BY IZELL REESE
12.16.2024
Having played professional football for seven years, saying “football has changed my life” is a vast understatement. As an Alabama native and walk-on at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, I could never have imagined how far this sport would take me.
Football taught me about leadership, teamwork, perseverance and inclusion. But for decades, this same opportunity hasn’t been as accessible to girls.
Since retiring, I’ve committed to changing this reality by creating a pathway for girls and women to play through RCX Sports and NFL Flag. Thanks to numerous industry leaders, we’re nearly there.
The rise of girls’ flag football has been extraordinary. What began as a grassroots effort has quickly evolved into a sport capturing global attention. In just five years, women’s flag football became a sanctioned sport in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and earned a spot in the 2028 Summer Olympics. High school participation has also soared, with 42,955 girls participating in the 2023-24 season — a 105% increase from the previous year. Nearly half a million girls age 6 to 17 played flag football nationwide in 2023, and the number continues to rise.
The message is clear — girls want to play flag football. As this pathway expands, one crucial gap remains: NCAA membership sponsorship.
This article was originally published by Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal…continue reading here