Latin’s new co-ed flag football team battled rival school Francis W. Parker, clinching a 35-33 victory on Nov. 7, at the Lincoln Park Turf. This newly founded team of students from all grades garnered a huge turnout from both schools. After the exciting game, eager student spectators clamored about the future of flag football at Latin.

The solution is simple: Start a girls flag football team.

Girls flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. According to the National Football League, “participation [in girls flag football] has jumped more than 60% in the past five years.”

Chicago has been the center of growth. In 2025, the Chicago Bears, partnered with 226 girls flag football teams, on which 6,500 girls competed. The popularity of this partnership has spurred leading companies including Gatorade, Nike, and Visa to help expand the participation of girls flag football teams. Additionally, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recently acknowledged girls flag football as an official fall sport, and major investors fund equipment and training.

The only obstacle in the way of Latin forming a team is the school’s endorsement. For many young, aspiring, female flag football players at Latin, seeing neighboring schools’ flag football teams flourish leads them to ask: Why not Latin?

In fact, nearby Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Saint Ignatius College Prep, DePaul College Prep, Lane Tech College Prep, Jones College Prep, and Walter Payton College Preparatory High School already host teams.

Latin’s successful turnout at the flag football game inspired students to seek a permanent team. The pre-game energy signaled a revival of school spirit and community. As Latin and Parker came together on the Lincoln Park Turf, “the energy felt different from the Big Games, which are played with rivals Latin and Parker at the Credit Union 1 Arena, and Field Day Frenzy,” senior Shane Fifield said.

The thrilling ambience—with students hollering after big plays and missed calls—showed teachers and students what Latin’s spirit could be when united around a flag football game.

“It would drive attendance and, personally, I’d want to see my friends playing it because it’s like a fun sport to watch and be a fan of,” Shane said.

Latin’s fall athletics program has several fall sports for female athletes, including cross country, volleyball, field hockey, swimming, golf, and tennis, but there is room for one more sport, and there is an available and athletically inclined population to help jumpstart a flag football program.

Certainly, the new team would come with challenges—often, young female athletes face backlash when playing a predominantly male sport. One freshman, Louisa Rose, attested to this insecurity. “I would love to participate in flag football, but I am scared my guy friends would make fun of me,” she said.

But the connection among female athletes could help counter stereotypes that have been created surrounding women in sports, allowing athletes to overcome these barriers with team camaraderie.

In addition to strengthening female friendships within sports, bringing flag football to Latin could also help with college admissions by allowing student-athletes to receive scholarships for flag football. The New York Jets just added a collegiate women’s flag football league, which enables girls to be recruited for flag football all over the country.

Adding a flag football team would be inspirational for aspiring female athletes, and it would also be influential for all of Latin, promoting school spirit and a sense of belonging.

“We have a lot of girl athletes who want to play flag football,” sophomore Savanna Lane said. “All we need is an actual sports team.”