OT: girls HS flag football

[Fk_Pitt]

Anyone see that weird commercial last night and wonder where it was going? At the end we saw it was to raise awareness for girls flag football and get it sanctioned in all 50 states.

Most of you don’t care, I get it, but female and girls athletics are great, especially if you have a vested interest. Many of you have daughters or will have daughters.

So how do you see girls flag football working? Boys football is still going to get the spotlight every Friday night. And for girls, how will schools field teams? It will likely be a Fall sport, competing with cross country, soccer and volleyball. Are schools going to be large enough to field teams? Soccer and volleyball combined probably roster about 60 girls combined.

My guess is basketball, track and softball players will make up a large number of the players, as they can letter in a Fall sport if they choose. Although the smaller schools already have softball and basketball players rostered on fall sports rosters like soccer and volleyball because they don’t have enough girls in the school and don’t have enough soccer and volleyball players to field teams. So coaches walk the halls of the school and recruit from other teams.

I had three daughter spread out over 12 years of HS, so I saw probably 10 powderpuff flag football games in my time, and every game was dominated by the soccer players. So I would guess the best athletes continue to play soccer. But maybe in time flag football starts to erode the girls soccer community. And maybe the other sports too?

 

[zookeeper2000]

I’m in NJ and girls flag football is gaining popularity here. You nailed it… most of the games are dominated by girls who play other sports primarily and are just doing this on the side for fun.

There are a few girls who “specialize” in flag football…and their parents take great pride in their success, but if we are being 100% honest…their specialization is because they weren’t good enough for the other sports and their success is because most of the elite athletes aren’t playing flag football. Don’t mean to sound like a jerk but I think you know what I mean.

Ideal situation is where you have a softball shortstop or basketball player as your QB and a bunch of soccer, lacrosse, track, and bball players as the others skill positions.

 

[MorningCoffee13]

I see flag football working out. Just like boys football there will be kids that might not be “structured” for other sports that would do well.

 

[HailtoPitt]

There's money to be made. That's why the NFL cares.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

yeah, good to see. i think girls wrestling is starting to get popular here in western pa too. great to see options for young kids to participate in sports..

 

[Upg bobcat]

I get that flag football is cheaper so that's better for the NFL's bottom line, but personally, I'd rather see them pay for pads and helmets and play real American football, and learn the actual game.

 

[Ski11585]

There's money to be made. That's why the NFL cares.

Correct answer.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I get that flag football is cheaper so that's better for the NFL's bottom line, but personally, I'd rather see them pay for pads and helmets and play real American football, and learn the actual game.

there is such thing as the "Lingerie Football League." They wear helmets and pads and play real football.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Anyone see that weird commercial last night and wonder where it was going? At the end we saw it was to raise awareness for girls flag football and get it sanctioned in all 50 states.

Most of you don’t care, I get it, but female and girls athletics are great, especially if you have a vested interest. Many of you have daughters or will have daughters.

So how do you see girls flag football working? Boys football is still going to get the spotlight every Friday night. And for girls, how will schools field teams? It will likely be a Fall sport, competing with cross country, soccer and volleyball. Are schools going to be large enough to field teams? Soccer and volleyball combined probably roster about 60 girls combined.

My guess is basketball, track and softball players will make up a large number of the players, as they can letter in a Fall sport if they choose. Although the smaller schools already have softball and basketball players rostered on fall sports rosters like soccer and volleyball because they don’t have enough girls in the school and don’t have enough soccer and volleyball players to field teams. So coaches walk the halls of the school and recruit from other teams.

I had three daughter spread out over 12 years of HS, so I saw probably 10 powderpuff flag football games in my time, and every game was dominated by the soccer players. So I would guess the best athletes continue to play soccer. But maybe in time flag football starts to erode the girls soccer community. And maybe the other sports too?

It will be played in the Spring in PA.

 

[Upg bobcat]

there is such thing as the "Lingerie Football League." They wear helmets and pads and play real football.

I was thinking more along the lines of the Pittsburgh Passion. Introduce girls to that in youth sports, instead of having their first chance to play that being once they are out of school.

Just like some males have a body to be lineman, the same is true with females. Give those girls a chance to play a sport other than being a thrower in track. As you mention, the girls that succeed in flag football are just the ones that are good at soccer or basketball or something like that.

