In recent years there has been a rise in popularity and interest in girls’ flag football, making it one of the fastest growing sports leagues in the country. Girls flag football has also gained a lot of public support in recent years. During the Superbowl this past year there was a commercial promoting the growth of girls’ flag football, featuring Diana Flores, a member of Mexico’s women’s national flag football team. Our local NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks, has pledged support to help local schools develop new programs for girls to participate in this sport.  

Last year, the Metro League debuted flag football with schools like Holy Names adding it to their options of winter sports, but girls’ flag football has yet to become an official high school sport. With the growing number of girls wanting to participate in flag football, it begs the question of if Seattle Prep will add this sport like other schools in the area have done. 

Currently, Seattle Prep is looking into adding girls flag football as an after-school activity. Seattle Prep Athletic Director Sam Reed said, “Yeah, it is one we are exploring.”  

He also added, “In terms of flag football, it happens at a good time in our calendar.”  

Flag football is played during the months of January and February during the winter season when there aren’t as many choices available for girls or boys to participate in athletics. The addition of the sport would give girls another opportunity to participate in sports during the winter season.  

At this point in the discussion, Reed said, “It is something that we are kind of exploring for as soon as this winter, but there are still some things to work out still.” 

Before a new sport can be added to the list of offerings there are some criteria that have to be looked through regarding the creation of a new team. One thing that must be taken into consideration is what the pros and cons of adding a new activity would be. Not only that, but you have consider how many people are interested in the sport, the amount of equipment and practice space needed, and most importantly how it would affect the sports that Prep currently has.  

Reed said, “We don’t want to hurt the sports that we already have by taking some of those athletes away from what they’re already doing.”  

Unlike sports like water polo, girls flag football doesn’t face as many of the barriers to be added as a sports team. 

 “With girls flag football, a lot of those things that become hard conversations, in this example are pretty easy.” said Reed. Practice space would be easier to find, there isn’t much equipment needed, and there would be opponents in the area to play.  

When asked about the possibility of having a girls’ flag football team, freshman Katelyn Felton said, “Yeah, I think I’d be cool if they were able to do it because would allow more girls to participate in sports.”  

When asked the same question, Katie Johnson said, “One hundred percent, I would love to go out to the games.”