“And, now” yelled the SCA member in charge of MCing the pep rally” the Girls’ Flag Football team!”
Everyone turned their head towards the back of the gym as a myriad of girls, covered in the blue and white, ran out and did a lap of the gym while the student body cheered wildly.
While these girls may be recognized at school, the state is a different story.
Girls’ flag football continues to remain underrepresented in most states. Only fourteen states recognize the sport, and Virgina is not on that list.
Yet, despite the challenges presented by the lack of state adoption, the sport is slowly gaining popularity. Colleges are starting to send scouts to local games, and the sport is even featured in the 2028 Olympics.
Lightridge school counselor, Jen Schrader, has had a major role in promoting the sport and getting it started throughout Loudoun Country. She was not only prompted by her middle school daughter’s connection to the sport but also by the potential she sees in the sport for all female athletes.
“There are a lot of sports that are kinda oversaturated,” said Schrader. “But with flag football, colleges are getting it before the states are approving it as a sport so there are just a lot of opportunities for growth. I said okay, I’m gonna make this happen.”
Schrader started out by gathering partnerships with organizations such as the women’s flag football team the DC Divas, the NFL’s Washington Commanders, and local female operated businesses like Lark Brewery. After gathering partnerships, Schrader then reached out to schools, their principals, and activities’ directors.
Thanks to not only her efforts but also the efforts of staff at schools like Rock Ridge and Broad Run, eight schools throughout Loudoun County fielded full teams in the fall of 2024, with another 15 schools sending partially full teams to participate. Over the course of several weekends the teams competed in a series of games, which were held at Lightridge.
Even though Schrader and her partners have had success in implementing the sport throughout Loudoun County, Schrader still faces the challenge of its lack of recognition from VHSL, the Virginia High School League, which authorizes and co-ordinates all of the officially sanctioned sports in the state.
“VHSL approval makes the environment a little bit more serious, the commitment a little bit more serious,” said Schrader. “Then you have official coaches, you have official referees, you have official space.”
Without the lack of recognition, the flag football team has been forced to have practices that are the most convenient for the players.
“Practice was scheduled on the fly, we did some practices after school in the grass field behind the stadium, most practices we did before the games though, on Sunday,” said Lightridge sophomore and flag football athlete Ashley Hughes.
Regardless of the challenges she faces with implementing the sport, Schrader and the girls on the team recognize the potential.
“Many of the girls on the various teams are meeting with their principals,” said Schrader. “They are going to the school board meetings. They are doing something for the greater good that will last forevermore. These girls are asking, ‘why should we be the last to bring it to our state or county?’ Fourteen other states have already done it. What are we waiting for?”
VHSL was contacted and given the opportunity to comment on the adoption of Flag Football as an official sport, but never responded.
