Since its creation in 1869, football has been a staple of American culture, reaching households across the USA. For generations, the sport has been celebrated at all levels. From high school football games under the Friday night lights to NFL Sundays, there are few American lives that football has not reached. However, the sport almost completely played by males was changed for the better in September of 2024, when girls’ flag football was sanctioned as an official high school sport by the PIAA. This push to make America’s favorite sport more inclusive has been long overdue and is a reason to celebrate female athletes across Pennsylvania and the country.
Although female sports leagues have existed for decades, it is undeniable that women have taken the backseat in the athletic world for far too long, as female teams of traditionally male sports like soccer and basketball are fewer, smaller in size, and less socially accepted than sports deemed more feminine like cheerleading. This is seen in high-school-level sports and professional athletics. Female teams are given less screen time on major networks, with some statistics suggesting that men play up to 95% of broadcasted professional games. However, over the past decades, young girls have shown a higher interest in sports, allowing changes like the sanctioning of football as an official high school sport in Pennsylvania to occur.
Female athletes across the United States are not hesitant to break the gender barrier. This is evident in the growing number of girls participating in high school sports—especially sports viewed as too aggressive and traditionally masculine—like football and wrestling. Although it is traditionally taboo for females to participate in these sports, these pioneering women have opened the door for change for younger generations. For example, female wrestling alone has grown exponentially in popularity over recent decades; the number of female wrestlers has reached over 50,000 participants compared to less than 1,000 nationwide in 1994. The growing enthusiasm for female wrestling allowed it to become an Olympic sport in 2004 and is a sanctioned high school sport in forty-five states.
Although girls’ football has been slower growing, progress has still been made over the years. Female football players like Haley Van Voorhis have been on the front lines fighting gender discrimination in football; Van Voorhis made history in 2023 by becoming the first woman in the U.S. to play football on a college team without being a kicker, and her endeavors are inspirational for all aspiring female athletes.
In addition, numerous NFL teams have been dedicated to growing girls’ flag football; the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers each created high school female football leagues and championships.
The Eagles and Steelers are responsible for creating over one hundred high school teams and giving opportunities to over 2,000 young female football players. Their combined efforts played a vital role in the sport’s authorization last month.
Although Pennsylvania is a small piece in fixing the issue of gender inequality in the sports world, the change ushers in a new chapter of football in the state. Not only is the authorization of girls’ flag football across the state an opportunity for females to knock down the stereotype that women are not strong enough to play sports, but it also allows the sport to unify more people in a new way. Girls are no longer confined to the bleachers or the sidelines but can now take part in the action on the field should they choose. With the addition of Pennsylvania for the upcoming season, girls’ flag football is officially sanctioned in 13 states, and this number is expected to grow should interest remain on its current trajectory. Moving forward, girls across the country must continue to knock down the gender barriers in the sports world to make a more equal world for themselves and for the future generations behind them.
