Buffalo Bills Hosts Annual Modified Girls Flag Football Kickoff for NCAA Emerging Sport
✨ Coach, Parents & Player Tips
Coach’s Clipboard: Invent a quick “power salute” (like a two-finger tap to the helmet or a wrist flick) that teammates flash whenever someone makes a great play or hustle—watch morale skyrocket and your sideline turn into a secret ninja positivity squad.
Postgame Parents: Coach your kid to cradle the ball with both hands—elbows in, like it’s their favorite teddy bear—so they fumble less, dodge more flags, and you can finally breathe easy on the sidelines!
Players Snap: Grab a protein-packed snack (turkey sandwich, Greek yogurt, whatever) within 30 minutes after practice—fuel up or your muscles will feel like cooked spaghetti when you try to explode off the line.
🔎 Feature Story
🏅 An incredible experience’ | Buffalo Bills host annual Modified Girls Flag Football Kickoff with appearances by two Bills players
The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and Buffalo Bills Foundation, welcomed nearly 40 modified girls flag football teams to the Kaleida Health Performance Center for skills drills, scrimmages and interactive sessions that spotlight the sport’s rapid growth. This annual kickoff underscores expanding investment in girls flag football as it nears NCAA Emerging Sports status and prepares for its 2028 Olympic debut.
“Words cannot describe what it means to be at this facility for the Modified Flag Football Kickoff as a first-year team,” Orchard Park Modified Flag Football head coach Mike Cieslik said. “The effort the Buffalo Bills put in to get us here, support us with resources and encourage the girls and the pursuit of their dreams; it’s just an incredible experience.”
🌍 Regional Roundup
Pittsburgh, PA: On April 17 at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills, children aged 4 to 8 took part in an NFL-style spring draft organized by the Pittsburgh National League, now an official NFL affiliate since its YMCA inception in 2004, marking continued growth in youth flag football programming.
🔗 Read More
Michigan: University of Michigan’s women’s flag football team has persisted through cold-weather practices and lack of funding to prepare for its first standalone Big Ten game, reflecting statewide participation gains and ongoing efforts to secure official support and expand youth outreach.
🔗 Read More
Ohio: John Carroll University will add women’s flag football as its 26th varsity sport in spring 2027 following state high school sanctioning and the NCAA’s emerging sports designation, with Felicia Teeter—formerly of Bethel University—hired to lead the program and strengthen the regional college pipeline.
🔗 Read More
Arlington, TX: James Martin High School is defending its state championship in the inaugural girls flag football season while UT Arlington prepares to launch a Division I program in spring 2027, buoyed by strong participation, NFL-backed clinics, and growing support from coaches and local districts.
🔗 Read More
⭐ Player Spotlight
Alia Pasternak – Founder and Player, USC Club Flag Football Team. At just 19 years old, Pasternak organized USC’s women’s flag football program in under three months, led her squad to the inaugural Division I Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, and earned all-tournament honors.
“It’s an opportunity to show our athletic department that this needs to be a varsity sport,” she said.
📈 Flag Growth Focus
🔥 Pittsburgh Youth Draft
Children aged 4–8 took part in an NFL-style live draft at Penn Hills’ Linton Middle School to launch the Pittsburgh National League’s spring tournament. Established in 2004 as a YMCA program, the PNL is now an official NFL affiliate, expanding youth flag football with pro-level experiences.
🔗 Read More
🏈 JCU Varsity Debut
John Carroll University will add women’s flag football as its 26th varsity sport in spring 2027, joining 39 states offering the game and aligning with the NCAA’s Emerging Sports program. Led by coach Felicia Teeter, the new program aims to expand competitive opportunities for women on campus.
🔗 Read More
📈 Texas Flag Football Surge
Arlington High saw 73 girls try out for its inaugural flag football season while UTA prepares to launch Texas’s first Division I program in spring 2027 under coach Melinda Nguyen. Backed by the Dallas Cowboys and with 30 states now offering girls flag football, both programs highlight the sport’s rapid expansion at the high school and collegiate levels.
🔗 Read More
⚡ FlagSnap Daily Blitz
Three North Allegheny seniors—Danika Hogan, Maddie Williams and Luci Zagacki—were selected for the Pennsylvania Big 33 Classic all-star games May 22–24 at Cumberland Valley High School.
👉 Read Full Article
After winter practices outdoors with no facilities, Michigan’s women’s flag football squad prepares for its first standalone Big Ten matchup against Indiana this spring.
👉 Read Full Article
Montclair State’s Red Hawks are chronicling their inaugural ECAC/Jets flag football season in a four-part documentary series now streaming on the ECAC website.
👉 Read Full Article
Camden Catholic’s inaugural girls flag football coach, Barbara Hertline, was named Eagles Girls Flag Football Coach of the Week after leading her team to a 12-5-1 record and spearheading community service initiatives.
👉 Read Full Article
Eastern University quarterback Kira Green (706 passing yards, eight passing TDs, eight rushing TDs) was honored as ECAC Offensive Player of the Week, while Long Island’s Mani Boyd (20 sacks in three games) earned Defensive Player of the Week.
👉 Read Full Article
Second-seeded SUNY Brockport and No. 4 Elmira College will meet in the inaugural Empire 8 women’s flag football championship on April 24 after their respective 47-18 and 34-26 semifinal wins.
👉 Read Full Article
🏁 Final Whistle
“I don’t like to lose—at anything—yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks.”
— Serena Williams