Flag football isn't the same game as real football. Yeah it's got some similarities, but actual football can, and most often is, won in the trenches, which flag football obviously doesn't replicate. I think allowing more people to play real football (i.e., 50% of the population that is female) would be good for the sport's future.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I was thinking more along the lines of the Pittsburgh Passion.

Flag football isn't the same game as real football. Yeah it's got some similarities, but actual football can, and most often is, won in the trenches, which flag football obviously doesn't replicate. I think allowing more people (i.e., 50% of the population that is female) would be good for the sport's future.

"Real" Football at the girls high school level would be an absolute disaster. come on man, seriously think about that product for a second.. Watch the female version of professional football like the passion, it's played by a few very select women, adult women, who well, to be nice, are not exactly very "women-like."


This is a realistic and great alternative for 14-17 year old female athletes..

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Flag football is the equivalent to Dek Hockey.

 

[Upg bobcat]

"Real" Football at the girls high school level would be an absolute disaster. come on man, seriously think about that product for a second.. Watch the female version of professional football like the passion, it's played by a few very select women, adult women, who well, to be nice, are not exactly very "women-like."


This is a realistic and great alternative for 14-17 year old female athletes..

And some people think the type of guys that play football are neanderthals, the lowest of the low form of males. I know this is sort of unthinkable in Western Pennsylvania and you don't see it much at all here, but there is a segment of the population, probably larger in different parts of the country, that looks down at (men's American) football and the people that play it.

That line of thinking would suggest females should be limited to cheerleading.

I'm not saying flag football is bad, but I think actual football would be better. But like I said, that would be a bigger investment by the NFL so they aren't doing that.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

And some people think the type of guys that play football are neanderthals, the lowest of the low form of males. That line of thinking would suggest females should be limited to cheerleading.

no, i just dont think the 'physicality" of real football would go well with 14-17 year old high school girls.

we can agree to disagree.

 

[pittdan77]

Flag football is the equivalent to Dek Hockey.

I played in a legit 9-man flag league for many years. Saw guys get knocked out cold, emergency operations to fix a perforated spleen, and many broken bones. I'm completely honest when I say I've seen more brutal injuries playing flag than I ever saw playing traditional football. There are some teams out of the Baltimore area that are just downright scary.

 

[pittdan77]

I don't know how girls flag football will be received. If it's played in the fall, it won't take away from volleyball. Those girls like their game because they don't have to deal with contact. Soccer, maybe. Just depends on the school. If it's in the spring, it probably won't cut into softball. Those girls are just starting their season which continues into the summer with travel. Track? I don't know. Volleyball girls are still in the thick of their club seasons.

Smaller schools will struggle to field teams so it will probably be a big school thing, first. Doesn't mean it will stop someone from trying to start a team at a little school but participation is already a problem for some of the other sports.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Correct answer.

The NFL will do anything possible to ensure football never loses its hold in the USA

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

It will be played in the Spring in PA.

Its been a WPIAL sport for a few years now. It's played in the Spring. Championships have been at Acrisure. It's already here. I believe it's a full PIAA sport now.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I don't know how girls flag football will be received. If it's played in the fall, it won't take away from volleyball. Those girls like their game because they don't have to deal with contact. Soccer, maybe. Just depends on the school. If it's in the spring, it probably won't cut into softball. Those girls are just starting their season which continues into the summer with travel. Track? I don't know. Volleyball girls are still in the thick of their club seasons.

Smaller schools will struggle to field teams so it will probably be a big school thing, first. Doesn't mean it will stop someone from trying to start a team at a little school but participation is already a problem for some of the other sports.

girls high school volleyball is played in the fall.

 

[pittdan77]

girls high school volleyball is played in the fall.

Sports aren't a one season gig anymore. Club volleyball runs from November through April or May for most girls. June for those going to either USAV or AAU Nationals. I can think of some small PA schools where that can account for a third of female sports participants.

 

[happjack]

Anyone see that weird commercial last night and wonder where it was going? At the end we saw it was to raise awareness for girls flag football and get it sanctioned in all 50 states.

Most of you don’t care, I get it, but female and girls athletics are great, especially if you have a vested interest. Many of you have daughters or will have daughters.

So how do you see girls flag football working? Boys football is still going to get the spotlight every Friday night. And for girls, how will schools field teams? It will likely be a Fall sport, competing with cross country, soccer and volleyball. Are schools going to be large enough to field teams? Soccer and volleyball combined probably roster about 60 girls combined.

