By: Bob Rose

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The sport of flag football started innocently enough in the early 1940s during World War II. It was created as a recreational sport for American military personnel at a U.S. Army base in Fort Meade, Maryland.
 
At the time, it was viewed as a way for soldiers to stay fit and prevent injuries while in battle. In those days, it was called "Touch and Tail football."
 
Now, some 80 years later, there's a revolution of sorts that has transformed a once friendly game of touch into the next big thing on the competitive American sports landscape and soon on the world stage.
 
Which brings us to Conference Carolinas. On July 2, Commissioner Chris Colvin announced that his league would become the first NCAA Division I or II conference to field women's flag football teams, beginning in the spring of 2026. In his initial announcement, Colvin said that six schools have committed to launch the sport in its inaugural season, with more league members expected to follow. Since that time, the conference membership in the sport has grown to eight institutions.
 
In the mind of the commissioner, a perfect storm for the sport provided the impetus for the conference's decision.
 
"Without a doubt, there's a convergence of a lot of things that has brought flag football to the forefront," he said. "It just seemed to be an obvious next step for our conference."
 
Among those forces at work:

• The National Football League has made the growth of youth flag football a high priority in recent years. After launching its first flag football camps to teach children how to play in 1994, youngsters have been participating in the NFL FLAG initiative nationwide through school programs, local park districts and Boys and Girls Clubs.
• Today, NFL FLAG boasts more than 600,00 participants, providing a pathway for female athletes to play, as well as an outlet for male tackle athletes to compete in the offseason.
• There are already 13 U.S. states where flag football is sanctioned as a girls' varsity high school sport. While Conference Carolinas is a pioneer among NCAA schools, women's flag football scholarships have been offered at 25 NAIA colleges in recent years. 
• For the first time in 2023, the NFL Pro Bowl game became a flag football contest, providing the sport with valuable exposure to a national television audience. 
• And flag football's popularity will only soar when it goes global in 2028, as the sport makes its debut with both men and women teams at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

"The national growth of women's flag football is providing new access and opportunities in the sport for women and girls at the youth, high school and collegiate levels," said Carolina Panthers director of community relations Riley Fields.   "The leadership and commitment by Conference Carolinas to elevate women's flag football to the NCAA Division II level is a significant step in the growth of the sport and for student-athletes in our region." So, Conference Carolinas–a league whose trademark has been progressive, innovative initiatives in recent years–seemed like an obvious choice to first plant its flag, so, to speak, among NCAA members.

As Colvin said, "We're certainly not adverse at being unique and try things that others aren't doing. This is another example of trying to serve our members and thinking outside the box."

Emmanuel, Chowan, Ferrum, King, Lees-McRae and Mount Olive were the original six charter members of Conference Carolinas flag football in July.  Barton and Erskine have since announced the addition of the sport, bringing the conference's initial membership to eight institutions.

In addition to Conference Carolinas, the Atlantic East Conference (Division III), United East Conference (Division III), and Central  ntercollegiate Athletic Association (Division II) have all announced plans to sponsor women's flag football.

The primary consideration for schools to field teams is a matter of logistics. Athletic directors must ask themselves if their staffs, especially in the athletics training and sports information areas, are up to the task to increase their workload with 25-30
additional athletes.

Identifying a practice and game venue is another factor. It may be a lacrosse or field hockey field, or perhaps the inner grass area of a track and field complex. Emmanuel is the only conference school that plans to field a team this spring. To illustrate how serious the Lions are about establishing a first-class program, you need to look no further than their recent head coach hiring.

In May, the school named Terry Allen their historic first coach. Yes, that Terry Allen. The one who rushed for 8,614 yards and scored 79 touchdowns during an illustrious 11-year career as an All-Pro running back primarily for the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins (now Commanders).

Allen, who lives commuting distance from the Emmanuel campus in nearby Jefferson, Georgia, is thrilled to be back in football–perhaps even more so that it's women's flag football.

"I'm a 'girl dad'," he says with a smile, referring to his two grown daughters Shayna and Haley. "This was just an opportunity to teach ladies the game I love. When the people at Emmanuel reached out to me, I could tell they were sincere and wanted to build a program that aligned with my values."

Allen, who served as an assistant coach for the NFL Arizona Cardinals in 2018, also looks at this as an opportunity to pay it forward.

"I just saw this as a chance to stay involved in the sport and give back to the game by blessing these women with my knowledge and experience," the former All-ACC Clemson running back said.

And he can't wait to start the building project.

"The core message I want to share with our athletes is you're going to face adversity. It's what you put into it to respond to that adversity. If you are willing to do everything, you can overcome it and be successful," Allen said, this coming from a person who overcame a severe knee injury at the end of his Clemson career to become one of the NFL's all-time greats. Flag football will be played seven-on-seven. With no contact or tackling, defenders must stop ball carriers by grabbing one of their two flags, which are worn on each hip of each player. There also is no kicking of field goals or extra points, with all points-after-touchdown achieved by running a play from scrimmage.

The average roster size will be 25 players with the game consisting of 12-minute quarters on a field that is 80-by-40 yards (excluding the endzones).
 
It's a far cry from the physical game that Allen once played, but he's all on board with his new challenge.

