In 2005, the Anchorage (Alaska) School District (ASD) began playing Girls Flag Football. It started when the school district administrators began thinking of ways to help satisfy their Title IX issues because of a lack of female high school athletic opportunities. In 2004, the ASD surveyed all girls within the eight public high schools. Surprisingly, by a wide margin, girls flag football was the game they wanted. Some members of the public worried about post high school scholarship opportunities, but with an overwhelming student desire, girls flag football was implemented.

During its inaugural season, nearly 350 girls from just eight schools signed up to participate. The Anchorage School District then adopted the National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) Rule Book and soon contacted the Anchorage Football Officials Association to officiate the events. In the beginning, there was a divide amongst the officials of our association. Several of the members had already called adult flag football and were excited to take on this opportunity, while many other association members were comfortable just officiating tackle football.

In the fall of 2005, prior to the inaugural season, Stephen Rey, NIRSA director of officials development came to Alaska to conduct a well-attended girls flag football rules clinic for coaches and officials. NIRSA rules include using a field that is 80 yards long and 40 yards wide, but because of all the existing 100 yard fields, ASD decided to use the existing fields as marked and be officiated with a crew of four officials whenever possible. This allowed our officials association to use girls flag football and tackle football crew mechanics, which are similar to one another. After experimenting with different crew positions, we have found that using a four-person crew of a referee, line judge, field judge and back judge for the game optimizes coverage of the entire field.

Over the past several years, a few rules have been modified. Besides using the existing 100-yard fields, we now have an opening free-kick (no onsides) at the beginning of each half and some officials and coaches are currently discussing adopting an onside try. With less than one minute remaining in the game, the scoring team gets the option to go for a one-, two-, or three-point try after touchdown. Another option allows a team to try from an extended distance and if they score they get no points but get the ball back at midfield. With the nationwide concern and awareness of concussions, another rule change may be added soon. Since the game is played without helmets or pads, there is a lot of personal body contact and a number of concussions have occurred. The increase in concussions may lead to a possible rule change limiting the violent contact.

Girls flag football in Anchorage, Alaska, continues to attract numerous female participants. Most of the athletes do play other sports: soccer, basketball, track and field, and hockey. The numbers have grown to the point that currently there are junior varsity teams as well as “C-Team” programs. Girls flag football is a fall sport, which, like tackle football, is the opening sport for the new school year. As the sport grows, other communities are piloting school programs for future competition. Girls flag football has helped the Anchorage School District solve some of their gender balance concerns but most importantly everyone is having fun!