On February 4, 2024, the IHSA board of directors approved the Girls Flag Football State Series. Already, over 100 schools have shown interest to participate in this newly introduced series.
IHSA partnered with the Chicago Bears in making a formal announcement at a press event in Halas Hall on Wed, February 14.
Previously girls flag football was only a club sport. With the recent changes made by the IHSA organization, we can expect to see some changes made to Loyola’s sports program.
In the fall of 2023, flag football was a club sport that was played for the first time by Ramblers. The season started with explanations of what a yard line was, and how the game worked. As the season progressed, so did the girls’ knowledge of the sport.
Mrs. Zupec, coach of the team during their first season, has had firsthand experience with the team and their beginning endeavors.
Although she enjoyed coaching last year and getting to the know the athletes, she is conflicted on continuing her coaching role due to her lack of proximity and other outside responsibilities.
Her temptation to coach seems to overtake her concerns because she has plans for if she does become the coach. Because it has become an official IHSA sport, there will be more effort put into it to ensure that the team has a good chance of winning.
“It will allow us to hold athletes to a level of commitment that we didn’t as a club,” she said.
Zupec’s goals for the team are no secret. Requirements will be tighter and more structured. “We’d have more film sessions. We’d require athletes to utilize Hudl. We’d have a summer camp.”
Her hopes are high for next year’s team, and she already has incoming freshmen who are eager to join the team. “Don’t be afraid to try something news. Some had never played a sport of any kind before. You will develop as an athlete and a team player.”
Some of the former members of the club can concur. Junior Ruth Duressa shared, “I used to not know a lot about football but I tried my best to learn after I joined, and it opened my eyes to this amazing sport which I came to love.”
Considering this has become an official IHSA sport, Ruth is continuing her career as a flag football athlete and hopes that the team will be a supporting community that is committed to trying their best.
There are a lot of people, both athletes and coaches, who are eager for this upcoming season to come into play.
IHSA is far from finished with refining the details about the sport. “There is a lot of work to be done before we crown the first IHSA Girls Flag Football State Champion,” IHSA assistant Executive Director Tracie Henry said. Henry is the administrator for the new sport.
In an email from Craig Anderson, the executive director of IHSA, the inaugural state finals will take place Oct 11-12, 2024.
There is a lot to look forward to this upcoming season, and students are highly encouraged to welcome this sport into their high school experience.
