Girls Flag Football Growing In The State

[Muda69]

https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/04/23/harrison-lafayette-jeff-girls-flag-football-2025-26-ihsaa-indiana-indianapolis-colts/83225579007/?tbref=hp

Quote

LAFAYETTE ― The tradition of America's beloved fall pastime is now starting to be shared as a sport for girls as well.

Lafayette Jeff and Harrison are in the preliminary stages of starting girls flag football teams, the two schools confirmed on Tuesday evening.

"We're just in the infancy stage," Harrison athletic director Jerry Galema said. "We surveyed the number of girls that would want to come out and try it, and we had 57 girls. We are excited, and we think it's another great opportunity for them to represent the school."

Girls flag football is considered an emerging sport by the IHSAA, the same title that was once given to boys volleyball and girls wrestling before being recognized by the leading amateur sports authority in the state of Indiana.

Indianapolis Colts were a large part of that development, having committed $1 million in order to develop more high school teams. The goal is to have 100 girls teams across the state in 2025, according to a press release by the Colts on Jan. 14.

Last season, 23 teams played girls flag football, with Harrison and Lafayette Jeff expecting to become one of 60 programs being added in 2025.

....

Games are expected to run at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, going from the middle of August through the end of September. The goal is to play at least seven games, according to Lafayette Jeff athletic director Justin Gardiner.

...

Interesting.  Here's to their success on the gridiron.

 

[Sparty]

They are going to have to be creative with scheduling due to lack of officials.  

[Irishman]

25 minutes ago, Sparty said:

They are going to have to be creative with scheduling due to lack of officials.  

Could be a path for more women to become officials. 

[Bobref]

17 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Could be a path for more women to become officials. 

I’ve often felt that recruitment of female athletes could go a long way toward alleviating the officiating shortage. This is an easy path to an untapped resource.

[Bash Riprock]

21 minutes ago, Bobref said:

I’ve often felt that recruitment of female athletes could go a long way toward alleviating the officiating shortage. This is an easy path to an untapped resource.

Does increase the odds of more "fender benders" in the stadium parking lots......

Just a joke!!!!  (Or is it??)

 

[adambetz]

37 minutes ago, Bobref said:

I’ve often felt that recruitment of female athletes could go a long way toward alleviating the officiating shortage. This is an easy path to an untapped resource.

School system I work in offers an officiating class to high school students where they can get certified to work middle school events. Kids were able to make money calling aau on the weekends and middle school on the week nights. I feel like it would be a great addition to most school systems.

Edited April 23, 2025 by adambetz

[btownqbcoach1]

is what is... but the one female official we had this year was AWFUL 

 

 

do they require the girls to wear a mouthpiece in flag? If not, they should

[Sparty]

2 hours ago, Irishman said:

Could be a path for more women to become officials. 

Maybe.  They have to show interest. Can’t just wish them in.  

1 hour ago, Bobref said:

I’ve often felt that recruitment of female athletes could go a long way toward alleviating the officiating shortage. This is an easy path to an untapped resource.

They have to be interested.  

1 hour ago, adambetz said:

School system I work in offers an officiating class to high school students where they can get certified to work middle school events. Kids were able to make money calling aau on the weekends and middle school on the week nights. I feel like it would be a great addition to most school systems.

If done correctly 

[Sparty]

30 minutes ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

is what is... but the one female official we had this year was AWFUL 

 

 

do they require the girls to wear a mouthpiece in flag? If not, they should

Have seen a lot of work in progress officials of both genders.  Just don’t push a lady ahead bc she is a lady.  

[btownqbcoach1]

58 minutes ago, Sparty said:

Have seen a lot of work in progress officials of both genders.  Just don’t push a lady ahead bc she is a lady.  

I didn't. I stated a fact.  

[Sparty]

11 minutes ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

I didn't. I stated a fact.  

Sorry. I’m saying when officials work, they get pushed (advanced)for various reasons.  Just bc of gender shouldn’t be a reason.  

