FLAG FOOTBALL

Regarded by the NFL as the future of the game at the youth level, flag football is exploding across the U.S. as an accessible, inclusive, and safer form of the sport than tackle. In 2022, 277,000 more children ages 6-12 played flag than tackle vs. 251,000 more youth who played tackle a decade earlier, according to the Aspen Institute Project Play’s State of Play 2023 report. While tackle remains popular in many communities, demographic changes and parent fears of brain injuries are impacting how children play the most-watched sport in America.

 
 
 
 

FLAG vs. TACKLE RESEARCH

GIRLS FLAG IS THRIVING

The NFL’s promotion of flag is helping the sport gain steam. California is adding flag as a girls high school sport in 2023-24. New York experienced such massive growth in Year 1 that flag will now have a state championship. Could Texas be next?

BOYS WANT FLAG TOO

Flag is now how the NFL Pro Bowl gets played and it’s a competitive sport for men at the World Games. As tackle participation rates drop, flag could be an option to engage high school boys as well. Boys from rural high schools listed flag as the No. 5 sport they most wish their school offered, according to Aspen’s National Student Survey. At private high schools, 4% of boys wanted flag offered – the same rate as tackle.

WHO PLAYS FOOTBALL

Increasingly, tackle is played more by Black children than White. This chart from our State of Play Central Ohio report reflects this reality. In Aspen’s survey of youth from the Columbus, Ohio area – a football hotbed – Black children reported playing tackle at twice the rate of White youth.

FLAG RESOURCES

NFL Flag offers a variety of ways to help children play flag.