This past year, one of the fastest-growing sports in high schools wasn’t basketball or soccer, it was girls' flag football. Participation skyrocketed, with nearly 1,000 new programs added nationwide. Teams are popping up everywhere and the energy is contagious.
I can tell you firsthand, it’s a blast! My own high school, Ward Melville on Long Island, now has a girls' flag football program and it’s been incredible to see. The games are so much fun, the sidelines are packed and most importantly, the girls love it. It’s a great option for athletes who don’t necessarily see themselves in the traditional “stick and ball” sports like lacrosse, softball or field hockey.
At first glance, it’s just another sport finding its place. But if you look closer, it’s teaching us something important about the way kids connect with sports; and what parents can take from it.
1. Kids Want to Try Something New
The rise of flag football shows that when you create space for kids to try something unexpected, they’ll show up. Sometimes they don’t want to play the “standard” sport. They want to step into something fresh, exciting and theirs. As parents, that means being open to opportunities, even if it’s not the path we imagined.
2. Accessibility Matters
Flag football works because it feels welcoming. You don’t need years of training, an expensive club team or endless equipment to get started. That accessibility gives more kids the courage to join. For us, it’s a reminder that the best opportunities for our athletes aren’t always the biggest or flashiest, they’re the ones that let them belong.
3. Fun Can Spark Resilience
Flag football is competitive, sure, but the fun factor is huge. The kids are smiling, celebrating, and building confidence while learning the game. And here’s the truth: when kids are having fun, they’re more likely to keep going when it gets tough. As parents, we don’t have to chase toughness by piling on pressure. Sometimes resilience grows best when joy comes first.
4. The Lesson for Us
Sports are evolving. New programs are being added, old structures are shifting and opportunities look different than they did when we were growing up. If our kids show interest in something new—even if it feels like a curveball—it might just be the very thing that keeps them engaged and growing.