Flag football opens door for Georgia girls who’ve always wanted to play the game

“It’s just very encouraging to see all these girls playing,” Heritage’s Kristyn Goshay said. “During the ceremony that we had earlier, we got to talk to some of the other players, and they seemed very excited to play. The energy here is very high.”

Many of the girls in the league had always desired to be able to play flag football and are thrilled to have the opportunity.

“When I was younger, I always wanted to play football,” Goshay said. “During recess [in elementary school], I always played football with the boys. Then I started to get older, and it started to get more aggressive, which is why most girls don’t play football. But flag football is a safer option for girls, and I really enjoy it.”

One of the initial worries surrounding the idea of girls’ flag football was how many young women would participate. With more than 800 girls taking the field throughout the 52 participating high schools, that worry quickly became an afterthought.

Goshay didn’t think twice about signing up for her high school team; it was seen as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.