Football

Girls flag football set to take the field at high schools across the Austin area through NFL partnership

By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

High school football is a religion in Texas, but soon, girls may have a league of their own.

At the last UIL summer meetings, girls flag football was on the table to become a new high school sport in Texas.

The measure was tabled, along with other sports that were considered. However, the growth of the sport and an NFL program launched by the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys, could make it a reality soon.

The Texans announced in February that it will launch a girls flag football pilot program at Pflugerville and Round Rock schools. Shortly after, Austin ISD announced a similar program through the Dallas Cowboys.

The Austin ISD program is spearheaded by AISD athletic coordinator Crystal Victorino, who announced a tournament will be held in May and a full league will start next spring.

Victorino said each of the 13 high schools within Austin ISD will field a team. Each team will play a round robin tournament on May 16-17 at Burger Stadium and the Burger Annex. The finals will be held on May 23 at House Park. The top eight teams will advance to the finals.

‘There has been a lot of student engagement within 24 hours after announcing it,” Victorino said. “We had 100 girls signed up and already hit 200 mark. The girls are excited.”

Currently 14 states recognize girls flag football as a high school sport, including Florida, California and New York. Texas, along with several other states, have pilot programs designed to evaluate interest.

The program at Pflugerville and Round Rock ISDs is a combined effort through the Houston Texans. Teams at Westwood, McNeil, Connally, Hendrickson, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Weiss high schools are confirmed for the Round Rock/Pflugerville league.

Victorino said she has connected with organizers at Pflugerville and Round Rock and said she feels there’s a lot of potential.

“We discussed how we could support each other in a big endeavor,” she said. “I would hope there’s a chance to partner in the future. I’m not sure what the plans are, but it would be fun.”

The UIL last added water polo in 2019 as a sanctioned high school sport and crowned its first state champion in 2021.

Several club sports, including lacrosse and rugby, have their own leagues. Both sports have been on the table for consideration for several years, but no action has been taking.

Girls flag football has rapidly grown thanks to the NFL’s partnership. Mississippi sanctioned the sport in January to become the 14th state that recognizes girls flag football as a sport.

Victorino said she believes the sport is going to take off in Texas.

“This will grow,” she said. “A lot of girls I’ve heard from are soccer players, softball players… they are excited. Thig gives another avenue for female athletes to showcase their talents and maybe use them in another sport.”