The 2024 Girls’ Flag Football team will forever go down in TJ sports history. photo by Anne Rice
This past spring, the Colorado High School Activities Association announced that Girls’ Flag football is officially sanctioned as sport under the association.
Over the past couple of years Girls’ Flag Football has made its rise into high school sports all over the country. Here at TJ, Girls Flag Football has only been around for the past three years. It began as a pilot program funded by the Denver Broncos and the Denver Broncos foundation only in select high schools. And up until this past spring, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) recognized it as a sport.
Girls’ Flag Football has seen significant growth and recognition over the past few decades. Although the sport has roots dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, the first tournament was sanctioned by the United States Flag Football Association (USFFA) in 1974. With the sport gaining popularity and tournaments beginning to grow, in 1995 Diane Berudsen decided to create the first National Women’s Flag Football Association (NWFFA). The NWFFA traveled across the country offering clinics and teaching Flag Football. The mission was to promote the sport and inclusivity for athletic opportunities for girls. By the 2000s, states like Florida and California began hosting state championships, further legitimizing the sport. As one of the fastest growing sports, flag football will debut as an olympic sport in 2028. In Colorado, the Denver Broncos foundation launched the state’s girls Flag Football pilot program in 2021. The initial pilot program included 50 schools and 10 school districts all around the state. The program saw lots of success in its first year and saw an 161% increase of participation during the 2023 season.
The increase in participation led to the push to sanction it as a sport under CHSAA. On April 23rd, 2024, the association voted to officially sanction girls Flag Football as a high school sport. Colorado became the 11th state to do this, and girls Flag Football is the 33rd sport sanctioned by CHSAA and the 18th sanctioned sport for girls in the state. This push was a monumental moment for girls sports across Colorado. This decision not only reflects the growing popularity of the sport but it also emphasizes the commitment to providing equitable opportunities for girls in athletics. CHSAA commissioner Mike Krueger stated that, “This isn’t just about the game. It’s about empowerment, teamwork and breaking barriers. By embracing this sport, we’re not only fostering athleticism, but we’re remaining among the nation’s leaders in providing opportunities for female athletes to participate.” This initiative is just one step forward in promoting greater gender equality and expanding the landscape of high school athletics in colorado.
As for TJ, the decision came with great excitement. TJ’s Flag Football team is currently coached by head coach Suzanne Meyer and assistant coach Abigail Griffin. Meyer described the exact moment when she found out about the decision. “When you get excited about something you start screaming and yelling and that’s exactly how we reacted.” This excitement was deeper than just love for the sport, it was what it meant for the girls. This decision grants more opportunities and sets the sport at a higher level. Senior Amaya Sonoda explained that she felt “excited and nervous.” With the official sanationing came some changes. The rules changed from previous years and the girls had to relearn the game.
These changes haven’t stopped TJ Girls Flag Football is tackling these adjustments head on. The future of the program is just beginning and the 2024 team is paving the way for the next generation of flag football players at TJ. Meyer has hopes that the program will continue to flourish and see more girls “get involved in sports in general because this is a gateway.” The journey for TJ Girls’ Flag football is just beginning, and the excitement surrounding it promises a bright future for the program.
