The Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District No. 3 is considering adding Girls’ Flag Football as a new sport at Mahomet-Seymour High School (MSHS). The Board of Education is set to discuss the proposal at its meeting on Feb. 18.
The move comes as Girls’ Flag Football gains popularity throughout Illinois, with 154 schools participating in the I.H.S.A. State Tournament Series in the Fall 2024 season.
The I.H.S.A. offers Flag Football as a fall sport, with practice potentially beginning on August 11 and games starting Aug. 25 for the 2025-2026 school year. The season would conclude in mid-October, with games occurring on weeknights and Saturdays.
Local Interest and Competition
Currently, six schools within Mahomet-Seymour’s athletic footprint already have Girls’ Flag Football teams: Danville, Peoria High School, Peoria Manual, Peoria Richwoods, Urbana, and Kankakee. The Big 12 Conference has indicated that Normal Community, Normal West, and both Champaign schools are also exploring the possibility of adding the sport.
To gauge student interest, a survey was conducted in February 2025 among female students in grades 7-11 at both Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School and MSHS. The survey garnered the following responses:
- 7th Grade: 16 responses
- 8th Grade: 9 responses
- 9th Grade: 7 responses
- 10th Grade: 17 responses
- 11th Grade: 9 responses
The survey also revealed that some respondents participate in other extracurricular activities, including Volleyball, Marching Band/Color Guard, and Cross Country.
Program Details and Costs
Each flag football game consists of two 20-minute halves with seven players on offense and seven on defense. The school would provide uniforms and recommended headgear (excluding shoes), while mouthguards would be required equipment for each player. Games would be played at both Varsity and Junior Varsity levels, with teams having a maximum of 25 players each. Practices would take place on the practice football field, and games would be held on the main game field.
The proposal anticipates the need for two coaching positions: a Head Coach and an Assistant Coach, with the potential for a third Assistant Coach in the future. The estimated cost for these positions could be around $10,000, depending on experience.
Furthermore, a separate budget of $1,000 is being proposed for the program, including $500 for dues and fees and $500 for general supplies.
Grant Application
Mahomet-Seymour has applied for a $2,500 community grant from the Chicago Bears to help offset the program’s start-up costs. Grant funding decisions are expected in April.
The Chicago Bears have been instrumental in organizing and supporting girls’ flag football since 2021, establishing a state championship series in 2022 and 2023. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) launched the first High School Girls’ Flag Football League in Illinois in 2021, in partnership with the Chicago Bears, NIKE, and NFL Flag.
College Programs Emerging
Illinois colleges, such as Illinois College, Rockford University, and Benedictine University, are also developing women’s flag football programs. Illinois College is adding women’s flag football to its varsity sports roster, with competition set to begin next year.
