How Taylor Swift is helping flag football grow before her Olympic debut

Taylor Swift has proven to be a gift to American football that keeps on giving.

The relationship between the global superstar and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce drew many new fans to America's National Football League last season.

From the UK to Australia, the American singer-songwriter is not only bringing new audiences to the sport, but also inspiring young girls to take up the sport.

And that's helping flag football, one of the fastest growing sports in the world, grow even faster in time for its Olympic debut.

After failing to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the International Federation of American Football (Ifaf) has agreed to a partnership with the NFL with a goal of Los Angeles in 2028.

“For many young people, being able to play at the highest level of the sport and represent your country in flag football is really special,” Afia Law, former Great Britain player and current international development manager for NFL Flag, told the BBC. told Sports.

Flag is the most comprehensive and accessible form of American football. With more than 20 million people playing in more than 100 countries, the rapid growth of the women's game was key to winning the Olympic vote.

“Women's participation is really driving it,” said NFL analyst Phoebe Scheckter, who also played both flag and tackle football for Great Britain.

“Flag used to be said to be a women's sport and men made tackles, but now it's a sport that everyone can enjoy. People love how explosive it is and how incredible the catches are. I watch people compete, and gender doesn't matter, this is a place where you can just compete and have a good time. ”

But the British team isn't just having a great time, they're also winning. Scheckter played for the women's team that became European champions last August, and coached the U-17 women's team when they also became European champions in September.

The current women's team faced many obstacles. Kate Bruinbels had to set up a crowdfunding page to raise the £750 she needed to take part in last summer's Ireland competition.

Meanwhile, Kelly Barrett and her family founded their own club, the Coventry Cougars, after being introduced to flag football in elementary school, allowing her and her sister to continue playing.

However, Loughborough University is currently offering 10 flag football scholarships for male and female athletes aged 16 to 19, and the Great Britain match will be held in August, when Great Britain women and men have qualified. Set to boost funds before the World Championships.

“We have been successful without its help, but how much more successful could we be with it?” asked British Captain Barrett.

“My hope is that while we are going through this difficult time right now, girls just starting out in the sport don't have those barriers. They don't have to carry the financial burden. ”

The NFL Flag program expanded to the UK in 2018 and now has 500 schools and 30,000 players participating in Flag, 53% of whom are women. A women's league was launched in London last year, and expanded to include 260 women from 21 schools in its second season.

And as well as playing for England, Britain's most promising youngsters can receive a free education and possibly a career through flag football.

Flag is now a national sport for both men and women in the United States, and international student athletes are offered college scholarships. A new men's professional league, the American Flag Football League, will open on April 27, with a women's division scheduled to launch in 2025.

In Australia, many athletes are also considering a switch to flag football. A former female Australian Rules player was offered a scholarship to the United States after just one appearance in an international flag tournament.

Gridiron Australia chief executive Wade Kelly said: “I have two girls, aged seven and eight, who now love the game.”

“They love netball too, but now flag football has taken over. Taylor Swift might have gotten into it a little bit, but that's all they want to play in the park or on the beach right now. is.”

“As a father, knowing that they can go to the United States and pay for their education and see the world and go to the Olympics and maybe even go pro, it's a valid path for them and it's really exciting. It is a path.”

Just three weeks after Taylor Swift attended her first Chiefs game, flag football became an Olympic sport.

Since then, a number of British flag teams, such as East Kilbride Pirates, have reported a boom in recognition and interest from new and transitioning tackle players.

It's not all due to the Taylor Swift effect, but there's no denying that it's having an impact far beyond the NFL arena.

East Kilbride club president Amanda McDonald said: “People, especially young girls, are recognizing the sport in a way they never have before.”

“It's amazing that she's getting people talking about this and it's only good for the game and will probably act as an entry point to get people involved who wouldn't otherwise be able to participate. .

“For the first time, the path to the podium has been opened. We are starting a new team for the age group 14 to 17 years old, and the possibility that one of them will be a future Olympian is unknown. No one knows.”