WORCESTER—Worcester high schools could soon see flag football added to the selection of extracurricular programs. The district’s Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Success voted unanimously to support a proposal that would create a new club despite the state’s leading athletic association voting down a proposal of its own to officially recognize the sport.
The committee’s vote effectively sends the proposal to the Worcester School Committee at-large for filing with the caveat that district officials explore and clarify whether the program would be co-ed. The district had hoped to consider adding girls flag football as a varsity program. However, in January the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) voted against recognizing flag football as a state sponsored sport. This doesn’t prevent Worcester Public Schools from creating a club of its own if the demand is there, and, according to Dr. Kareem Tatum, executive director of Worcester Schools, North Quadrant, there is plenty of student interest.
“Mr. Dave Shea, who is our athletic director, did quite a bit of leg work in terms of communicating with individuals in the community,” said Tatum, “communicating with our students and staff in our high schools, and just trying to gain a better understanding of the interest level for girls flag football. There are many girls who are interested.” A survey included in the proposal indicated as many as 166 girls from the district’s high schools expressed a desire to pursue the sport.
The concept was warmly received by the committee who felt it was good to bring more after-school options to the district and made an official motion to consider making the club co-ed rather than limiting it to just girls. However, no new program comes without a price.
The proposal calls for 12 coaching positions with individual stipends of $1,105 each, or $12,180 dollars in total. It would also require more buses to serve the athletic department. As Committee Chair Alejandro Guardiola pointed out, there are still plenty of discussions to be had in terms of the budget, but he acknowledged the new club would continue the district’s goal of adding new programs for students beyond the classroom.
“I know that flag football has become a very popular alternative to traditional football,” he said. “I do like the idea that it’s co-ed. I think that’s a question we should have answered because I think it should allow for it. That being said, obviously this is going to come down to budget. I know that we have to be mindful of that, but I think we really have to start thinking about some of these different clubs and activities even for our elementary school students to be able to have something, and I’m sure that this will continue to come up as we go into the budget season.”
The lack of physical contact in flag football has made it a popular alternative to the traditional game and girls flag football teams, specifically, have grown in popularity as a way to allow women access to a traditionally male-dominated sport. However, co-ed programs are also on the rise and Worcester Public Schools already offers co-ed flag football in middle school.
Several other high schools in the region have already established their own programs and Worcester is hoping to eventually build a club that can contend with other districts. If funding for the club is approved, officials are hoping to debut the sport in the spring of 2026.
Jason Bleau, a seasoned reporter from Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, has over 11 years of news media experience. He has worked as a news anchor for WINY 1350 AM, contributed to Stonebridge Press publications, and covered racing as a Press Box coordinator at Thompson Speedway. Outside journalism, he is a movie enthusiast, freelance film reviewer, banker, and solo musician. He can be reached at bleau.jason@yahoo.com
