NORFOLK — There are 11 states where flag football is sanctioned as a girls varsity high school sport, and women’s flag football scholarships are offered at 25 NAIA colleges, while five NCAA Division III colleges will sponsor it in 2025.
And in 2028, flag football will become an Olympic sport.
Sunday afternoon, nearly 75 girls, ages 12 and older, showed up to Norfolk State’s Dick Price Stadium for the second annual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Girls on the Gridiron Flag Football clinic.
The clinic is a collaboration between the NFL and the MEAC.
Former NFL star quarterback and four-time Pro Bowler Michael Vick, whose daughter, Jada, received a scholarship to play flag football for Reinhardt University in Atlanta, spoke at the camp.
Vick and his daughter took turns throwing footballs to the girls. They also participated in other drills, along with other MEAC athletes and coaches, who are in town for Tuesday’s MEAC Football Media Day.
As Vick looked out onto the field, he wondered about the future of flag football.
“Maybe somebody on this field will be representing the U.S. come 2028,” said Vick, who starred for Warwick High and Virginia Tech and then played 13 seasons in the NFL. “It’s a credit to everybody who wants to grow the game and feel like it’s important. I got to give the NFL a lot of credit. They’ve really targeted this space and tried to put a lot of time into growing the game on both sides, for the men and the women.”
Vick smiled as he watched his daughter interact and serve as a mentor to the girls.
“When I watch her throw, I just remember years and years of practice. Years of her wanting to be the best that she could be,” he said. “Years ago not knowing that girls flag football would be as big as it is right now. I could never foresee her getting a scholarship 10 years ago when she used to be in the backyard pretending to be DeSean Jackson because that was her favorite player. It’s a humbling experience and it’s really cool. It’s genuine, and every young lady here is putting forth the effort and having a good time and wanting to be pioneers for the game.”
DeSean Jackson?
Vick chuckled.
“She started liking DeSean Jackson for all the right reasons. Obviously, DeSean was a helluva player and his name got called all the time in the arena,” he explained. “I’m surprised she doesn’t play receiver, but she gravitated to quarterback. She’s very universal. She can play any position on the field. Completing her first year in school taught her a lot about the experience and what to expect, and hopefully year two will be better.”
He said he’s honored that she chose his position.
As for tips, Vick is always passing on knowledge to his daughter.
“The tips I’ve given her at quarterback is to be poised and be patient,” he said. “I think the most important is when things are not going as well, to still be a positive influence to everybody around you, because once the players around you see that you’re down or you’re not in tune to what’s going on, then everybody goes into the tank. I’m not saying smile when it’s going bad, I’m saying be encouraging and continue to be a leader.”
