Did you know AISD has a girls' flag football league? It's about to hold its 1st tournament

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- High school girls in Austin are about to compete in their first flag football tournament.

The Austin Independent School District formed its Girls Flag Football League earlier this year, with support from the Dallas Cowboys organization. AISD is one of 11 school districts in Texas to pair with the Cowboys to start leagues.

Each high school in AISD formed a team to participate in the league. AISD and the Dallas Cowboys partnered to form varsity-level 7-on-7 programs, which begin playing competitively this weekend, according to a release from AISD.

AISD's inaugural Girls Flag Football Tournament will be held May 17 and 23 at Burger Stadium. The first game starts at 9 a.m. on the 17th and Championship Night starts at 5:30 p.m. on the 23rd.

This year's AISD league had a less formal, "introduction to the sport" season, with the games on May 17 and 23 being the only days the teams will have had games this year, according to Crystal Victorino, Area Athletic Coordinator for AISD.

The district will officially join the league next school year.

"We started talking about it last fall, and word started getting out," Victorino said.

"Before we officially joined next year, I really wanted to give the girls who are seniors this year who are graduating the opportunity to play. So we thought it would be fun to have a short, two-week tournament where, you know, they still get to play," she said. "These girls get introduced to it, you know, get some excitement in the community, and get the community involved. And then next year is when we, you know, officially join the league."

That's when AISD will commence the full, 10-week program in the spring, with set practices and games.

Victorino said it's been an exciting opportunity for the young athletes. The boys are even in on it; one school's boys' football team took it upon themselves to help coach the girls' flag football team, under the supervision of the head football coach and athletic coordinator, Victorino said.

The growth of the sport

The addition of the league in Austin comes at a time of rising popularity for high school flag football, and rising popularity of women's sports in general.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFHS, high school flag football has been growing in popularity for boys and girls at the youth levels for the last decade.

Girls flag football saw a 63% increase in participation among girls ages 6-17 between the years 2019 and 2023, per the NFHS. In 2023, about 500,000 girls in that age range played flag football.

More universities are beginning to offer flag football for girls, as well, and the sport was added to the competitive docket for men and women at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Concordia University in Austin became the first university in Texas to offer the rapidly-growing sport on the collegiate level after announcing the addition of the team last year.

"I just think women's sports are finally being respected just as much as men's sport has been, and I think also the support of the NFL, you know, it's such a great league and an organization that is really supporting the youth, and so by them offering this kind of opportunity, it really does help with the growth of the sport," Victorino said.

"It's going to be part of the Olympic Games in 2028, so it is really exciting to see," Victorino continued. "We're now seeing colleges and universities offer scholarships for their athletes. So it's just, it's really great to see, you know, more sports being involved and just supported through, you know, like college and university offering more opportunities to showcase girls. So I really love that."

Other areas and school districts in Texas that are involved in the Dallas Cowboys' led league include: Dallas ISD, Carrolton ISD, Fort Worth ISD, DFW South Region schools, Arlington schools and several schools in El Paso.

There are a total of nearly 100 participating high school teams in the league this year, according to the Dallas Cowboys' website.

"We're excited to provide the necessary resources and curriculum to facilitate the accessibility of girls flag football generating opportunity for higher education and developing talent leading into the LA 2028 Summer Olympic Games and beyond," the Dallas Cowboys' website states.