Girls’ flag football is experiencing explosive growth at the high school level, with participation surging by 25,000 players in the past year, while boys’ flag football remains a niche with only 825 participants nationwide, highlighting a stark gender disparity driven by safety concerns and cultural perceptions. This trend emerges as the NFL promotes flag football as a safer alternative, with plans for Olympic inclusion in 2028, yet boys face social stigma and limited pathways beyond high school.
Across the United States, high school girls’ flag football has become the fastest-growing sport, with nearly 1,000 more schools offering it in the 2024-2025 school year compared to the previous year, according to data from The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The NFL has been instrumental in this expansion, supporting youth leagues and initiatives that aim to make flag football an Olympic sport, with both women’s and men’s divisions scheduled for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This push reflects a broader effort to provide athletic opportunities while addressing injury risks associated with tackle football, particularly for girls seeking to engage in the sport.
In contrast, boys’ participation in flag football has declined, with only 825 boys playing at the high school level last school year, compared to 68,847 girls. This gap underscores the cultural challenges boys face when opting for flag over traditional tackle football, which remains deeply embedded in American high school culture with over a million participants. At Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco, the boys’ flag football team has dominated its local league with a 25-1 record over two seasons, yet players like quarterback Austin Sheepo encounter confusion from peers who view flag as primarily a girls’ sport.
Many boys choose flag football due to parental concerns about concussions and other injuries in tackle football. Sheepo, for instance, was recruited for tackle in middle school but was prohibited by his parents, leading him to embrace flag as a compromise that allows him to play football safely. His teammate, Briggs Cline, turned to flag after experiencing multiple concussions in childhood, highlighting how safety considerations are reshaping participation decisions. Coach Davion Fleming, a former college football player, emphasizes that flag football teaches strategic thinking and teamwork akin to tackle, even if it lacks the physical contact that defines traditional football.
Despite their success and dedication, the boys at Lick-Wilmerding grapple with the perception that flag football is inferior or less authentic. They watch NFL games avidly and study techniques online, but recognize that their version of the sport doesn’t command the same attention or machismo as tackle football. This tension is palpable in their experiences; they feel closer to the game they love yet excluded from the cultural rituals and crowds that accompany Friday night lights and varsity tackle teams.
The NFL’s broader initiatives include plans for professional flag football leagues and Olympic participation, intended to create a lifelong pathway for athletes wary of injuries. However, for boys, the lack of high school and college flag programs means they must navigate between safety and social acceptance. While girls’ flag football is gaining varsity status in colleges and visibility through events like the NFL’s Pro Bowl showcase, boys have no clear competitive outlet beyond intramural options, leaving them in a precarious position.
As flag football evolves, addressing this gender imbalance may require more schools to establish boys’ teams and shift cultural narratives around what constitutes “real” football. The sport’s growing prominence, fueled by Olympic dreams and professional ambitions, could eventually normalize flag for all athletes, but for now, boys like those at Lick-Wilmerding continue to play in the shadows of a tackle-dominated landscape.
In the coming years, the expansion of flag football promises to democratize the sport, offering safer alternatives and new opportunities. Yet, for boys, the journey remains complicated by tradition and expectation, underscoring the need for continued advocacy and structural changes to ensure that flag football can thrive for everyone, regardless of gender.
