Albright College will add women’s flag football as a varsity sport and begin playing in the spring of 2027, the school announced on Wednesday.
The school’s latest athletic team brings the total of 25 sports the college offers.
Flag football is played on a field that measures 80 yards with seven players for each team on the field at one time.
Scoring is comparable to tackle football, with six points for a touchdown. Extra points are based on yards to gain in a set play (one point for five yards, two for 10) rather than kicking a field goal.
Players wear tightly fixed belts with sockets and two pop flags on either side of their hips.
“We are thrilled to add women’s flag football to our sport offerings ahead of the spring ’27 season,” said Albright Athletic Director Rick Ferry. “It is important for us as an institution to ensure athletic opportunities for female student-athletes. Women’s flag football is a fast-emerging sport and is another big step in our athletic initiatives at Albright.”
In February 2025, the Atlantic East Conference became the first conference at any NCAA Division level to launch the first women’s flag football season. As of that same month, at least 65 NCAA schools sponsor women’s flag football at the club or varsity level, with more slated to join in 2026.
A national search for the head coach of the women’s flag football team will begin immediately.
Originally Published: June 26, 2025 at 8:50 AM EDT