The Icebox is smiling somewhere… girls flag football comes to PA

About a dozen schools in Michigan playing in the fall; no MHSAA tournament yet, but word is that's probably two years away.

Also in the organizational/club sports stage in Michigan high schools: Girls Rugby, which I would think would be in DIRECT competition with flag football for most of the same athletes.

In Michigan, girls lacrosse, which is an up and coming thing, plays in the spring, drawing athletes from soccer, softball, track and field and tennis.

At some point, you just run out of bodies.

 

Texas could squeeze it in during the fall because for girls there is just volleyball, cross country and team tennis. A few schools have started playing water polo, but none locally. (There is golf as well, but fall is the silly season.)

 

Fall here, along with volleyball, tennis, golf, cross country and water polo. Lots of midweek games with the officials shortage. It's a sport that hasn't been taken over by the club scene yet and for girls looking for a break from softball, a nice alternative.

 

You know, I hadn't even considered tennis and volleyball. Both are in season now.

That's a lot of sports offerings.

 

Do they play soccer in the spring in Texas and Florida?

 

Yes to Texas

 

California's the same as most other states for girls sports, save water sports. Hoops, soccer and wrestling in winter, softball, swimming, track and beach volleyball in spring.

 

I like it because it’s not a sport of privilege.

You want to start, or even make, the high school girls basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, field hockey, swim, gymnastics teams? You need to have played travel… for years.

This? I don’t see this sport turning into that. Sure, you can play travel for it, but you’re not beating out the more athletic kid who doesn’t have thousands of disposable income in their family budget.

 

Somewhat the same point I made, but I'm coming from a different direction with it.

Athletes are a subset of the female student population. And with few exceptions, those young ladies have been playing travel for years and will either burn out on sports or follow through with it. I don't think what's left makes for much of a player pool for flag football. Maybe if you're a mega-school.

 

Florida plays soccer in the winter.

 

Texas soccer is more of a winter-spring sport. Season starts right after New Year’s Day and ends in late March. Playoffs run until the middle of April.

 

I think it can also be a sport that's a "breather" for some girls wanting a break from a summer of travel ball in other sports, like water polo was in the last place I worked full-time in the business. Work some different muscle groups and expands social circles beyond the diamond or court. When we launched all-county teams, we had girls who doubled in other sports along with those who were dedicated water polo players/swimmers. Heck, we even had a couple who were in water polo as well as cheerleading, including an MVP.