In this episode of the She Plays Flag Podcast, I sit down with Lacey Abell, Head Coach at Arvada West High School in Colorado and a member of the 2024 USA Football Women’s National Team pool.

Lacey’s football story didn’t begin with organized opportunities. It started in the backyard in Wisconsin, moved through co-ed leagues, rugby in college, national travel tournaments, and eventually onto the USA Football trial field.

We talk about:

• Growing up loving a sport that didn’t have much of a path for girls
• Earning opportunities in adult travel flag
• The process and pressure of USA Football national team trials
• What elite evaluation looks like
• The mindset of playing quarterback at a high level
• Transitioning from player to high school head coach (while still playing!)
• Building a program during Colorado’s rapid flag football expansion
• Teaching football IQ to first-generation players

Lacey brings a rare perspective actively competing at the national level while coaching high school athletes who are just beginning their football journeys.

It’s about growth, leadership, standards, and what it means to build something that didn’t exist a generation ago.

In this episode, I sit down with Ramsey Lambert, Head Coach of girls flag football at Santa Monica High School in California.

When Santa Monica launched its program, 51 girls showed up to the first tryout ...and none of them had ever played football before.

We talk about what it looks like to build a program from scratch:

• Teaching football terminology from the ground up
• Slowing down the install process so athletes can truly learn
• Creating culture before worrying about wins
• Why celebration had to be taught
• Losing 14 seniors after a championship season and rebuilding
• The growth of girls high school flag football across California
• Middle school pipeline development and long-term sustainability
• Collaboration among coaches in a new and rapidly growing sport
• Advice for new coaches entering girls flag
• Advice for families navigating this emerging space

In this episode of She Plays Flag, I talk with Kevin Fraser, head coach of the Pope High School Girls Flag Football program. Kevin and the Pope Greyhounds have just completed a state championship season and are busy building for the future. We discuss the growth of girls flag football, the challenges of building a program from scratch, and the importance of community support. Kevin shares his journey into coaching, the structure of his coaching staff, and how he teaches football fundamentals and IQ to new players. He emphasizes the need for efficiency in practice, the use of technology like Playmaker X, and the significance of creating a pipeline for future players. We also touch on the future of girls flag football and Coach Fraser offers some valuable knowledge for new coaches entering the sport.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:33 Celebrating the State Championship

02:00 National Rankings and Future Plans

03:40 Growth of Girls Flag Football

04:32 Kevin Frazier's Journey to Coaching

07:22 Building the Pope High School Girls Flag Football Program

09:36 Early Challenges and Learning Experiences

11:50 Coaching Staff and Roles

18:57 Practice Structure and Philosophy

24:06 Player Experience and Development

29:18 High IQ Team and Coaching Bright Kids

30:49 Importance of Simplicity in Coaching

32:14 Building a Successful Program: Community and School Support

34:16 The Role of Fun in Sports

36:25 Tools and Technology for Coaching

40:30 Developing a Pipeline and Youth Programs

45:44 Future of Girls Flag Football

50:18 Advice for New Coaches

56:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the She Plays Flag podcast, I sit down with Jay Ross, head coach of the Madison High School Girls Flag Football Program in Northeast Ohio. Jay discusses how he built the program from the ground up, starting with just a handful of interested girls recruited through a Snapchat message. The conversation covers the practical and personal aspects of starting and running a girls' flag football team, including fundraising, maintaining fun while increasing competitiveness, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the burgeoning flag football ecosystem. The episode also touches on the importance of female coaches, the impact of social media, and the potential for girls to play at the collegiate level as the sport grows.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:24 Guest Introduction: Jay Ross

