Girls’ flag football coming to El Paso high schools

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — A major step forward for girls’ high school sports in El Paso is on the horizon, as the El Paso Sports Commission, Zebra Sports, and the NFL announced a new partnership to bring girls’ flag football to high schools in the region.

The initiative aims to create new opportunities for female athletes and expand access to football— a sport that has traditionally been male-only, with the exception of a handful of female placekickers over the years.

Local leaders discussed the programs goals and benefits it could provide for young female athletes during a news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Laneah Bryan, a U.S. Women’s Flag Football Gold Medalist and El Paso native, expressed her excitement about this opportunity for girls in her hometown.

“I always loved football growing up, but there wasn’t a lot of space for girls to play. Now, I want to bring that opportunity back to El Paso and help these girls develop,” Bryan said.

Despite the momentum, there’s a significant hurdle: the University Interscholastic League (UIL), which oversees high school sports in Texas, has not sanctioned girls’ flag football. A proposal to add the sport to the UIL roster was put forward last year but failed to advance. Officials cited concerns about the logistics of adding a new sport to the already-packed high school athletics calendar.

However, NFL strategic advisor and former player Bobby Taylor sees a bright future.

“There just aren’t enough schools playing right now. But we’re working to spread the word and get more schools involved. For the UIL to take a serious look, we need to show that schools across Texas are interested,” Taylor said.

Despite the lack of UIL recognition, local organizers are moving ahead. They’re optimistic about building a strong foundation for the sport in El Paso, with plans to hold the first girls’ flag football tournament in the city next spring.

Organizers hope that this initiative will not only increase participation in girls’ sports but also encourage the UIL to reconsider its stance in the future.

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