SJNY TO LAUNCH WOMEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL

October 28, 2024

BROOKLYN and PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – October 28, 2024 — St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) has announced the introduction of a Women’s Flag Football program, starting on both campuses in spring 2025. 

“We are beyond excited to be able to offer this new opportunity for our female student-athletes at St. Joseph's University, New York,” said Megan Valentine, director of athletics and recreation for St. Joseph’s Brooklyn Campus. “Flag football is the fastest-growing emerging high school sport, and it is vitally important that we provide opportunities for high school girls to continue competing at the next level.”

With this announcement, St. Joseph’s becomes the first institution in the Skyline Conference to launch a women’s flag football program.

“This is an exciting time to announce this addition to St. Joseph’s athletic offerings,” said Skyline Conference Commissioner Melissa Reilly. “Girl’s and women's flag football is exploding and by adding this program, St. Joseph's is creating more opportunities for young women to compete in intercollegiate athletics. We are dedicated to assisting in their efforts and commend St. Joseph’s for being pioneers in this area.”

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), nearly 500,000 female youths participated in NFL flag football leagues in the past year. Additionally, 13 U.S. states have now sanctioned girls’ flag football as a championship sport, with New York doing so in February 2022, coinciding with National Girls’ and Women in Sports Day. The state held its first girls’ flag football championship in June 2024 after several years as a pilot program.

Flag football is played on an 80x40 yard field and features four quarters, each lasting 12 minutes. Teams generally have 25 players, though there are no current official roster caps, and the games are played in a seven-on-seven format. Flag football, for both men and women, has been recognized as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee and will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

For more information, visit our women's flag football FAQ page.

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
St. Joseph’s University, New York has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the University provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service. Through its Brooklyn, Long Island and Online campuses, the University offers degrees in more than 100 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs.