The version of American football without tackles, quickly develops among young girls in the United States, to the point that a professional League is in gestation.
The practice of flag, a version of American football without tackles, spreads like a trail of powder among young girls in the United States, towed by the prospect of its inclusion at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, to the point that a professional league is in gestation.
“It is the young version of the pickleball, (…) sport with the strongest growth in women at the moment”gets carried away Michael Colt, comparing the flag to racket sport which is all the rage among over 30 years old across the Atlantic.
At 44, the Coach of the State Setate Island Giants, champions of the United States in less than 18 years last year, is already a legend in this new York district, the most unknown.
Since he co -founded the club in 2019, his young teams have gleaned a shovel of national titles and sent several of their players to the national team.
“We fought for everything”explains Michael Colt. “We wanted to put ourselves aside. (…) At our beginnings, no one wanted to train girls. “
The trajectory of the Giants marries that of this sport, still confidential six years ago but practiced, in 2024, by nearly 270,000 girls from 6 to 17 years old, according to the USA Football Federation.
When Brielle Caetano, 14, talks about the flag, which she has played since kindergarten, people “Are in shock”incredulous. “And even more when I explain to them that it allows you to have university scholarships.”
“American football has always been considered a boy’s sport”recalls Annie Falcone, 16, associated with the image of «tackle football»with contacts, helmets and protections. “But the flag has taken so much among girls of all ages …”
In Flag, most often played at 5 against 5 (7 against 7 sometimes), stop a player requires catching one of the two strips of fabric hung on her hips, and no physical obstruction, which drastically reduces the risks of injury and concussion, a scourge in American football.
Investors are ready
“In 30 years in sport, I have never seen a discipline take off like Flag”appreciates Scott Hallenbeck, managing director of USA Football, for whom “Girls and women are walking.”
-“Many is to put the NFL and its clubs to credit, which are really growing to develop this game”considers the leader of a federation who now focuses on structuring an elite sector for Flag, among boys and girls.
The NFL, Professional American Football League, the most powerful championship in the world financially, notably organized, in July 2024, its own national flag tournament for young people, girls and boys, with sponsors and television broadcasting contract.
“This is probably one of their best cards to grow internationally, if not the best”estime Scott Hallenbeck.
All powerful in the United States, the NFL struggles to federate beyond its borders, apart from a handful of countries like Germany or Mexico, while its basketball rival, the NBA, is a global phenomenon.
The integration of Flag Football for the Los Angeles Games produced in any case already its effect, three years from the deadline. “It is a source of motivation for me and for young girls now”describes Annie Falcone.
Flag offers girls new opportunities “That they would not have had before”enthuses Candice Strano, one of the referent mothers of the club.
“I would have liked to have that when I was at school”slides, sparkling eye, Amanda Sica-Irizarry, another mother involved in the logistics of the Staten Island Giants, supported financially by the NFL of the New York Giants.
The NFL already sees further than the Olympic Games and studies “Very actively the opportunity to create a professional, male and female professional league”explained his operational boss in early February, Roger GOODELL.
The latter said that she has already received proposals from several leading investor groups.
“They try to bring together sponsors”rejoices Michael Colt, for whom “It will be a professional sport by 2032”.
