For Northglenn High School senior Elle Taylor, playing flag football as a sport in Colorado was something she never imagined.
“I said, 'I don't know anything about football, I don't know anything about flag football, but I'd love to give it a try,'” Taylor said. “I fell in love almost instantly.”
That love affair began last fall when Taylor participated in the Adams 12 Five Star School District's girls flag football pilot season.
“It was really fun for me from learning how to throw the football to being the starting quarterback,” she said. “It's not just hitting and chaos. It's fun and technical and just having a good time with the people you love and the community you love.”
More than 150 girls participated in the district's pilot season, which was held at five high schools in the district, including Northglenn.
“While we are a little late in participating in the CHSAA pilot season, we have had a great interest in girls who traditionally play flag football,” said Kylie Russell, district athletics and activities director. Ta. “We had a Homecoming Powder Puff tradition at Adams 12, so we knew there would be a lot of girls participating in this.”
This week, the Colorado High School Activities Association officially announced Voted to recognize girls flag football as an official high school sport. In the case of Colorado.
“This is a historic moment,” said Mountain Range High School girls team coach Jody Turner. “Colorado ranks 11th out of 50 states in high school flag football.”
“I’m excited,” Russell said. “It's a no-brainer for this to be approved in my opinion. This is a win for women across the state of Colorado, and we all know the benefits that sports bring to the lives of children.”
Russell said sanctioning flag football as a high school girls' sport would provide a new avenue for girls like Taylor to participate in high school sports and get the recognition the sport deserves.
“There's going to be a postseason, there's going to be a state championship. It's a college sport now, so the girls are going to have a chance to letter,” Russell said. “We have set aside funding for this because it will be a new sport in the next cycle. Part of the funding for athletics will be to pay coaches, provide transportation for athletes, and pay for officials. It's going to go toward paying for things, potentially paying for equipment, which you're going to need, and you're going to need uniforms. ”
Turner, who has been involved in the sport for more than 12 years and now coaches, said he almost cried when he heard this week's announcement.
“I know how much flag football changed my life. In just one short year, the two and a half months I spent with these student-athletes, they were just a joy.”
Coach Turner said he knows this sport will result in: continue to expand Change the lives of young people in Colorado.
“With the Olympics coming up in 2028, Colorado girls will have a leg up and an edge to compete in that sport,” she said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a girl or girls from Colorado that made the Olympic team.”
Competition is already on Taylor's mind as he prepares to take on an official flag football season this fall.
“I think my oldest brother is one of my biggest supporters. He really wants me to try for the Olympics,” Taylor said.
But most of all, she hopes this news will encourage more girls to get involved in soccer.
“I think this is great and I think it's a step in the right direction for women's sports,” she said. “It was definitely one of the happiest moments of the past year.”
