ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Before flag football makes its Olympics debut at the 2028 Los Angeles games, the YMCA of Western North Carolina has founded the first NFL FLAG football league for high school girls in WNC.

The sports league will be open to girls ages 14-17, offered in partnership with NFL FLAG, the largest youth flag football organization in the United States.

“The Y’s new league gives local athletes the opportunity to develop their skills, compete in a safe and supportive environment and become part of a movement that is transforming the future of women’s sports,” the YMCA of WNC said in a press release.

The league is for athletes of all experience levels, including those who have never played flag football before. The YMCA of WNC is able to offer the program to all families through financial aid, “ensuring every child has the opportunity to participate regardless of financial circumstances.”

The YMCA of WNC believes the new league is an exciting opportunity for young women in the region.

“At the Y, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to discover what they’re capable of,” said Ashley Shores, executive director of programs at the YMCA of WNC. “Girls flag football is growing at an incredible pace across the country, and we’re excited to ensure that young women in western North Carolina have access to the same opportunities that are opening doors nationwide.”

Men’s and women’s flag football teams will compete at the Olympics for the first time in 2028.

“Demanding overall athleticism and creative play design, Flag Football is a showcase of pace, strategy and skill,” the Olympics wrote on its website. “Thanks to its blend of accessibility and inclusion, Flag Football has grown into a global phenomenon and earned a place on the world’s biggest sporting stage.”

In addition to the high school girls league, the YMCA of WNC offers co-ed NFL FLAG leagues for kids ages 5-13.

To register, or to find more information about NFL FLAG at the YMCA of WNC, visit www.ymcawnc.org/programs/health-fitness/sports/youth/flag-football.