"Well first, it starts with blocking with your hands behind your back. That's a little different than the football I played (he says with a chuckle). Flag football is definitely a passing league. Your quarterback may bring the ball down and run to keep people honest, but mostly we'll throw the football."

Allen, who once played flag football himself as a sixth grader at Banks County (Georgia) Middle School back in the day, marvels over the groundswell of interest and participation in the sport in the last few years.
 
"I'm really surprised how popular flag football is becoming," he says. "High schools and now colleges have seven on seven teams, and from a style standpoint, it's not that much different (besides the non-contact) than the NFL, which is also pretty much a passing league."
 
Allen cites another reason he accepted Emmanuel's coaching offer: his deep Christian devotion.

"My faith has definitely had an impact on my life," he shares. "I don't get to do the things I have in football if not for God. He elevated me to the NFL and gave me a platform to help others see his grace and his mercy."

Perhaps the most enthusiastic advocate of flag football in the conference resides in Bristol, Tenn. on the campus of King University. His name is David Hicks, the Tornado's Vice President of Athletics. To him, adding flag football to Conference Carolinas was a no-brainer.

"The NFL involvement, the number of states that have sanctioned the sport in high school, and of course, introducing it at the Olympics in 2028, all figured into our decision," King said. "It just behooved King and the conference to be early advocates. On the youth and high school level, flag football is growing exponentially across the United states. There will be more growth coming and coming quickly."

Commissioner Colvin echoed the same sentiments:

"In studying the landscape and seeing the NFL's involvement, it was clear that this sport is coming and is already here on some level. We felt we wanted to be on the forefront of women starting to compete in football. We wanted to lead the way, and with the support of the NFL and the backbone of that organization, we think it's going to be very successful."
 
Hicks also believes it was much easier to add flag football because of its inexpensive nature.
 
"You don't have pads, helmets or goal posts," he points out. "All you need is a football and flags. Then when you look at the support the NFL is throwing behind it, it was one of the easiest decisions we've made to add a sport."

So, what does the King AD expect the profile of a flag football student-athlete to look like?
 
"I've spoken with various young women that are playing this sport (in high school and youth leagues)," Hicks said. "They may have played tackle football, but when you get 13, 14 or 15 years old, the physical differences between boys and girls become much greater. It forced them to give up football but now they can return it." He also sees women on campus who have never played sports beyond intramurals now gravitating to flag football.

The Tornado's athletic chief is most excited about the growth potential of the sport and how it might impact all of women's sports on the college level in the not-too-distant future.
 
"I think it's going to grow rapidly. It's going to escalate in popularity like no other sport in my lifetime. Every NFL team has professional staffing whose main role now is promoting flag football. I've talked to (Carolina) Panthers and (Tennessee) Titans, and both are actively advocating the sport's growth."  RCX Sports, a company based in Roswell, Georgia, has been enlisted by the NFL to provide structure and support for its youth football programs and they are working closely with Conference Carolinas in launching flag football with its members.

"At RCX Sports, we're committed to breaking down barriers and making sports accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, economic background or location," said RCX Sports CEO Izell Reese. "The addition of girls' flag football to the Conference Carolinas athletic schedule is another major step forward in creating opportunities for young women to pursue being student-athletes. RCX Sports is proud to support
Conference Carolinas in bringing this game to the Division II level."
 
Hicks sees a day where flag football joins women's basketball, volleyball and softball as a school's most popular sports.
 
"When you look at the branding power, the NCAA has made it a priority and wants to fast-track it to a championship format. Five to 10 years from now, I think it is going to be as big as women's basketball, at least before Caitlin Clark, and on par with volleyball and softball. Football is so ingrained in American culture. The women playing flag football will be phenomenal athletes, too."
 
While the sport still is in its infancy on the college level, Colvin sees the NCAA holding a flag football national championship within a few years.
 
"The NCAA has a process for adding a sport," he said. "The NCAA has received an application to recognize women's flag football as an emerging sport. Once that hurdle is achieved and enough institutions sponsor the sport then consideration as a championship sport will be the next step."
 
He said there's talk that efforts will be made to stage the first NCAA championship game in Spring 2028 as a prelude to the Los Angeles Olympics later that summer. Both men's and women's flag football will make their Olympic debut in 2028.
 
For coach Allen, it's time to roll up his sleeves. He relishes the opportunity to be the architect of Emmanuel's flag football program.
 
"We definitely have work to do," he said. "Like I told them, it's all gas and no breaks. I have to start right now. We'll have workouts in the fall. We have to get our training in and hit the weights."
 
Allen believes it's a sport whose time has come.
 
"Girls have always wanted to play football. It's safe and they can get the proper teaching to excel. Trust me, it's going to be very competitive."

So competitive, in fact, that the Emmanuel coach doesn't rule out one of his student-athletes even making the U.S. Olympic Team.
 
"It's absolutely a possibility because you never know what can happen if given the opportunity. Our job is to maximize their talents. By the grace of God, if someone is lucky enough to make it to the Olympics, it would be so rewarding."

And to think it all started 80 years ago on a field next to some Army barracks in Fort Meade, Maryland.

Bob Rose is a longtime sports public relations executive who has worked for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, the NFL Cardinals, Cal, Stanford and other organizations. Bob works with Conference Carolinas office to help tell the stories of the tremendous student-athletes, coaches and administrators in Conference Carolinas.