Danny Maciocia believes U Sports schools should begin offering Women’s Flag Football as an athletic program.
TSN 690 host Moe Khan tweeted Tuesday that he “still cannot believe that U Sports has yet to introduce Women’s Flag Football. So many CEGEPs and high schools are playing across Canada”. The Grey Cup and Vanier Cup winning coach-turned-GM responded in kind.
“Totally agree! Would be great initiative, lots of talent available,” Maciocia tweeted.
The discussion came on the heels of Women’s Flag Football earning emerging status in NAIA, a small school collegiate sports organization in the United States, with more than 15 schools signed up to play an inaugural season as part of an NFL initiative. Canadian schools have a long history of association with the NAIA, with the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria hold full membership status in both organizations.
Women’s football has grown in recent years at both the flag and tackle level, with Canada fielding competitive teams internationally in both categories. Last year, eight women’s flag teams from across the country competed in the Canadian Flag Football League National Championships in Regina after first advancing from their regional tournaments.
Khan pointed to Maciocia’s support as a positive step giving his sterling reputation for building the Montreal Carabins into a national powerhouse and Vanier Cup winners in 2014.
“I hope U Sports sees this,” Khan tweeted. “If football wants to grow, it needs to be inclusive, flag football is a great diving board to help grow with so many talented female athletes.”
