North Dakota launches first high school girls flag football program

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) -The Fargo Park District launched the state’s first high school girls flag football program in partnership with the Minnesota Vikings.

The program is part of a national trend. More than 68,000 girls played high school flag football last year, and participation jumped about 60 percent in a single year.

For senior Jennaya Volk, the new league is the answer to years of asking.

“I play track and basketball. I’m in track right now and I’ve been wanting a football team since I was a little kid,” Volk said. “I bothered my school every year since middle school to finally get a team and my senior year they finally get a high school league and I’m the only one from our school in the whole entire league.”

When Volk found out girls flag football was coming to Fargo, she signed up right away.

“I started screaming, I was upstairs in my room when I found out and I screamed down to my parents that they’re starting a high school league,” she said. “I signed up right away… the website wasn’t working and I was like ‘I need to get in!’ So just really excited about it.”

This new league is proving that everyone is welcome and many of Volk’s teammates had zero experience with flag football. That was the case for Fargo North student, Tempy Meier.

“Uhh, I’ve had zero experience. I’ve played catch with my Dad just in our yard but that’s all my experience that I have,” she said.

Her coach said that’s true for most of the roster. The team practices once a week, then plays games on Sundays.

“I’m just proud of these guys. We get 1 practice a week, and then we have a game on Sundays, so they’ve had to drink through a fire hose when it comes to learning football,” the coach said. “I’m just incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to get done in that time.”

The coach said the team stayed positive even after falling behind in the first game.

“We were down early in the first game and I asked some on the sideline ‘You guys don’t like hate this because we’re losing now right?’ And they were like ‘No! This is really fun,’” the coach said.

Volk encouraged other girls to try the sport.

“Go for it… Don’t let anyone stop you, don’t let anyone judge you, just go for what makes you happy,” she said. “Go for a sport that might not be popular right now but it will be, so just go for it.”

Meier said she has no regrets.

“Oh heck yeah. I’m so glad I did it. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said.

Flag football will make its debut on the Olympic stage in 2028.