Viewpoint: Flag Football Comes to Colorado

?? Colorado became the 11th state to officially sanction girls flag football as an official high school sport beginning in the fall of 2024. The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Legislative Council voted 57-9 in favor of sanctioning girls flag football after two years as a pilot program.

?? ?In their initial pilot season, 25 teams participated and that grew to approximately 1,300 players and 52 schools during the second year of the pilot program. The Denver Broncos Charities along with Denver Public Schools, Cherry Creek School District and Jeffco Public Schools funded the majority of the program.

?? ?The official field is 40 yards wide and 80 yards long. Girl’s flag football is played with seven players per team. The game is non-contact and there is no blocking. Fumbles result in dead balls. Flag football is scheduled to be an Olympic sport beginning in 2028 in Los Angeles.

?? ?It is the fastest growing sport throughout the country. As mentioned, 10 other states have already sanctioned the sport and 33 others are offered it as a pilot program as of the Fall of 2023.

?? ?Among the 1,316 Colorado participants, almost 75 percent had never played flag football before joining their high school team and more than half stated that they otherwise would have not participated in another fall sport.

?? ?“Colorado is a national leader in terms of girls’ participation in sports and activities,” CHSAA Board of Directors and Principal at Englewood High School Ryan West said. “This vote in favor of sanctioning girls flag football only furthers the Board’s commitment to equitable participation on behalf of our female athletes in Colorado.”

?? “Thrilled doesn’t even begin to cover it,” CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger said about the decision to approve flag football for girls as a high school sport. “This isn’t just about the game; it’s about empowerment, teamwork and breaking barriers. By embracing this sport, we’re not only fostering athleticism, but we’re remaining among the nation’s leaders in providing opportunities for female athletes to participate. We are cultivating leadership, confidence and equality – on and off the field – and we are igniting a new era of inclusivity and self-empowerment for every young lady that participates.”

?? ?The 2022-23 Colorado Girls Flag Football Championship was clinched by Arvada West High School. They secured a runaway victory with a final score of 34- 14 against Cherry Creek in the title game held at the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. Arvada West’s quarterback, Saylor Swanson, played a pivotal role, throwing five touchdown passes during the championship tournament. The Wildcats finished their season with an impressive 22-0 record, avenging their runner-up position the previous year.

I am currently helping coach my grandson’s flag football team and it is a wide-open offensive game. Like the rules for the high school game there is no blocking. There is a lot of twisting and turning and smooth moves to keep the flag from the opponent.

?? I do have some concerns. My biggest concern is in the smaller school districts how much flag football will pull from the fall sport of volleyball. Of course, District 60 and 70 will decide if they want to become part of the 13th fall activity and 21st girls’ activity officially sanctioned by CHSAA, and I’m sure they’ll think of that.

?? A second concern - one I wish didn’t even need to be addressed - according to a google search that I could not find confirmation of from another source, appeared the following: “So, participants in Colorado girls flag football do not have to be girls by birth; the sport is open to all female high school athletes regardless of their gender assigned at birth.”

?? ?All female high school athletes regardless of gender assigned at birth? Now I’m concerned. And come to think of it, how many of the boys’ football team would rather play flag football?