Kyle Cooper is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Deer Valley High School for AZPreps365.com

Shots were fired, comrades were wounded, and a nation was crying for an end to the destruction. In the 1940s, more than 16 million Americans served in the United States Armed Forces, with 291,557 killed and 671,278 wounded. Moments of bliss were hard to come by in such dire circumstances, but the invention of "Touch and Tail football" put smiles on tired faces. 

Eighty years ago, a game known as flag football was invented so that the American military could stay fit during wartime without suffering injuries. After the war, the first national flag football organization was formed in the 1960s in St. Louis, Missouri. 

The sport has evolved and has been played throughout the decades. Now, men's and women's teams are being formed worldwide to play in events like the World Games. The flag-pulling and non-tackle game also recently gained approval from the International Olympic Committee for inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.  

"Now that the Olympics is showcasing flag football, it will likely snowball down to the high school level," CEO of Varsity Sports Vince D'Aliesio said. Varsity Sports is an educational organization based in Phoenix that live streams various high school sports, including girl's flag football. 

Mountain View teammates Izzy Leavitt (left) and Sadie Garnder (right) pose with their team in a game this season. (Mark Jones photo/MaxPreps.com)

Flag football is gaining recognition on the biggest stages and sparking interest in high schools across the United States. Arizona is the most recent state to make it a sanctioned high school sport, followed by Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and New York. 

"The major factor behind adding flag football as a sanctioned sport was the participation levels,” said Seth Polansky, the Arizona Interscholastic Association's (AIA) director of sports information. “It was growing rapidly in several school districts." 

According to the NFL, in the U.S., 15,716 girls played varsity high school flag football in 2021-22, representing a 40% increase over three years. 

"When the AIA announced,” Polansky said, "that it was adding flag football in December of 2022 there were 33 schools participating. When the 2023-24 school year started, 55 schools took part in the inaugural season." 

The growth of the sport mirrors the rise of the popularity of lacrosse across the state of Arizona where 24 schools have girls lacrosse teams and 55 have boys teams.

"Girls flag football,” D’Aliesio said, “will be like the sport of girls lacrosse in the state of Arizona. Lacrosse is one of the largest girls sports organizations in Arizona, and the participation is massive." 

While lacrosse is growing in popularity, it is yet to be made a high school-sanctioned sport in Arizona. These teams are clubs, and anyone can join.

But, unlike lacrosse, flag football is getting more nationwide attention. In 2020, Denver Broncos quarterback Russel Wilson became a chairman and co-owner of NFL Flag. The NFL is projecting that 750,000 players will be involved in NFL flag leagues by 2024. With the support of major organizations and continual marketing, the sport experienced significant growth in high schools in Arizona. 

"I think the number of girls joining the sport at our school will double," Deer Valley flag football coach Zackary Cortez said. "It was clear during the season that the sport would grow in popularity as we had girls asking to join the team midseason, but it was already too late." 

Not only will more girls participate, but new opportunities will be created. Deer Valley saw many players join the team who had yet to play any sports at the high school level.

Deer Valley senior Edyn Hartman. (Mark Jones photo/MaxPreps.com)

 

"We had quite a few girls who have never played a sport before and some that had," Cortez said. "Those who hadn't played a sport were excited to be out there every day to play a new sport. You got to see how it opened their horizons as athletes. They saw themselves differently compared to the start of the season. Now they can play the sport again or go and play a different one." 

The Women's Sports Foundation revealed that girls have 1.3 million fewer high school athletic opportunities than boys. With limited access, girls often stay in class rather than being able to go out and play a sport on the field. 

"One of the major tenets of the AIA," Polansky said "is to create opportunities for high school students to participate in athletics and activities. Adding girls flag football was a great way to do that."

Along with Deer Valley, the Mountain View Toros have witnessed a great response to adding girls flag football. The Toros (9-3) defeated Mountain Ridge (8-5) in the AIA Flag Football 6A championship last Saturday.

"This sport is an opportunity for girls," Mountain View coach Jesus Arzaga said. "They can see a different side of athletics. Most of our girls play other sports as well, so with flag football, it opens their minds to see what they can achieve. Football is a versatile sport, so they all are learning new abilities and can use that in other sports in the future." 

High school flag football is opening doors for girls as they become better athletes and consider playing it in college.

Mountain View wide receiver Annabelle Curtis warms up for a game against Xavier Prep. (Mark Jones photo/MaxPreps.com)

 

"It has been a lot of fun," Toros wide receiver Annabelle Curtis said. "Especially now that we are in the playoffs. It's a new sport, so there is an adjustment period for us, and we are getting used to it. All of our team is committed, and we show up to practice. We give 110% every day."

The Toros have seen substantial support from fans, parents, and the community. 

As the sport gains traction at the high school level, it remains to be seen what kind of impact it will make at the college level. According to the NFL, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Junior College Athletic Association provide girls with opportunities. Additionally, more than 100 NCAA schools have expressed interest.

"The groups leading the flag football programs across the Valley were very vocal and involved in expanding the sport," Polansky said. "They were the driving force for having the sport added. This support will hopefully lead to scholarships if colleges add it more and more, and it becomes an NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA sport."

For now, the future is bright for high schools, and hundreds of girls will get the opportunity to play the sport. With the first fall season coming to a close, flag football will look to further its success next season. 

"The response has been amazing," Polansky said. "On top of adding 22 schools between December of 2022 and August of 2023, the AIA anticipates the number of schools participating will be over 100 by the 2025-26 school year. If the growth rate remains the same prior to the next school year, it is anticipated a third conference classification will be created to support the number of teams."