Soccer has been one of many largest pastimes in American Historical past, trickling down from the skilled ranges to the collegiate recreation all the way down to the brilliant lights of Excessive Faculty soccer on Friday nights.
Nevertheless, we’ve seen a current surge in a sure type that has begun to take the world by storm: flag soccer.
One of many newer additions to the Olympic Video games, flag soccer has considerably risen in reputation, because it has created a brand new avenue for folks to benefit from the sport with out the bodily dangers that sort out soccer has proven.
Nicely, the expansion in flag soccer has coincided with a big surge in curiosity from ladies taking part in the game, which has created the chance for girls’s flag soccer to debut as an Olympic sport in 2028.
In 2023, practically 500,000 ladies from the ages of 6-17 participated in flag soccer in the US, representing the most important stage of progress within the sport, and that quantity is simply persevering with to develop.
Earlier this month, the Below Armour All-America Recreation hosted its inaugural Ladies Flag Soccer Recreation, the place a number of the high athletes within the nation bought to take part in a camp hosted by Mexican flag soccer star quarterback Diana Flores and play in a live-streamed all-star recreation.
Right here had been all of the athletes in attendance for the esteemed occasion.
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LB Karina Bier (Anaheim, CA)
QB Joselynn Carrington (Las Vegas, NV)
LB Joselyn Rosas (Fort Pierce, FL)
WR/TE Sophie Guitron (Redondo Seaside, CA)
QB Raya Deane (Tampa, FL)
WR/TE Addie Morrison (Woodstock, GA)
WR/TE Samaya Taylor (Chandler, AZ)
QB Adrienne Rivera (Port St. Lucie, FL)
WR/TE Brooke Bowman (Sachse, TX)
WR/TE Future Smith (Johns Creek, GA)
QB Samantha Lee (Franklin, TN)
WR/TE Madison Coger (Queen Creek, AZ)
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WR/TE Alexandria Lofton (Columbus, GA)
DL Talyn Phillips (Pahokee, FL)
DB Layla Jefferson (Winter Park, FL)
WR/TE Niah Waldman (Las Vegas, NV)
WR/TE Keyarra Shields (Lyndhurst, OH)
RB Liáni Gil (Jupiter, FL)
QB Sofia Chávez (Mexico Metropolis, MEX)
WR/TE Aaya Mclyn (Polytechnic Lengthy Seaside, CA)
WR/TE Landri Smit (Cedar Park, TX)
RB Anabella Zamora (Stansbury Park, UT)
WR/TE Grace Yager (Las Vegas, NV)
WR/TE Maia Helmar (Newport Seaside, CA)
Following the sport, I bought the possibility to talk with Flores, who shared her experiences in rising to one of many sport’s stars alongside the expansion of girls’s flag soccer.
“Over the previous few years, ladies’s flag soccer has skilled unprecedented progress, now participating over 20 million gamers throughout greater than 100 nations,” Flores shared. “This rise exemplifies the rising curiosity and assist for girls’s sports activities, creating extra visibility and alternatives for feminine athletes. It implies that ladies aren’t solely gaining recognition on the sector but additionally accessing essential sources like faculty scholarships and extra alternatives to attain their desires on and off the sector.”
These sources are offering extra alternatives for feminine athletes in a golden age the place faculty athletes are capable of profit by way of Identify, Picture, and Likeness (NIL) offers at a excessive price these days.
As she grows herself, Flores has put aside important time to assist develop the game and supply again to aspiring athletes who want to be like her sooner or later.
“My inspiration for holding this camp comes from a profound need to provide again to the unimaginable sport that has reworked my life over the previous 20 years,” Flores shared. “Partnering with Below Armour, I aspire to create a vibrant platform the place younger ladies can uncover the enjoyment of flag soccer and forge their very own paths. I wish to ignite their ardour, empower them to chase their desires fearlessly, and assist them construct vivid futures. Collectively, we’ll domesticate a robust neighborhood of future feminine leaders in sports activities, inspiring each other to interrupt boundaries and obtain greatness.”
As ladies’s flag soccer reaches the Olympic phases, there now could be an excellent greater avenue for girls to make their mark on the most important platforms, as gamers have one other alternative to signify their nations, whereas inspiring youthful athletes to pursue their desires.
“The inclusion of flag soccer as an Olympic sport is a monumental milestone for the complete sport, and a dream come true for the flag soccer neighborhood worldwide,” Flores continued. “The Olympic Video games is the head for any athlete, so for flag soccer athletes, that is a tremendous alternative to signify their nations on the most important stage. This chance can encourage numerous younger athletes who aspire to compete on the highest ranges, demonstrating that their ardour for the game can result in a vivid future.”
What are the subsequent steps now for girls’s flag soccer after the addition of the game to the Olympics?
“I consider ladies’s flag soccer is positioned for a big breakthrough in reputation,” Flores mentioned. “To maintain this momentum going, we have to proceed selling grassroots initiatives, rising media protection, and organizing extra high-profile occasions. Collaboration with main sports activities manufacturers and academic establishments may assist amplify our attain. Guaranteeing that younger feminine athletes have entry to coaching, sources, and mentorship might be essential in paving the way in which for future success within the sport.”
Girls’s flag soccer has been one of many largest surges over the previous decade, and the game is simply persevering with to develop as stars like Flores proceed to develop and promote the game.