Yup, you read that right. Football is no longer just for the boys. Whether it’s flag or full-contact tackle, more girls are stepping onto the field, and they’re not just participating, they’re also dominating.
With real scholarships, Olympic opportunities, and career-changing life skills on the line, there’s never been a better time for girls to get in the game.
Here are 10 reasons why girls should play football, whether they’re chasing championships or just starting out.
1. Real Scholarship Money Is on the Table
Forget the myth, scholarship money for girls who play football is real. According to ScholarshipStats.com, 25 U.S. colleges now offer varsity women’s flag football, including 17 programs in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).1 Several National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) schools have followed this lead, giving girls official opportunities to earn athletic financial aid. This is more than a side activity, it’s a pathway to higher education for driven, competitive female athletes.
2. Pathway to the Olympics
Here’s a game-changer: flag football is officially set to debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. According to NFL.com, this move signals a new era for the sport, advancing it to a global stage and giving today’s high school players a tangible Olympic dream to chase.2 Girls who start playing now could be wearing red, white, and blue just a few years down the road. Amazing right?
3. The Fastest-Growing Girls’ Sport in the U.S.
Girls’ flag football is already surging in popularity. A report by the National Sporting Goods Association revealed that participation jumped 55% in a single year, with over 1.6 million girls now playing.3 Fifteen states currently offer varsity girls’ flag football with others running pilot programs, which means varsity letters, playoff runs, and state titles are officially on the table.
NFL FLAG also notes that the sport’s infrastructure is growing, with dedicated high school leagues, coaching clinics, and events specifically for girls who play football.4 So this is not just a trend, it's a movement.
4. Leadership Dividends That Last
The benefits of football go far beyond the field. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, nearly 49% of women in executive leadership roles say that the skills they gained in youth sports, like teamwork, resilience, and performance under pressure, shaped their careers.5 Football gives girls a chance to lead in the huddle now, and lead in the boardroom later.
5. Mental-Health Edge
Girls who play sports are healthier, and that includes their mental health. The Women’s Sports Foundation also found that girls active in athletics report 1.5 to 2.5 times lower rates of depression and anxiety than girls who don’t play.6 Football brings structure, social connection, and confidence, all of which help players handle stress, setbacks, and everyday pressure.
6. Safer Entry Point Than You Might Think
Worried about injuries? Here’s some peace of mind: a 2025 pilot study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found that girls’ high school flag football recorded just 7.25 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposure hours.7 That’s on similar levels with, or even lower than, many other mainstream contact sports. The bottom line? Flag football is a safe, competitive, and smart entry point for young female athletes.
7. Full-Contact Can Be Empowering
For those who play tackle football, the benefits go beyond the scoreboard. One study in the International Review for the Sociology of Sport found that female players reported gains in body confidence, strength, and a powerful shift from “stigma to pride.”8 Taking on a sport traditionally ruled by men gives girls a unique edge and builds an unshakable sense of confidence in their physical and mental strengths.
8. Professional Dreams Aren’t Just for the Guys
Yes, there is a professional path for women in football. The Women’s Football Alliance now features over 60 tackle teams across eight countries, with games broadcast on ESPN. What's even more impressive is that WFA alumni are already working as NFL coaches, scouts, and front-office leaders. Girls who start playing now are laying the groundwork for the next wave of football professionals.
9. NFL & Corporate Backing Means Resources
Thanks to strong backing from the NFL and Nike, girls flag football is gaining serious popularity. These organizations have launched multi-million-dollar initiatives that include equipment grants, coaching clinics, and scholarship programs, making it easier for schools and leagues to launch programs and for families to get involved.9
More resources = more access, opportunity, and visibility, just exactly what this girls sport needs to thrive.
10. Community, Friendships, and Fun
Above all else, football is fun, and it builds community. Whether it's father-daughter coaching duos at NCAA championships or Super Bowl commercials spotlighting girls' leagues, the culture of football is expanding, and girls are right at the center of it.
The shared experience of playing on a team, competing for your school, and bonding through sweat and wins is creating lifelong memories and inspiration for girls across the country. The sport isn't just growing, it's becoming a lasting part of youth culture.
Stay Game Ready with Battle Sports Football Gear
At Battle Sports, we believe girls belong on the field, and we’re here to back you with the gear that delivers. Whether you're gripping the ball with our ladies football gloves or breaking in new football cleats, we build gear designed for the way girls and women play football.
Because it’s not just about showing up, it's about showing out. And Battle football gear is made to help you do exactly that.
Sources:
- Scholarship Stats. (n.d.). Flag Football Scholarships. https://scholarshipstats.com/flag-football
- NFL. (n.d.). NFL Flag Football Partnerships. https://www.nfl.com/partners/flag-football/
- National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). (2023). Flag football participation growing as opportunities for high school girls increasing. https://nsga.org/news/flag-football-participation-growing-as-opportunities-for-high-school-girls-increasing/
- NFL FLAG. (n.d.). High School Girls Flag Football. https://nflflag.com/girls-flag-football/high-school
- Women’s Sports Foudation. New Women’s Sports Foundation® Research Proves Youth Sports Fuel Women’s Leadership: When Girls Play, We All Win. https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/press_release/new-womens-sports-foundation-research-proves-youth-sports-fuel-womens-leadership-when-girls-play-we-all-win/
- Women’s Sports Foundation. Amid the Nation’s Ongoing Youth Mental Health Crisis, New Research Shows the Critical Role Sports Can Play in Promoting Girls’ Mental Health. https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/press_release/amid-the-nations-ongoing-youth-mental-health-crisis-new-research-shows-the-critical-role-sports-can-play-in-promoting-girls-mental-health/
- Brna, M. L., Sweeney, E. A., Walker, G. A., Armento, A. M., & Howell, D. R. (2025). Pulling the Flag: The Physical and Mental Health Effects of High School Flag Football Among Female Adolescents. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000001362
- International Review for the Sociology of Sport. Women's Participation in Tackle Football: An Exploration of Benefits and Constraints. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1012690207088111
- NFL Play Football. Nike Partners with the NFL to Grow Girls Flag Football in the U.S. https://playfootball.nfl.com/discover/news-and-features/nike-partners-with-the-nfl-to-grow-girls-flag-football-in-the-us/