Girls’ flag football taking important steps in Saskatoon

SASKATOON – Football isn’t often seen as an option for most girls but that perception is starting to change, locally. Saskatoon has its very own all-girls flag league.

“There are still people that are saying ‘really, girls play football?’ And there’s actually a lot of girls playing football now in Saskatoon so it’s surprising that you still hear that,” Saskatoon Rush flag football league coordinator Michelle Duchene said.

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In the case of the league, “lots” equates to roughly 300 girls, breaking gender stereotypes with every pass, catch and touchdown.

“My first year when we put this together, I was really hoping for, if I could get six high school teams on board that would be fantastic and the first year we had sixteen teams … and this year it just seemed to explode,” Duchene said.

“I’ve seen some girls starting to play in the tackle leagues in the high schools … so I think it’s definitely becoming a sport more for girls as well,” said Olivia Woo, who’s in her third-year in the league.

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The Rush league was created to give more high school girls the chance to play football. Judging by the response, it was long overdue.

Many of the league’s teams are coached by members of the Saskatoon Valkyries who provide the players with a glimpse of a football future beyond high school.

“You get coached by people who still play and still have fun doing it and not just parents or other people so I think that’s a good thing. It’s like they’re role models for us,” Woo said.

While the teams wear school colours, girls flag football is not yet sanctioned by the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA). League officials hope that will eventually happen but for now they’re just happy to see so many players taking the field.

“They’re so happy to have an opportunity. I know one of the things that they love is being able to play for their ‘high school’ in terms that they can play with their friends they go to school with,” Duchene said.