International flag football tournament in Montgomery County has some players dreaming of 2028 Olympics

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The fourth annual We Run the World Flag Football Championship tore up the turf over the weekend at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken. It’s touted as the world’s largest female flag football tournament, welcoming girls as young as 7 and women of all ages from 18 states and three countries.

“The girls can play football just as good as the boys, so we really do showcase that,” said the event’s director, Michael Reimel. “It’s grown from 60-something teams the first year, to now 188.”

Mike’s niece, Jordyn Reimel, 12, is one of the participants. She has played the game for more than half her life.

“I just fell in love with it right away. It just makes me happy,” Jordyn said.

The game teaches the X’s and O’s of football, teamwork and comradery, Reimel says, and even brings families together.

“We have some moms out here playing with their daughters on the women’s teams, so it’s awesome to show that this sport really is for everyone.

Leah Cruz, 19, who has been playing flag football since she was 9, says she used to dance, and play volleyball and basketball.

“I’m an athlete, so I can just play any position,” she said.

She played tackle football for a while, but she turned her attention to flag, where she excelled. Now she plays at St. Thomas University in Miami and has hopes of playing in the Olympics, where the sport will make its debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“I’m excited for it,” Cruz said. “I’m going to get ready. I have four years.”

And it couldn’t be coming at a better time, says Reimel: “This sport is for everyone. The girls are the forefront of and leading the expansion of flag football.”

And even if they do not make it to the Olympics, Reimel says, the girls are growing and gaining so much by participating in the sport.

“And having these young women now understand the game and they want to watch more, they want to play more. It’s just awesome.”