A girls’ flag football team is coming to West Chicago Community High School in fall 2025.
Open gym started April 17, with a summer training camp planned to help players condition before the season officially kicks off in August. The team will be coached by PE division head Conor Zaputil.
While the team is aiming for 25 players, any number of participants is welcome. Last year, 100 teams participated in Illinois; another 100 were added this year, and even more are expected next season.
The team was inspired by a school survey showing strong interest among athletes, and by the state’s desire to offer both tackle and flag football as options for students. The season is expected to wrap up in mid-to-late October.
“There were a lot of athletes that were interested in having this as a sport, so we just slowly were working to build it as a team. And then the whole entire state of Illinois kind of jumped on with it as well, too, because they wanted to have the ability to not just have tackle football, but also flag to kind of reach out to a larger demographic,” Zaputil said.
This fall’s launch comes less than a year after students and staff began advocating for the addition of girls’ flag football. In September, the Wildcat Chronicle reported on growing interest in the sport and efforts to make it a reality at WCCHS. At the time, Zaputil said the team would become possible if enough students showed interest — and now, with state-level support and student enthusiasm, that goal has been achieved.
The cost for players will include a general registration fee, but most additional expenses will be optional. Essential gear and equipment will be provided, while items like cleats and team merchandise will be up to individual players. Girls’ flag football is a seven-on-seven game, with contests lasting between 40 and 60 minutes. Games are typically played in four 15-minute quarters, though some schools may choose to break them into two 20-minute halves.
“We all know how beneficial it is to play sports for your physical health, but I think a big thing is the mental toughness and sportsmanship. Girls have to join together to play coherently with each other to be successful,” junior Jayna Vock said. “I think that also putting ourselves out there is a challenge in itself. Since it’s hard to get people to watch girls sports, you have to be creative with marketing your team, including Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter posts. But girls learn confidence and self-worth through sports.”
With the introduction of girls’ flag football, a spotlight is shining on girls sports in a way that is not always common. Vock explained the importance of sports in her own life and hopes the new team will encourage younger students to get involved.