02:20 Jay Ross's Journey into Flag Football

03:35 Starting the Madison High School Girls Flag Football Program

07:26 Challenges and Growth of the Program

10:39 Support and Resources from the Cleveland Browns

20:57 Balancing Flag Football with Other Sports

26:11 The Future of Girls Flag Football

28:12 Introduction to the Exciting World of Girls Flag Football

28:36 Building Opportunities for Girls in Flag Football

29:07 Training and Showcases: Preparing for the Season

30:35 Navigating the Growing Ecosystem of Girls Flag Football

32:10 Balancing Genuine Opportunities and Financial Motives

34:03 Creating a Supportive Community for Girls Flag Football

35:32 The Role of Coaches in Girls Flag Football

37:14 Encouraging Girls to Play and Grow in Flag Football

38:39 The Importance of Social Media and Community Engagement

40:48 Challenges and Innovations in Coaching Girls Flag Football

51:59 Advice for Parents and Coaches New to Girls Flag Football

55:57 Conclusion and Ways to Follow the Madison Girls Flag Football Program

In this episode of the She Plays Flag Podcast, host Matt Mashburn discusses the growth and development of girls' flag football in Florida with Jeremy Hernandez from the Florida High School Athletic Association. Jeremy shares his journey from New Mexico to Florida, where he took on the role of overseeing girls' flag football. He highlights the significant progress made since the sport was first sanctioned in Florida in 2003, noting the increase in participation and the establishment of a competitive framework. The conversation delves into the advantages Florida has over other states, particularly in terms of experience and infrastructure, as well as the challenges that come with rapid growth, such as the need for more officials and the potential for scheduling conflicts with other sports.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Girls' Flag Football

03:04 The History of Flag Football in Florida

05:39 Florida's Competitive Advantage in Flag Football

09:02 Challenges in Growing the Sport

13:04 The Role of Coaches and Officials

17:12 Attracting Girls to Flag Football

22:58 Future Opportunities for Female Athletes

30:12 Challenges of Growth in Flag Football

32:26 Structure of Girls' Flag Football in Florida

35:31 Encouraging New Programs

37:23 Interest from Other States

40:02 The Future of Flag Football

42:20 Risks of Rapid Growth

45:57 Planning for Sustainable Growth

47:04 Exciting Future Prospects

Thanks for joining Episode 2 of the She Plays Flag Podcast. For this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Jake Burgdorf, Head Girls Flag coach at McEachern High School in Georgia. Coach and I discuss the growth and development of girls' flag football at his McEachern program and in Georgia at-large. Jake shares his journey from coaching tackle football to leading a successful flag program, emphasizing the importance of building a strong culture and commitment among players. He reflects on the challenges faced in the early years, including player attendance and buy-in, and how he has worked to create a competitive environment that attracts over 100 girls to try out each year. Jake also highlights the significance of feeder programs and the need for early education in the sport to bridge the knowledge gap for new players.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jake Burgdorf and McEachern High School

01:06 Jake's Journey from Tackle to Flag Football

03:43 Challenges and Successes in Girls Flag Football

07:39 The Growth of Girls Flag Football in Georgia

12:33 Changing the Culture and Commitment in the Team

16:24 Coaching Education and the Future of the Sport

20:05 Building Community and Support for Girls Flag Football

26:48 The Importance of Early Skill Development

32:28 Creating a Competitive Culture

37:34 Teaching the Basics to New Players

41:58 Adapting Coaching Strategies for Flag Football

45:42 Utilizing Video Analysis for Player Growth

52:24 Building a Strong Foundation for Future Success

Thanks for joining the inaugural episode of She Plays Flag! 

In this conversation, Coach Greg Johnson discusses his journey as the head coach of Ralston Valley High School's girls flag football team in Colorado. He shares insights on building the program from scratch, the growth of girls flag football in the state, and the importance of fostering a positive environment for athletes. Coach Johnson emphasizes the need for patience, communication, and respect among players, coaches, and parents. He also highlights the future of girls flag football, including recruiting opportunities and the potential for the sport to grow nationally.

Takeaways

• Ralston Valley High School has a strong athletic reputation.
• The girls flag football program has seen significant growth in Colorado.
• Building a program from scratch requires patience and dedication.
• Communication with athletes and parents is crucial for success.
• Girls flag football is gaining recognition and support at the state level.
• The structure of high school flag football in Colorado includes two divisions: 4A and 5A.
• Recruiting for girls flag football is evolving with more opportunities available.
• Coaches should focus on building trust and respect with their players.
• The future of girls flag football looks promising with potential for college scholarships.
• Creating a positive environment is essential for the growth of the sport.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ralston Valley High School and Coach Johnson

12:15 Building the Flag Football Program from Scratch

22:38 Challenges and Future of Girls Flag Football in Colorado

24:17 Coaching Challenges and Volunteer Support

25:58 Training the Next Generation of Coaches

28:30 Building a Flag Football Community

29:35 Developing Youth Programs and Camps

30:54 The Importance of a Strong Pipeline

31:45 Differences Between Freshmen and Upperclassmen

37:06 Structure of High School Girls Flag Football in Colorado

44:00 Future of Girls Flag Football in Colorado

50:16 The Joy of Watching Daughters Play Football

54:37 Pathways for Girls in Football After High School

01:00:55 Navigating the Recruiting Landscape

01:05:15 Advice for New Coaches in Flag Football

01:14:34 Building a Positive Culture in Sports