More than 20 students braved negative temperatures on their way to the Tostrud Center in January for St. Olaf Club Flag Football’s inaugural practice. The club, led by Jessie Sprague ’27, Ella Wright ’27, Grace Gertner ’28, Sarah Oppenheim ’26, and Kaiva Pelecis ’27, with staff advisor Ryan Townzen, provides an opportunity for female and nonbinary-identifying students to participate in organized football.
Flag football’s popularity has surged in recent years. The 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics will mark the first time flag football is an official sport in the games. Additionally, 38 states now offer organized high school flag football. The sport has seen massive investment from organizations, such as the National Football League (NFL), and large corporations, including Nike and Gatorade.
St. Olaf Club Flag Football received a grant from the Minnesota Vikings in 2025 to start a team, with the NFL team committing significant financial capital to growing the sport throughout the state.
Right away, there was a registered interest in Club Flag Football. Multiple members were caught off guard by the number of people at the club’s first practice.
“I didn’t expect so many people to be at the first couple of practices,” Britta Hagen ’28, who is also a member of St. Olaf’s varsity volleyball team, said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger. “[I thought], ‘wow, this is awesome. There are a lot of people here, and basically none of us know how to play’ … It was really encouraging.”
For members and leadership alike, participation in Club Flag Football has been a process of learning by doing. With most members and leadership having no formal flag football experience, practices have focused on learning the sport and its plays, running routes, and throwing footballs. Film sessions were also held during J-Term to familiarize players with the fundamentals of football and the sport’s rigorous terminology. The club is also enabling three current senior members of St. Olaf’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-affiliated football team to gain their first experiences as assistant coaches.
Club Flag Football will compete in two tournaments on weekends in April, where they will match up against fellow small colleges and universities from Minnesota and neighboring states. Should the team enjoy success in the preliminary tournaments, they will advance to the playoffs hosted at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, the Minnesota Vikings’ official practice facility.
At the time of writing, the club is in the process of holding tryouts to solidify an 18-person travel roster for their April competitions. However, the club will also have practice teams that encourage all people to show up to practices and play.
In an interview with The Olaf Messenger, Sprague and Lily Frost ’27 emphasized the centrality of inclusivity in the club’s ethos. No formal experience with flag football is required, only an eagerness to try out the sport. The club’s leadership team has been encouraged by the number of people who have decided to try out flag football, which contributes to a vibrant club environment.
“One of my favorite parts about the team is that it brings [people together] from so many different areas,” Sprague said. “One of my goals is to continue that inclusive environment.”
The club is approaching the upcoming season with a competitive edge, while also ensuring all students feel comfortable being part of the club. By continuing to host weekly practices and grow awareness of the nascent club, the club’s leadership is encouraging everyone to give Club Flag Football a try.
When asked about goals for the club, Frost said, “I’m just really excited about [the club] in general because everyone is so supportive, and I want that to continue throughout the season. It’d be awesome to make [the] playoffs. I think that’s a good goal because I think it would be a great first experience for us and would encourage people to join the team that may have been too scared to join it this season.”
St. Olaf Club Flag Football practices in the Skoglund Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and 9:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesdays. For more information, you can contact the leadership team via email ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]) or follow them on Instagram @stoflagfootball.
Story originally published Feb. 25, 2026. Story updated March 12, 2026 for club leadership misstatement.
