A Victory for Inclusion
The WIAA officially sanctions girls flag football in Washington.
I’m not going to do the math and figure out exactly how long ago I was introduced to girls flag football. Let’s just say I was still in my 20s – and at least 15 years away from spotting those first few strands of gray hair.
At the time, I was living in Florida, the first state to sanction flag football. When I started covering the sport, it was still in its infancy – but developed enough that the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale covered it like any other varsity sport.
So, when I read earlier this week that girls flag football was officially sanctioned as a varsity sport in Washington, my response was: It’s about time.
Washington is now the 15th state to sanction the sport, marking the first new varsity opportunity for high school athletes in the state since 1999.
“We are extremely excited this passed, and I was very surprised the vote was so close,” said Skyline coach Mat Taylor. “I feel that the winter season, while it can be cold and wet, is really the sweet spot for flag football – and our girls never complained once. This past season was so rewarding and ranks among my fondest coaching memories.”
Taylor is one of the most decorated football coaches in state history, coaching high school legends like Jake Heaps, Kasen Williams, Max Browne, Peyton Pelluer, and many more, and one of the coaches I respect most. He’s right, the 22-13 vote was just enough to eclipse the 60 percent required to sanction the sport.
But the most important thing is: It passed.
Local multi-sport standout Sarah Lessig, who has played flag football at the club level and will play basketball at Princeton next season, said she believes this is a huge opportunity for student-athletes in Washington.
“It’s really awesome that flag football is now a sanctioned sport in Washington,” Lessig said. “It’s a good step in the right direction for women and girls in sports – something I believe is long overdue. It creates opportunities for high school athletes to pursue their passion and possibly play at the next level.
“There are women’s collegiate flag football teams out there looking for talent at the high school level, and this helps put those players on the map.”
Adding a sport requires significant logistical support from athletic directors, but it’s well worth the effort to create new opportunities for students.
“Not only is this vote a great thing for the girls flag community, but I also hope it shows school leaders around the state that we can be progressive in what we offer current and future student-athletes,” said Seattle Prep athletic director Sam Reed. “I know there are other exciting offerings – lacrosse, boys volleyball, water polo, to name a few – that have similar potential to impact large numbers of student-athletes if they follow in the footsteps of this decision.”
This process has been years in the making, and Reed made sure to acknowledge those who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.
“Credit to some of the key figures who helped pave the way for these results, including leaders in Tacoma and Seattle Public Schools as well as the Seattle Seahawks,” Reed said. “Their leadership and persistence will benefit future generations of young women.”
Note: The WIAA also approved a new transfer rule allowing students to transfer one time during their four years of high school. This opportunity is only available during specific time periods, and the WIAA emphasizes that this isn’t the same as the college “transfer portal.”
Athletes who transfer will be required to sit out 40 percent of varsity games in any sport they participated in the previous year.
There was other interesting information in the documentation the WIAA provided, but it deserves more than a note – and requires further reporting. I hope to dive into that in the coming weeks.
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