Daytona State College will launch a competitive women’s flag football program during the 2024-25 academic year with support from a $10,000 grant from the NJCAA Foundation, NFL Flag and Reigning Champs Experiences.

“There are 17 girl’s flag football programs in Volusia and Flagler counties, and 273 Florida high schools currently offering girl’s flag football,” said Daytona State College President Tom LoBasso. “There is incredible interest at the collegiate level for women’s flag football and adding this program allows us to offer our students a valuable opportunity.”

According to NFL Flag’s official numbers, participation in flag football by six-to-12-year-olds has increased 38% since 2015. In America, around 474,000 young women played flag football last year which is a more than 60% increase from 2019. Flag football is another activity that teaches the importance of exercising and staying fit, which is a life skill that they can carry throughout life. While learning the knowledge of the game of football, it also provides the benefits of developing social skills and athletic abilities of young girls. The Falcons are proud to be adding flag football to our sports offering list in Intercollegiate Athletics and we look forward to doing our part to assist in growing the sport locally and regionally.

“We’re excited about adding women’s flag football as one of our sports offerings,” said Will Dunne, DSC Athletic Director. “We are grateful to the NJCAA Foundation, NFL Flag and Reigning Champs Experiences for their support. It will be awesome to watch these athletes play in our state-of-the-art stadium and this will be a great opportunity for future Falcon women’s flag football players.”

“We are excited to see the sport of women’s flag football continue to grow at the two-year level. The NJCAA Foundation looks forward to supporting this growth in partnership with NFL Flag and Reigning Champs Experiences,” said Brian Luckett, NJCAA Foundation Executive Director. “This grant will help provide the association’s member colleges with needed resources to begin flag football programs and create additional opportunities for female student-athletes across the country.”