Ripon College Athletics adds women’s flag football
RIPON, Wis. – Ripon College is adding women’s flag football as its newest sport, with competition set to begin in the spring of 2027. The College will hire a head coach in the spring or summer of 2025 to begin recruiting student-athletes for the inaugural season.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country and is set to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. With increasing participation at the youth, high school and collegiate levels, Ripon College is proud to be at the forefront of this movement by providing new opportunities for female student-athletes.
“We are excited to introduce women’s flag football at Ripon College,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris Schumacher said. “This is an opportunity to elevate women’s sports in a visible and meaningful way. Bringing competition to Hopp Stadium in the spring will give our campus and community another chance to rally behind our student-athletes.”
The addition of women’s flag football aligns with Ripon College’s mission to expand competitive athletic opportunities while promoting gender equity in sports. The team will practice and compete at Hopp Stadium, the college’s new state-of-the-art facility, ensuring that student-athletes have access to top-tier resources and an elite game-day experience.
The 7-on-7 game is played on a field 40 yards wide by 80 yards long in four 12-minute quarters. Teams play 15 to 20 games with a roster size of 20-25 athletes.
According to Sports Business Journal, there were 42,955 girls participating in high school sports during the 2023-24 season, marking a 105% increase compared to the previous season.
According to the National Federation of High School Associations, nearly half a million girls ages 6 to 17 competed in flag football in 2023 – a 63% increase since 2019. In Wisconsin, more than 60 high schools have expressed their interest in girl’s flag football.
Due to the rising popularity, colleges around the United States are beginning to offer flag football for women, which has heightened the popularity of playing at the high school level. It is a sanctioned sport by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
“We are committed to being a leader in assuring a transformational college experience in which students can combine multiple passions,” Ripon College President Victoria N. Folse said. “We believe women’s flag football will energize our Hopp Stadium and will be attractive to female student-athletes.”
Current and prospective students interested in learning more about Ripon College’s flag football team are encouraged to fill out the Recruitment Interest Form or visit our website at RiponRedHawks.com.