NEW YORK — This July, the nation's top flag football teams will gather in Canton, Ohio for NFL FLAG's annual All-32 Tournament. It was such a big moment that it was reported on national television.
And attention is focused on the women's category.
surprised? Please don't let that happen. Football is no longer a male-dominated, full-contact sport. Flag's explosive growth has also brought young women onto the playing field, with some playing at an elite level.
They are part of a movement involving more than 20 million people in more than 100 countries. The appeal of flag football is that it opens doors for people who have traditionally been on the sidelines, including girls, women, people with disabilities and families who can't afford full-contact equipment. Simply put, Flag is the most comprehensive and accessible version of America's most popular sport.
It's football for everyone.
That's why Canton, the birthplace of the NFL, is the perfect place to showcase talented young players of both genders.
But this tournament brings questions of fairness to the forefront. Players on the men's team will return home with options including state-sanctioned college soccer.
For girls it's a different story. Despite its popularity, girls' flag is an official high school sport in only nine states. Although Ohio State has not yet participated, there is a surge in young women looking forward to and anticipating this historic opportunity.
The stakes matter. Universities today are recruiting for women's flag football programs and offering scholarships that didn't exist a few years ago. Countries are adding athletes to their national teams in preparation for the sport's debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Girls who are able to play on varsity teams are in a great position to take advantage of these opportunities. People who can't do it can't do it. That's reason enough to fully sanction the women's flag in Ohio.
If it's still not selling, check the demand.
The women's league, led by the Cleveland Browns and Northeast Ohio Flag Football, expanded from nine high school teams to 30 in 2023, its second year of operation. That number could double by 2024. Bellaire Midpark High School has so many student-athletes interested in kickoff in April that it is considering adding a junior varsity team.
Another pilot in the Cincinnati area is on a similar trajectory. The Bengals and his six girls' high schools, sponsored by USA Football, have full members for their first season this spring.
Approximately 500,000 girls under the age of 17 participate in Flag in the United States. In 2022-2023, nearly 21,000 girls participated in organized high school leagues. This represents an 86% increase over four years, and that percentage will rise dramatically as other states join.
Ohio State has a chance to make a statement.
The influential Ohio High School Coaches Association's board of directors took an impromptu vote in February to unanimously approve girls flag football as a sport in the OHSCA, a key hurdle before the Ohio High School Athletic Association can begin discussions. We cleared it and delivered that voice.
The people of Ohio can make recognition undeniable. If your high school doesn't fly the flag, speak up. When a sorority starts up in your town, and it always will, they'll be the first to try it out. Spread the word. Coach your team. Share your story of becoming a referee.
It's personal to me. Our son Taron Vincent played defensive tackle at Ohio State University. His playing career began at the flag. Eventually, he moved to boys tackle. National teams, scholarship offers, opportunities to play professionally, and transferable life skills all followed.
My daughters also played as flag athletes, but without the option of being a student-athlete, their path would have stopped there.
Thankfully, times have changed.
By giving young women the opportunity to play for their high school flag, the Buckeye State sends a message to families like mine that football and everything that comes with it is indeed for everyone. I'll probably send it.
Troy Vincent Sr. is the National Football League's vice president of football operations and a five-time Pro Bowler. He also serves as co-chair of his Vision28, which is leading the inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Olympics.
Do you have something to say on this topic?
* Send a letter to the editor. Publication in print will be considered.
* For general questions about the Editorial Board or comments or corrections about this opinion column, please email Elizabeth Sullivan, Director of Opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
