USA FOOTBALL’S GIRLS’ FLAG GRANT BREAKS BARRIERS TO OLYMPIC SPORT
USA Football is supporting organizations nationwide as they provide more opportunities for girls and women
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – USA Football, the sport’s National Governing Body responsible for selecting, training and leading Team USA Football for events like the 2028 Summer Olympics, is awarding its annual Girls’ Flag Grant to four organizations as part of its efforts to grow the game and support the development of programs that provide girls with opportunities to play America’s favorite sport.
Since its creation in 2022, the Girls’ Flag Grant has been awarded to 16 programs nationwide, promoting the sport’s exponential growth as more states move to sanction it as a high school varsity sport for girls. The previous 12 grant recipients received more than $155,000 total in equipment and direct support.
“We’re very proud of the success of the Girls’ Flag Grant and all of the opportunities it has created for young girls to feel welcomed into our sport. It’s a joy to support so many ambitious volunteers and their communities,” said USA Football Senior Director of Grants Beth Porreca. “We also recognize the importance of building sustainable programs. That’s why the grant is more than a one-time assist. Recipients receive support for three years, ensuring they are able to plan, start and grow their programs.”
The need for additional girls’ flag football programs to meet the sport’s rapid growth has never been more evident. According to USA Football research, in the 10 years from 2015 through 2024, the number of girls ages six to 12 playing flag football increased 283%, crossing 144,500 participants. During the same time period, there was a 57% increase in flag participation among girls ages 6-17. More than 267,200 girls ages six to 17 played flag in 2024.
The four recipients of this year’s USA Football Girls’ Flag Grant are Bensalem Ramblers Football and Cheer in Bensalem, Pa., Chippewa Falls Youth Football in Chippewa Falls, Wis., Junior Lady Vipers Flag Football in Buckeye, Ariz. and Helena Small Fry Football in Helena, Mont.
“Receiving the USA Football Girls’ Flag Grant will be a significant step in helping our organization expand and strengthen our program. The funding will allow us to provide essential equipment, enhance safety and offer structured skill development for players of all experience levels,” said Junior Lady Vipers President Donnell Williams. “The grant will directly support our efforts to reach more girls, create more competitive opportunities and build a sustainable pipeline from youth leagues to high school programs. Most importantly, it will help level the playing field for girls in our community who otherwise may not have access to quality training or resources.
“I would like to sincerely thank USA Football for giving our program the opportunity to accelerate our efforts to bring the game I love—flag football—to our community. We’ve already seen strong momentum and growing excitement from our players as they begin to develop a real passion for the sport. The Girls’ Flag Grant will be instrumental in helping us expand our reach, grow the game, and effectively train the increasing number of new players joining our program.”
Police Athletic Leagues of South Florida received the Girls’ Flag Grant in 2023. The league began its girls’ flag program in 2024 with eight teams before quickly expanding to 12 in 2025 and celebrating its growth at the second annual PAL Girls Flag Football League Championship.
“The grant was instrumental. By providing the necessary equipment and informational material with rules, coaching practices and the opportunity to get our coaches certified, USA Football made it so we didn’t have to re-invent the wheel,” said PALs of South Florida Executive Director, Tim Albury. “The grant also meant that we didn’t have to go out there and try to find ways to raise the money to put on this program. Police Athletic Leagues are non-profits and rely heavily on donations and fundraising. This opportunity was a great fit for us. Without the girls’ flag grant, it probably would’ve taken us another year to get the program started.”
The Girls’ Flag Grant is tailored to each organization’s needs and may include game and field equipment, uniforms, sports bras, marketing support with graphics kits, practice guides, rulebooks, coach education materials and access to additional support from USA Football’s staff. USA Football supplies grant recipients with support for three years, aiding in the planning and development of programs.
“The grant has given us the freedom to grow and not have to focus on fundraising or charging people more because we’ve had this support from USA Football that has allowed us to focus on what is important,” said 2023 Girls’ Flag Grant recipient and Palos Verdes Youth Football and Cheer (PVYFC) President, Holly Woesner. “I was blown over by what USA Football has done for us. I’m just so grateful to have that wealth of knowledge and support.”
Flag football provides a clear path for girls and women to get started in America’s favorite sport and compete from youth through college and up to the international level. High school girls’ flag football is now sanctioned as a varsity sport in 16 states. Many more states have pilot programs and are progressing toward sanctioning the sport.
“This is more than just a one or two year trend,” said Porreca. “Girls and women love football, and they’re finally getting more chances to pursue their passion for the sport. There’s no telling how far flag football will go by the time it makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.”
Opportunities in flag football also exist at the collegiate level. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) universities offer scholarships in women’s flag football. Both the NAIA and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) hold flag football national championships annually.
“I’ve witnessed the sport’s incredible growth over the years,” Williams said. “With flag football becoming an Olympic sport in 2028 and colleges beginning to offer varsity programs and scholarships, it’s an exciting time for the game. I’m proud to be part of this movement and thrilled to see girls finally getting the recognition and opportunities they’ve long deserved.”
Flag football’s momentum is carrying it toward even greater heights in college. This past February, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics recommended that Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add flag football as part of its Emerging Sports for Women program.
Elite flag football is played on the world’s stage at events like The World Games, International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Continental and World Championships and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. USA Football’s U.S. Women’s National Team has won three consecutive IFAF World Championships and hold the top spot in the world rankings.
The U.S. Women’s National Team will be in action at The World Games 2025 next week in Chengdu, China from Aug. 14-17 as they seek their first gold medal in the event. Fans may catch all the action live at live.theworldgames.org. The U.S. will compete against seven of the best teams from around the world. A full schedule for the event is available here.
USA Football offers grant opportunities throughout the year to enrolled organizations. It is free to enroll with USA Football. To learn more or to apply for available grants, visit usafootball.com/grants.
About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.