues, according to …

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