Metro Nashville schools, Titans partner for girls flag football program starting in 2023

Girls high school flag football is coming to Davidson County in 2023. 

Following the success of Williamson County's pilot program last spring, Metro Nashville schools will have its own program starting in the Spring of 2023 with support from the Titans making it the second interscholastic flag football league in Tennessee.

The new league will be able to 15 Metro Nashville schools in its first season. Logistics on when games will be played and where have not been determined yet.

Additionally, the length of the season and where the championship tournament will be played are details are that also still being worked on. 

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"We're going to treat it like a demonstration sport, like it's a TSSAA sanctioned sport," Metro Nashville Athletics Director for high schools Mark North said. "The idea was brought up to Dr. (Adrienne) Battle in a meeting and we said that it's a great opportunity for our girls. When you saw the games in Williamson County, everyone was having fun, it was high-quality competition and it was clear to me that it was something we could do and do well in metro schools."

North noted the importance of the Titans being involved and said that he didn't think it would be possible for metro schools to do it without funding from the Titans. 

Nashville and Davidson County mayor John Cooper was at the press event held inside the Titans practice bubble Tuesday afternoon and said that it was a no-brainer to start up a girls high school flag football league in the Titans' backyard.

"It was a success in Williamson County and really has been a success everywhere," Cooper said. "It's deeply supported by the NFL, which is great, it just adds some excitement. This raises the awareness for women and young girls when it comes to playing flag football in Nashville.

"There are 15 schools involved right now and I hope more join. It's a great after school activity."

According to North, not all of the details of who will be coaching have been nailed down but coaches have been reached out about the program. Football coaches as well as other coaches in other sports have been made aware of the program.

North said that some schools will have the football coaches coaching the team while others will see coaches in other sports coach, but each school has been sent the rules that Williamson County used last season. 

Titans Director of Marketing Community Engagement Josh Corey has played a pivotal role in the growth of girls flag football in the state and noted the importance of bringing a new league into Metro Nashville as it continues to grow. 

"The response to this has exceeded our expectations," Corey said. "We're so excited to go into Metro Nashville schools next year and they've been very receptive. Williamson County had a great inaugural season this last spring and we're looking to keep bringing districts on board with the end goal of getting this sport sanctioned at the state level."

Reach Joe Spears at jspears2@gannett.com or 731-343-4923. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7.