A public service announcement to defensive backs this fall: If you spy wide receiver Sara Walker running a short curl route, don’t bite. She’s probably going long. The fake-out is one of Arvada West High School quarterback Saylor Swanson’s favorite plays. “It pretty much gets the defender every time,” says the reigning female Colorado High School Football Player of the Year. “Also, it’s always fun to throw a deep ball.”

In fall 2022, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) launched a two-year flag football pilot program that saw nearly 1,400 girls from 52 schools participate last year. Despite that competition, Swanson led the Wildcats to a 25-0 campaign and a state title in 2023, and starting this month, she’ll have the chance to repeat after the CHSAA fully sanctioned the sport in April. When the season begins, 64 schools will hit the gridiron. “I can see those numbers expanding even more—an additional 30, 40, 60 schools by year two,” says Justin Saylor, CHSAA assistant commissioner.

5280 August 2024
5280 August 2024
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Colorado’s roster numbers reflect a nationwide trend. Half a million girls played flag football last year, a 63 percent increase since 2019 that was due, in part, to a lower barrier of entry: Before flag football, girls interested in ball sports during the fall could only choose among field hockey, softball, and volleyball—pastimes athletes typically start playing at a young age. “Now, we have this new sport that nobody has played,” CHSAA’s Saylor says. “Everyone is at the same place, and that intimidation factor is gone.” Already, 17 universities in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, which serves smaller educational institutions than the National Collegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA), field women’s flag football teams. The NCAA’s Division III Atlantic East Conference plans to offer women’s flag football by 2025.

With flag making its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028, there’s more incentive than ever for girls like Swanson—who’s still undecided between playing football or basketball at the next level—to pursue the sport collegiately. But right now, Swanson is just excited for her senior season, when new rules, including a larger, 40-yard by 80-yard field, should help open up the offense—as if she needs another reason to go deep.

3 More Home-Grown Players to Know

Sara Walker
Wide Receiver / Safety, Arvada West High School

Listed at 6 feet, Walker is great at snagging balls over cornerbacks’ outstretched arms. Opposing receivers, however, can’t say the same when she’s on defense.

Lacey Abell
Quarterback, Mile High Club

In May, the field general of the National Gay Flag Football League’s Denver-based Mile High Club was named to the U.S. Women’s Flag National Team, which will compete at the Olympics in 2028.

Leilani Caamal
Linebacker, Ottawa University

After playing tackle football at Aurora’s Vista Peak Preparatory, Caamal landed on Ottawa University’s flag roster. In her first season, she recorded 37 flag pulls, one interception, and five pass breakups.