NFL Expands Flag Football: Pro Leagues, High School Girls & Special Olympics Updates
✨ Coach, Parents & Player Tips
Coach’s Clipboard: Run a “one‐hand only” flag-pull drill to force defenders to stay low, balanced, and hunt with intent—handicap just enough to spark laughs and lock in those solid fundamentals.
Postgame Parents: Game-day morning, have your kiddo shout out their top two go-to plays and crank out two quick “air flag” pulls in the hallway—this lightning check locks in their game plan, fires up their muscles, and might even earn a giggle before you hit the car.
Players Snap: Double-knot your cleats and tape any loose gear before stepping on the field—no one remembers your highlight reel after you trip over your own shoe.
🔎 Feature Story
🏅 NFL to expand into flag football
The NFL announced it will launch separate professional flag football leagues for men and women, formalizing a new non-contact competitive circuit. This move underscores the sport’s rising popularity and marks the league’s first expansion into flag football, aiming to boost gender equity and fan engagement.
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🌍 Regional Roundup
Ohio: The Williams County Special Olympics flag football team won the Division 3 regional championship at Defiance College and will compete at the state meet on October 25 at the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Complex in Hilliard. The tournament’s inaugural skills event also brought together 16 beginner athletes from Williams, Defiance and Henry counties to develop flag football fundamentals.
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California: Lynbrook High School has fielded its first girls flag football team this fall after sustained outreach efforts and informational meetings, offering a no-cut program to promote gender inclusivity in a traditionally male sport. The team, formed through multiple campus campaigns, aims to build interest toward establishing both JV and varsity squads.
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Alabama: The University of North Alabama will add women’s flag football as a varsity sport for the 2026–27 academic year, becoming the state’s second Division I program and among the first six schools nationally to sponsor the emerging NCAA sport. The move follows rapid growth in Alabama high school and community college flag football and aligns with the AHSAA’s recent championship inclusion.
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⭐ Player Spotlight
Sara Chen – Freshman Player, Lynbrook High School Girls Flag Football Team. Sara’s enthusiasm and hard work helped establish Lynbrook’s inaugural girls flag football squad, breaking new ground in a traditionally male-dominated sport and inspiring her peers to join the field.
“It’s hard at first, but it gets easier. It’s really fun, especially if you have a friend to do it with,” freshman Sara Chen said.
📈 Flag Growth Focus
🔥 Raiders Special Olympics Partnership
The Las Vegas Raiders hosted the Special Olympics of Nevada flag football regional tournament at Intermountain Health Performance Center, uniting athletes and coaches from Las Vegas, Mesquite and Henderson for a showcase and multi-game competition. Raiders alumni and staff led skills clinics and awards presentations, reinforcing an NFL franchise’s commitment to expanding access and visibility for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
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⚡ FlagSnap Daily Blitz
🏁 Final Whistle
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
— Jimmy Johnson
