Holy Family University’s Department of Athletics has added women’s flag football, making it the first Philadelphia institution to add women’s flag football as a varsity sport.
Holy Family will begin its inaugural season in the Atlantic East in the spring.
Women’s collegiate flag football showcases seven players on a football field that is 40 yards in width by 80 yards in length. Each team moves offensively by running or passing a football, while the defense tries to “tackle” by pulling flags on the belt of the ball carrier.
About 500,000 girls ages 6-17 – a 63% increase since 2019 – played flag football in 2023, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Locally, 16 high schools competed in the inaugural season of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Girls Flag Football League in 2022. That number has risen to 65 from teams from Pennsylvania and another 27 from South Jersey in 2024. Furthermore, the sport will make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
The Atlantic East partnered with the NFL and RCX Sports to become the first NCAA conference to offer varsity female flag football this past year. The league held its inaugural championship in April, spotlighting four league institutions in a one-day tournament that featured a welcome from Philadelphia Eagles mascot Swoop and team cheerleaders, as well as the pep band.
The HFU Tigers will join Centenary, Immaculata, Marymount, Neumann and Eastern University. Holy Family is immediately eligible for all women’s flag football conference recognition. All league schools will compete throughout the spring season with a full schedule to be determined. The top four teams will compete for the Atlantic East Conference Championship in April.
HFU Athletics is currently seeking a head coach. Interested candidates may apply for the position on Holy Family University’s website.
Holy Family University is a private institution in the Catholic tradition with campus locations in Philadelphia and Newtown.
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