From college scholarships to the 2028 Olympics, girls’ flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. This fall, it’s arriving in Fairfax County high schools. The pilot program, funded by a grant from the Washington Commanders, will establish a competitive league for female athletes by starting a flag football team at each school.

The launch of flag football continues FCPS’s trend of widening its athletic opportunities, which in recent years has included the introduction of girls’ wrestling and boys’ volleyball. This initiative seems to show that the county is looking to provide unique sporting options for students by breaking down typical gender barriers in high school athletics, while also creating a sense of ownership and enthusiasm for the players involved.

For students, the excitement is already building as the season approaches. Many players see the chance to join the school’s inaugural flag football team as an opportunity that will leave a mark on a community so focused on sports. Participation in a new program gives athletes a sense of ownership, as they can directly help to shape team culture and traditions that will hopefully continue on in the future.

“I decided to join the team because it seemed fun, and also super cool to be part of the first team ever at Madison,” player Abigail Glassman (’28) said. 

For Glassman, flag football is not only about playing the game, but about building strong connections with other athletes. 

“I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone on the team and growing as a team throughout the season,” Glassman said.

For high school students, sports often play a key role in forming new friendships that extend beyond their grade level or typical social circle. Being part of a team gives players a chance to connect with classmates that they might not interact with in their daily routines.

“I am most looking forward to just getting to be around people that I wouldn’t normally talk to or see,” Ellie Small (’28) said. “I joined the team because it is an amazing opportunity to be part of something brand new. I have also always enjoyed the sport and felt like this could be something really fun.”

While some players joined the team to step outside of their comfort zone and try something new, others, like Small, came in with prior flag football experience. As the popularity for the sport grows across the country, opportunities for young girls to play flag football are expanding in Vienna, with local programs like i9 Sports, Flag Star Football and Vienna Youth, Inc. providing elementary and middle school students with a chance to play the game. Leagues and clubs like these help prepare younger players for high school competition by teaching them the basic skills, rules and teamwork that will give them a head start when joining a school team.

This mix of new and experienced players gives the team a unique energy and excitement that sets the program apart from the more traditional sports that students may already know from outside of school. For many, it is not just about the practices and games, but about blazing a trail for women in typically male-dominated sports as well as the opportunity to help start something entirely new. As the season begins, that sense of being part of a first-ever team is exactly what motivates athletes like Small.

“I would say students thinking about trying out for the team should do it,” Small said. “When are you ever going to be a part of something like this? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you should take it.”