More than 40 high schools have inquired about joining the flag football league hosted by the New Orleans Saints.
NEW ORLEANS — Camille Liboul started attending Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans two years ago. But her soccer lessons are starting now.
“I'm a soccer player and I'm French, so I had no idea what soccer was,” Liboul told WWL Louisiana. “And I arrived about a year and a half ago, so I didn't even speak English, so I didn't know what soccer was.”
Leboul Français and Lycée Français are participating in a new girls' high school flag football league where experience doesn't matter, but passion does.
“Considering the size of the school and the number of players participating, I would say it was overwhelming,” said Lycée Français head coach Dante Scott. “Our high school has less than 300 students. We have 20 to 24 kids on our team.”
The aspirations behind this project extend beyond athletes.
The league was sponsored and operated by the New Orleans Saints, and equipment was provided free of charge by Nike.
“There is definitely interest,” said Elysia Broussard Sheridan, Saints senior director of youth sports development. “As you can see, there's definitely competition. We have dance teams, cheerleaders, young women who play other sports, and band members.”
The flag football league currently has 10 teams, but more than 40 schools are interested in participating this season. The ultimate goal is for the sport to be sanctioned by his LHSAA.
“The biggest thing that I've seen that resonates with girls is the opportunity to make history, to be a part of history, and knowing where this opportunity can lead.” explained Sheridan.
For Sheridan, who has been involved in soccer all his life, this is a dream project turned reality. And he has a chance to take this sport from NOLA to France and beyond.
“It's about contributing to this opportunity to provide this to young girls,” Sheridan said. “I wish this had been available when I was in high school. Hopefully, in a few years, the NCAA will adopt this as a college sport.”
“It will be featured in the 2028 Olympics,” she continued. “So we might see them at the 2028 Olympics.”
