Should girls play competitive football?

High school football is the most popular interscholastic sport played in our country. Passionate fans fill the grandstands week after week under the Friday night lights to see young athletes pass the pigskin ball, and often enjoy the added traditions of pep rallies, marching bands, mascots, and homecoming pageants. But the tradition of being a “good ol’ boys” club has evolved to include players of both genders. Interest in the traditionally male-dominated sport is popping up in youth leagues and beyond. Last month, the Orlando Sentinel reported that 10-year-old Abbey Johnson had become the first girl to play for the Harmony Longhorns in the Mid-Florida Pop Warner League. At 4 feet, 6 inches and 70 pounds, she loves to play wide receiver.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations’ 2012-13 High School Athletics participation survey, 1,531 girls in the nation played 11-player football during the fall 2012 season. The Florida High School Athletic Association drilled that number down to 33 Florida girls, which included Erin DiMeglio, who made history last August when she became the first girl to play quarterback in a Florida high school football game. The then 17-year-old senior helped her South Plantation High School (Broward County) earn a 31-14 victory.

While most girls are not interested in suiting up with the boys, the option to partake in flag football at the high school level is growing in popularity. “195 schools (totaling 5,391 girl players) are playing flag football,” says Austin Bowe, the Seminole Ridge High School (Palm Beach County) flag football coach since 2006. “Our school has claimed three of the last four state titles (2010, 2012 & 2013).” However, Dr. Phillips High School (Orange County) took home the 2011 title. “While the guys may have more physical strength, the heart and character of the girl players is just the same. They are truly superb athletes,” says Anthony Jones, who has coached the Dr. Phillips High School flag football team for 10 seasons. Bowe adds, “When the girls scrimmage the boys, they can definitely hold their own on the football field!”

Bowe and Jones agree that elementary and middle school aged-girls can be just as “aggressive and athletic” as the boys and, therefore, find success in co-ed intermural leagues; but believe that the boys’ strength level is typically greater during the teen years. As to why the flag versus tackle structure, Bowe offers three contributing factors: 1) Few high school-age girls express a desire for tackle. 2) Conflicts with other popular sports programs, such as track and softball, since flag football runs in the spring. 3) Athletic girls (and their parents) choose sports that can offer collegiate scholarships ─ which do not exist for flag football.

Tracy Stephens, a Clermont attorney and mom, has participated in football both on the field and from the sidelines. For five seasons, alongside her husband Jeff, she coached the boys’ East Ridge High School (Lake County) football team. “I expected to face negative push back from the players, parents, and other coaches, but I never experienced that. Once the kids’ saw my skill level and coaching abilities, they respected me like any other coach. And honestly, my participation likely helped to change their perspective of women in sports,” said Stephens.

Stephens says she was “always a football fan” and learned to play the game as a child from her brother. However, at the time, playing football “wasn’t an option for girls.” Fast-forward to her adulthood…11 years ago, Stephens’ childhood dreams came true when she was “discovered” in the sporting goods section of Costco. “I was tossing a football with my husband when I heard someone comment about my arm being better than his.” That fellow shopper just happened to be involved with the Orlando Stars, now known as the Orlando Anarchy, the Central Florida based Women’s Tackle Football Team aligned with the Women’s Football Alliance, which is comprised of 50 teams nationwide, including 5 in Florida.

The Title IX law, passed in 1972, requires gender equality in every educational program that receives federal funding. “As it relates to athletics, schools have to create a balance of options. For example, at the high school level, some schools only offer volleyball to girls to balance out football, and colleges offer girls’ soccer or crew programs to balance out men’s football,” explains Stephens. “There just aren’t a lot of options for girls or women that want to play competitive football.” The Orlando Anarchy welcomes athletes with a competitive drive as young as 17 (with parent permission) and does not require previous football experience.

“Sometimes football is still perceived as a good old boys’ sport, but I think that mentality is changing ─ in a positive direction,” said Bowe. Working with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) as the National Director of Girls Flag Football, Bowe says he is looking forward to gaining support for flag football and hopes that the Emerging Sports Board will soon give the sport serious consideration.

While football is not my sport of choice, I do have girlfriends that currently play through a co-ed flag football league. Some of these ladies have more skill on the field and better standings in their fantasy football leagues than their male teammates. Would you support your daughter suiting up in pads and helmets ─ in youth leagues, high school, or semi-pro?