My guess is basketball, track and softball players will make up a large number of the players, as they can letter in a Fall sport if they choose. Although the smaller schools already have softball and basketball players rostered on fall sports rosters like soccer and volleyball because they don’t have enough girls in the school and don’t have enough soccer and volleyball players to field teams. So coaches walk the halls of the school and recruit from other teams.

I had three daughter spread out over 12 years of HS, so I saw probably 10 powderpuff flag football games in my time, and every game was dominated by the soccer players. So I would guess the best athletes continue to play soccer. But maybe in time flag football starts to erode the girls soccer community. And maybe the other sports too?

Part of the NFL's plan is to get the girls who play soccer or volleyball into flag football, but also have flag football be the sport in fall or spring for urban and rural areas that really only have basketball in the winter for girls.

 

[jtownknowitall]

"Real" Football at the girls high school level would be an absolute disaster. come on man, seriously think about that product for a second.. Watch the female version of professional football like the passion, it's played by a few very select women, adult women, who well, to be nice, are not exactly very "women-like."


This is a realistic and great alternative for 14-17 year old female athletes..

“Real” Football at the boys high school level has become an absolute disaster at many schools.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

I played in a legit 9-man flag league for many years. Saw guys get knocked out cold, emergency operations to fix a perforated spleen, and many broken bones. I'm completely honest when I say I've seen more brutal injuries playing flag than I ever saw playing traditional football. There are some teams out of the Baltimore area that are just downright scary.

If you have testosterone filled adults reliving their glory years then just about any sport can get violent, especially if you don’t have adequate rules and supervision in place.

 

[BigChungus90210]

My powderpuff experience was the same as yours, the soccer players dominated. I don't see anyone giving up playing soccer to play flag football though, so I feel like playing the flag football season in the spring would be advantageous. Then again, there's a decent overlap with the girls who play soccer and lax, so you might have a conflict there too. It's a tricky situation.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Part of the NFL's plan is to get the girls who play soccer or volleyball into flag football, but also have flag football be the sport in fall or spring for urban and rural areas that really only have basketball in the winter for girls.

The only spring competition for girls is softball and that's not really a huge sport. For girls, it's soccer #1, basketball #2, and probably softball/volleyball #4 with volleyball growing rapidly. So I can easily see girls flag football overtaking softball in the spring. Play games on Friday nights in the stadium. The student body comes out. Some locals. It would be a good spectator sport.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

My powderpuff experience was the same as yours, the soccer players dominated. I don't see anyone giving up playing soccer to play flag football though, so I feel like playing the flag football season in the spring would be advantageous. Then again, there's a decent overlap with the girls who play soccer and lax, so you might have a conflict there too. It's a tricky situation.

Its already played in the Spring. The championships were on May 19

Moon wins 2nd girls flag football title in a row over North Allegheny | Trib HSSN

Given the spirited nature of WPIAL football during the fall, it came as no surprise that the third annual girls flag football championships, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Steelers, were just as exciting.

tribhssn.triblive.com

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

“Real” Football at the boys high school level has become an absolute disaster at many schools.

fair point, now imagine how much worse it could get with 15 year old girls playing it.

 

[Upg bobcat]

Sports aren't a one season gig anymore. Club volleyball runs from November through April or May for most girls. June for those going to either USAV or AAU Nationals. I can think of some small PA schools where that can account for a third of female sports participants.

Well if adding flag football helps reverse that trend, then I am all for it.

 

[BigChungus90210]

Its already played in the Spring. The championships were on May 19

Moon wins 2nd girls flag football title in a row over North Allegheny | Trib HSSN

Given the spirited nature of WPIAL football during the fall, it came as no surprise that the third annual girls flag football championships, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Steelers, were just as exciting.

tribhssn.triblive.com

Oops. Didn't realize some schools already had teams.

 

[jtownknowitall]

The only spring competition for girls is softball and that's not really a huge sport. For girls, it's soccer #1, basketball #2, and probably softball/volleyball #4 with volleyball growing rapidly. So I can easily see girls flag football overtaking softball in the spring. Play games on Friday nights in the stadium. The student body comes out. Some locals. It would be a good spectator sport.

Most of your potential line(wo)men are probably playing softball.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I don't know how girls flag football will be received. If it's played in the fall, it won't take away from volleyball. Those girls like their game because they don't have to deal with contact. Soccer, maybe. Just depends on the school. If it's in the spring, it probably won't cut into softball. Those girls are just starting their season which continues into the summer with travel. Track? I don't know. Volleyball girls are still in the thick of their club seasons.