[Bobref]

2 hours ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

is what is... but the one female official we had this year was AWFUL 

And yet, we’ve also had a woman officiate in the Super Bowl. Pretty hard to generalize from a single example.

[Sparty]

And that woman officiated in 2021 SB between TB and KC. Was she the most qualified?   People ask with all that was going on about “social justice”.  

 

I listened to a speech of hers where she said herself she didn’t think she was the most qualified.  

[Julio]

I listened to the webinar that they had today, sounds like they had the games after the JV or freshmen games with the same refs.  Paid them an extra $50 for an hour of work.  The Colts are also putting a lot of money behind this idea, enough to pay coaches stipends, officials, and travel cost to games.  They will also provide uniforms for the schools, or they can use current boys jerseys or just plain t-shirts.  Most of the schools that have teams or are thinking of sponsoring a team are 4A and up, not much in the 3A, 2A or 1A.

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, Julio said:

I listened to the webinar that they had today, sounds like they had the games after the JV or freshmen games with the same refs.  Paid them an extra $50 for an hour of work.  The Colts are also putting a lot of money behind this idea, enough to pay coaches stipends, officials, and travel cost to games.  They will also provide uniforms for the schools, or they can use current boys jerseys or just plain t-shirts.  Most of the schools that have teams or are thinking of sponsoring a team are 4A and up, not much in the 3A, 2A or 1A.

Point made. Being creative with scheduling.  Until Title 9……

[btownqbcoach1]

14 hours ago, Bobref said:

And yet, we’ve also had a woman officiate in the Super Bowl. Pretty hard to generalize from a single example.

Really confusing post because I didn't. Lol 

Edited April 24, 2025 by btownqbcoach1

[irishuncle411]

Is the plan for it to currently be a fall sport in IN?  Are any states offering it in the spring instead?  

[qbcoach13]

46 minutes ago, irishuncle411 said:

Is the plan for it to currently be a fall sport in IN?  Are any states offering it in the spring instead?  

Florida plays it as a spring sport. The one program I know down in Florida has girls who play softball and track also on the Flag team. 

 

[irishuncle411]

Spring makes more sense to me here in IN...less conflicts on the football field.  Would have to share it with track, but wouldn't have to battle football and soccer practices.

[btownqbcoach1]

1 hour ago, irishuncle411 said:

Spring makes more sense to me here in IN...less conflicts on the football field.  Would have to share it with track, but wouldn't have to battle football and soccer practices.

I mean, they could both still practice at the same time. 

[Julio]

It is for the Fall Season.

 

[Southside]

MY daughter played on her school's flag football team last fall.  They played on saturdays in the morning.

[Julio]

If the IHSAA would use their heads, they would play this in the Spring Season.  Then you would have 4 girls sports in each season.  Volleyball, Soccer, Golf and Cross County in Fall.  Wrestling, Basketball, Swimming, Gymnastics in Winter.  Tennis, Softball, Track, and Football in Spring.  Much more balanced than 5 in fall, 4 in winter, and 3 in spring.

[btownqbcoach1]

7 minutes ago, Southside said:

MY daughter played on her school's flag football team last fall.  They played on saturdays in the morning.

that seems like the worst time, other than Fridays at 7pm lol ..at least for our school it would be 

 

Did they require mouthpiece for them? 

Edited April 24, 2025 by btownqbcoach1

[US31]

36 minutes ago, Julio said:

If the IHSAA would use their heads, they would play this in the Spring Season.  Then you would have 4 girls sports in each season.  Volleyball, Soccer, Golf and Cross County in Fall.  Wrestling, Basketball, Swimming, Gymnastics in Winter.  Tennis, Softball, Track, and Football in Spring.  Much more balanced than 5 in fall, 4 in winter, and 3 in spring.

Girls LAX is spring correct?  I know Rugby is spring.  I also realize not all schools have these sports, but this may be the reason for fall.