Nine Tulsa Public Schools alongside Bishop Kelly are starting the first Oklahoma female flag football league

TULSA, Okla. — The 150 girls, from 9 different Tulsa Public Schools alongside Bishop Kelley, who make up the first Oklahoma female flag football league are about to play their first game.

"I figured it was senior year. Why not try something new and try out for a new sport for the first year? So we figured we'd give it a shot," said Booker T. Player India.

The girls at each school have been practicing all fall to prepare for their first game, which will also mark the first female flag football league game in Oklahoma.

Coach Shovanna Rucker from Will Rogers High School, said, "Finally, get the girls an opportunity to play a sport that a lot of them want to play. That's where the most excitement is, especially for me."

The league's 5 game season will be a huge opportunity for girls in Oklahoma to advance the sport of flag football.

"Really looking forward to starting something new. They can be the figureheads for this sport as far as in the Oklahoma area and the Tulsa area. Truthfully, I think they enjoy the challenge of it," said Edison High School Coach Roger Green.

Not only are the girls able to play and enjoy a new sport, but it also gives them access to opportunities beyond  the field. TPS says 19 different NAIA schools are offering scholarships for girl's flag football.

"To offer these ladies to not only excel academically, but to give them an opportunity to excel beyond in the classroom is a really exciting time," said Mick Wilson, the Executive Director of Athletics at TPS. "If they can get an opportunity to get a scholarship for college—we're all in."

However, just because this league is the first of its kind in Oklahoma doesn't mean the girls aren't serious about winning on the field.

Coach Gina Wilson from East Central High School stated, "I'm telling them at home, this is what you need to be doing. You need to be watching more football, you need to understand plays, you need to understand routes. So we're taking this seriously. I see them in the hallways, I'm like, what's this route? What's that route? And in a minute they'll be carrying a football around school because that's your baby and you better not drop it."

TPS hopes other schools across the state will also add girl's flag football so this can become an OSSAA sanctioned sport.