Footballs were flying through the air at the Eden Prairie High School dome on a late afternoon earlier this month. While not necessarily rare, it marked a new beginning for EPHS: the start of girls flag football as a club sport. Although the school has offered girls flag football as an intramural sport, this spring will be the first time teams will compete against other schools from around the state.
On March 3, about 20 girls took part in a clinic, learning what to expect for the upcoming season and going through drills. Varsity head coach JD Dixon, junior varsity head coach Allie Happel, and assistant coach Liza Anderson led the clinic.
In addition to footwork, passing and receiving drills, the coaches had the athletes work on the technique of pulling flags from an opponent.
The coaches were pleased with how things went and are excited to be part of the program.
“Everyone was dialed in,” Dixon said.
“I love being able to pass on the knowledge and skills of flag football,” Happel added.
EPHS started the flag football program as part of an initiative from the NFL and Minnesota Vikings to grow girls flag football into a varsity-level sport in all 50 states. Grants from the Vikings covered the cost of the coaches’ salaries and uniforms.
Joe Perkl, the high school’s activities director, said the plan is to have both a varsity and junior varsity team, along with a practice squad for those who do not make the teams but want to stay involved in the program.
“This is something I believe in,” he said.
Tryouts are Wednesday and Thursday nights, March 26 and 27, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the EPHS dome. Practices begin the week of April 7.
The lack of tackling won’t be the only difference in the games. Teams will have five players on the field at a time, and games will consist of two 20-minute halves with a running clock, except for the last two minutes of each half.
Teams from across the state are split into six districts, each with a Purple Division and a Gold Division. The Eagles will compete in the Purple Division of District 4.
An eight-game regular season begins on April 27. Each team will play two games per weekend over four weekends. The playoffs follow, with the winners of each division advancing to a 12-team state tournament that will be held at Eagan’s TCO Performance Center in June.
Dixon is happy to be involved from the outset of something new.
“I love the feeling of being on the ground floor of a new sport,” they said.
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