A key NCAA committee has endorsed making flag soccer an official championship sport. If the measure passes the subsequent voting hurdle, the primary nationwide championship could possibly be held as quickly as spring 2028.
The NCAA Committee on Entry, Alternative, and Affect formally voted on Tuesday to advocate together with the game at its spring assembly. That doesn’t make flag soccer official but, nonetheless.
All athletic divisions, Divisions I, II, and III, must endorse the creation of a championship at every of their ranges. The following main cease on the street to changing into a full-fledged collegiate sport will likely be when the proposal will get mentioned on the 2026 NCAA Conference this summer season.
“Girls’s flag soccer is experiencing extraordinary development on the collegiate degree, and this suggestion is one other main step towards reaching NCAA championship standing,” mentioned RCX Sports activities Founder Izell Reese, who petitioned together with USA Soccer to have flag soccer be part of the Rising Sports activities for Girls program earlier this yr. “The momentum behind the sport displays the eagerness of athletes, coaches, directors, and companions throughout the nation who’ve embraced flag soccer and invested in creating extra alternatives for feminine athletes.”
Scott Hallenbeck, CEO and Govt Director of USA Soccer, echoed Reese’s optimism in regards to the sport’s prospects.
“That is nice information for flag soccer,” Hallenbeck mentioned. “Rising the sport is central to our mission, and the potential for school applications to play at a championship degree does precisely that. It additionally strengthens the expertise pipeline as we put together for the Olympics in 2028.”
For the proposal to advance, at the very least 40 faculties should add the game on the varsity degree.
“The faculty-level development in flag soccer has been important — as many as 60 faculties sponsoring it on the varsity degree this spring — and this suggestion displays that,” NCAA president Charlie Baker mentioned. “With the game headed to the 2028 Olympics, the timing couldn’t be higher for girls who may not have had a path to compete on the faculty degree earlier than. That’s price celebrating.”
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