Girls flag football makes varsity in GHSA
THOMASTON, Ga. (BVM) — Girls high school flag football has surged since its introduction into Georgia in 2018. The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, alongside the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, funded the sport that has seen growth every year of its existence thus far. It originally consisted of the 19 high schools in Gwinnett County.
Due to its overwhelming first year success that saw hundreds of girls try out, five more counties added the sport to their athletic departments in 2019 – Cherokee, Forsyth, Henry, Muscogee, Rockdale – bringing the total to 52 participating schools.
This year, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) announced the inevitable; it will officially recognize girls flag football as a state-wide varsity sanctioned sport starting in the fall of 2020.
Female student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a sport they’ve never had the chance to before, as well as earn the right to play at a premier venue. The Atlanta Falcons have arranged for state championship games to be played on their home field inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Last year’s first girls state championship winners were the Lady Blue Devils of Columbus High School. In their inaugural season they finished 9-0, outscoring opponents 237-0. Head coach Christian Grier spoke about the experiences his team had throughout the year.
“I know that for myself and a lot of the girls, it was our first time ever being there since it’s been built,” Grier said. “Watching the slow-mo instant replays and hearing your names called; it was a phenomenal experience.”
Georgia will be just the fourth state in the nation to recognize girls flag football as a varsity sport joining Florida, Alaska and Nevada. As far as the game has come already in these states, there is still the hope that it can continue to advance across the rest of the country. Grier believes the ceiling for the new sport goes even higher.
“I see this becoming a global sport,” Grier said. “I see it becoming a college sport, even professional; an NFL-type deal.”
Unlike traditional football, the game is played on an 80-yard field. There are three permanent first downs: one at mid-field, one at your own 20-yard line and one at your opponent’s 20-yard line. The game is played with two 20-minute halves and a running clock. Instead of field goal attempts, teams choose to go for extra points worth values of either one, two, or three. These riveting regulations make the game fast-paced and draw intrigued crowds.
In Georgia, the girls have been making the most of their chance to play football. Columbus junior linebacker Kelsey Human said that she was eager to try out for the team right when it was announced that the school was getting one. She added that the school’s annual powder puff football game wasn’t enough for her. Grier claims that many other girls felt the same way.
“I had 45 girls try out for the team the first season,” Grier said. “Because the Atlanta Falcons funded the whole thing, we were limited to 15 roster spots. I had to cut 30 girls, but it was exhilarating to see the turnout.”
With all 159 counties set to begin girls flag football in the fall, the future of the sport looks bright. Being a winter program, there are only a few other girls sports competing with football. Athletes from soccer and track and field, amongst others, will be available to participate if they choose. Now all over the Peach State, girls will be pioneering a sports movement according to Grier.
“These athletes are identified as trailblazers. They are paving the way for others to come and play.”