High schools in California, Michigan and DC already have flag football teams for girlsPACE HIGH SCHOOL
Nike and the NFL in a commercial last week launched a $5M campaign to bring girls flag football to "every high school in America," as girls represent a "mammoth opportunity to increase the number of players and viewers of the nation’s most popular sport," according to Rachel Bachman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Tackle football remains the nation’s most "popular high school sport with more than 1 million athletes." And in part because of football’s large squads, 1 million more boys than girls "play high school sports overall." While co-ed flag football for children has "grown with a big push from the NFL, girls high school flag has lagged behind." The league and Nike "aim to narrow the football gap." They are "dangling donations of up to $100,000 in product to state athletic associations that offer girls flag as a sport or initiate pilot programs this year." A Nike spokesperson said that the initiative was "geared at giving girls more opportunities." Bachman notes schools in California, Michigan and DC "already have teams for girls," and the Alabama High School Athletic Association is "considering adding the sport." The Buccaneers "have hosted girls players at their facilities." The Falcons in '18 "funded a 19-team girls high school flag football pilot program," and by '20, 91 schools across the state fielded teams (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/10).
