STEVE HANLON: Girls Flag Football Is Changing the Game

By Steve Hanlon
Heartland Sports Network
CROWN POINT – Longtime Region coach Pete Iussig was strolling around a new field a year ago after being hired as the offensive coordinator for Crown Point's inaugural girls flag football team.
What, you say?
Yes. Girls flag football.
Get used to it.
This sport isn't going anywhere, whether you've thought much about it or not.
To be honest, when I first heard about girls flag football, I scratched my head. And it hurt. A lot.
Iussig spent 25 years coaching softball at Lowell, leading the Red Devils to the state finals in 2007 and 2009. After retiring from education, he coached softball at Crown Point for three seasons and guided the Bulldogs to the 2017 Class 4A state championship.
So, it's safe to say he knows a thing or two.
"I also coached football at Lowell for six years," Iussig said with a laugh.
When he was asked to help launch Crown Point's first girls flag football team last season, he jumped at the opportunity.
During an early workout, he noticed a pint-sized athlete firing passes all over the field. He walked over to Allison Hase and asked if she'd be interested in playing quarterback.
His hopes were quickly dashed.
"No," she replied. "I want to play defense."
So much for that.
Four games into the season, Crown Point was 1-3 and struggling offensively. Iussig approached Hase again, and this time she agreed to make the switch.
The Bulldogs responded by winning four of their final five games with Hase behind center.
"I wanted to play defense because it's easier to be aggressive," Hase said during Thursday's first official practice for the 2026 season. "I wasn't sure I was ready to play such an important position in such a new sport."
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with more than 20 million players across 100 countries. The NFL replaced its traditional Pro Bowl with flag football in 2023, and the sport will debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Indianapolis Colts have also committed $1 million toward growing girls flag football in Indiana high schools.
Crown Point native Jason Wille, the IHSAA's sports information director, said 108 Indiana high schools will field girls flag football teams this fall.
He expects the sport to become officially sanctioned by the IHSAA within the next year or two.
Area schools competing this season include Andrean, Bowman Academy, Chesterton, Crown Point, East Chicago Central, Gary West Side, Hammond Central, Hanover Central, Illiana Christian, Lake Central, LaPorte, Lighthouse, Merrillville, Michigan City, Morton, Munster, Portage, South Central, Valparaiso, Washington Township and 21st Century Charter.
That's a lot of football for a lot of young women.
And that's a very good thing.
"It wasn't on my radar," Crown Point senior Kaylee Basiaga said. "But when I heard about it, I jumped at the opportunity. Last summer we had about eight girls at workouts. This year we've had more than 20 almost every day. I love this. It's so much fun."
"I never thought something like this would happen," senior Breanna Dominguez said. "But I've always loved football."
People riding horses in 1900 weren't exactly thrilled when those noisy automobiles started bouncing down dirt roads.
Likewise, not everyone has embraced girls flag football.
"Some people say it's just Powder Puff," Basiaga said with a laugh.
"Yeah, some people call it Powder Puff," Dominguez added, referring to the traditional Homecoming game that loosely resembles football.
Hase quickly pushed back on that comparison.
"This game is so fast," she said. "It's very athletic. It takes athletes to play it, and it takes a lot of skill."
Crown Point has 25 players on this year's roster, including 11 freshmen. Because most schools don't yet have junior varsity or freshman teams, Iussig intentionally kept the ninth graders together to help build the future of the program. The IHSAA has approved teams to play one half of a JV game after the varsity contest if both coaches agree.
And yes, this sport appears to have a very bright future.
Indiana plays seven-on-seven, creating a fast-paced, wide-open game that rewards speed, athleticism and creativity. If you've never watched flag football before, flip on a television. The sport is exploding in popularity.
All three Bulldogs interviewed hope to earn college scholarships through flag football. More than 200 colleges already sponsor women's flag football, and with the NCAA recognizing it as an Emerging Sport, that number is expected to continue growing.
This season includes a state tournament.
Next year, the IHSAA is expected to officially sanction the sport, bringing with it an official state championship.
"There's nothing like putting together a long scoring drive or breaking a long run," Basiaga said.
"Interceptions are what fire me up," Dominguez said. "When we get one, it's like fireworks. We all get so excited."
"Just walking onto the field gets me going," Hase said. "Every time I take that first step, I'm grateful to be out there."
It's another step in the right direction.
Girls flag football has arrived, and all signs point to an even bigger future.
Any questions or comments? Contact Steve Hanlon at [email protected].