Women’s flag football kicks off at Beloit
Women’s flag football is coming to Beloit College, with the Buccaneers competing in the sport for the first time in spring 2026. Recruitment, and a search for a coach, is underway.
Credit: Kayla Wolf
Women’s flag football — a no-contact seven-on-seven sport played on an 80-yard field, and one of the fastest growing sports in the country — was a natural choice for the college. The International Olympic Committee approved flag football as an Olympic sport, to be played for the first time at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and an estimated 500,000 young women across the country are playing the sport before college, including at 150 high schools in Illinois.
Beloit’s flag football program aims to empower student-athletes and create a strong team culture from the ground up, with a full-time coach dedicated to students’ success on and off the field. “From the athletic directors I’ve talked to in our region, some are hiring part-time coaches and some are hiring coaches in a dual role with the men’s football team,” says Dave DeGeorge, director of athletics. “We’ll hire a coach who’s dedicated solely to our flag football team.”
Building the program from the ground up has advantages for students. The first team in the program will begin to create its culture and traditions. “It will be a great experience to be a part of building a new program,” says DeGeorge. “Do you want to score the first touchdown in program history, or throw the first touchdown pass?”
President Eric Boynton notes, “Beloit College is adding this exciting team sport to support collegiate athletes. As an agile and innovative institution, we’re always looking for ways to improve the student experience, and I’m thrilled we’re providing this opportunity for student-athletes who want to continue competing at the highest levels.”
Division III athletes are students first at Beloit, but their experiences competing in intercollegiate sports are invaluable to their growth and preparation for whatever lies ahead. “We work hard to make sure that playing sports at Beloit is part of students’ education. We’re trying to teach life lessons that are applicable in relationships, in jobs, in communities. Everything we do is designed to help our athletes grow and develop so they can have the life and the career they want,” says DeGeorge.