Smaller schools will struggle to field teams so it will probably be a big school thing, first. Doesn't mean it will stop someone from trying to start a team at a little school but participation is already a problem for some of the other sports.

No possible way club soccer players, in the height of their recruiting and showcase season, is going to play flag football. They aren’t going to risk injury either.

My daughter who was a serious soccer player collegiately and then overseas, played a powderpuff game in the fall and had her friend jump into a scrum and break her nose and give her blacks eyes. She looked like Marsha Brady after getting hit in the face by a football Peter threw 20 yards off target.

Now, if college soccer goes away because of this NIL and title IX stuff, then who knows.

The worlds a changin’.

 

[pittdan77]

If you have testosterone filled adults reliving their glory years then just about any sport can get violent, especially if you don’t have adequate rules and supervision in place.

Ever see a powderpuff game? Some schools ended them because they got so rough. It's violent sport.

 

[pittdan77]

No possible way club soccer players, in the height of their recruiting and showcase season, is going to play flag football. They aren’t going to risk injury either.

My daughter who was a serious soccer player collegiately and then overseas, played a powderpuff game in the fall and had her friend jump into a scrum and break her nose and give her blacks eyes. She looked like Marsha Brady after getting hit in the face by a football Peter threw 20 yards off target.

Now, if college soccer goes away because of this NIL and title IX stuff, then who knows.

The worlds a changin’.

I don't think people understand that kids play a sport year round if they can because they love it. My kid would play basketball if she didn't play club volleyball but she has that opportunity and it's her obsession. None of us care if she calls it quits after her eligibility runs out as a junior because she's having so much fun. A friend of hers would like to play college volleyball but chooses to not play club so she can play basketball. Makes it harder but not impossible at all. Kids are doing what makes them happy and there isn't anything wrong with that.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

I think it is great and it makes alot of sense.

 

[pittdan77]

Most of your potential line(wo)men are probably playing softball.

Depends on what rules they're using. 7v7, no line. 8v8, usually one lineman is designated as eligible before the play. But there's still some truth to what you're saying.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

No possible way club soccer players, in the height of their recruiting and showcase season, is going to play flag football. They aren’t going to risk injury either.

My daughter who was a serious soccer player collegiately and then overseas, played a powderpuff game in the fall and had her friend jump into a scrum and break her nose and give her blacks eyes. She looked like Marsha Brady after getting hit in the face by a football Peter threw 20 yards off target.

Now, if college soccer goes away because of this NIL and title IX stuff, then who knows.

The worlds a changin’.

We'll see if the new admin changes the old administration's ruling on equal pay. If they dont, I think you are going to need to cut all the sports and just have football, men's and women's basketball, and then women's soccer and women's volleyball. Maybe another women's sports if needed.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Ever see a powderpuff game? Some schools ended them because they got so rough. It's violent sport.

Do you have registered coaches and officials in place with rules and consequences if the players break them? If you don’t have these things in place, then you are asking for problems in any activity that has highly competitive people.

 

[jtownknowitall]

Do you have registered coaches and officials in place with rules and consequences if the players break them? If you don’t have these things in place, then you are asking for problems in any activity that has highly competitive people.

He didn't say they were breaking any rules.

 

[happjack]

No possible way club soccer players, in the height of their recruiting and showcase season, is going to play flag football. They aren’t going to risk injury either.

My daughter who was a serious soccer player collegiately and then overseas, played a powderpuff game in the fall and had her friend jump into a scrum and break her nose and give her blacks eyes. She looked like Marsha Brady after getting hit in the face by a football Peter threw 20 yards off target.

Now, if college soccer goes away because of this NIL and title IX stuff, then who knows.

The worlds a changin’.

I think you're missing the NFL's plan with this, they want younger kids to start their sports experience with the NFL branded Youth Flag Football leagues, then boys break off to school sponsored tackle football in 7th or 8th grade, with girls advancing to school sponsored flag football in high school. It's not really about getting kids currently super involved in a sport to switch or split time with flag football, the NFL is looking long term with this, that's why it was all about younger kids playing flag football the past few years and now their trying to set things up for when the kids get older.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

He didn't say they were breaking any rules.

Rough can mean a lot of things then and would need specifics. A little pushing and shoving or good hard tackles are nothing. That’s essentially rugby.