Flag football interest surges 60% nationally, including 500,000 girls in the US, and this Lehigh Valley nonprofit is making sure local girls have a field of their own—where every girl plays
[Bethlehem, PA – May 18, 2026] – Flag Football, no longer a niche sport, is a now a movement that includes a sports debut in the 2028 Olympics in LA. This summer, Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics (GLVA), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Lehigh Valley youth sports organization, offers girls in the Lehigh Valley the opportunity to experience this exciting non-contact sport in an “girls only” NFL flag football league.
Registration for the inaugural Girls Flag Football Summer League is now open to girls ages 9 to 17 across Northampton and Lehigh Counties. Space is limited to 100 participants and 93 girls are already registered. The registration fee is $100 and scholarships are available for the girls league season to support any families experiencing financial insecurity.
According to Aspen Institute’s Project Play, flag football was the only team sport from 2019 to 2024 that experienced growth in regular participation among youth ages 6 to 17 and, since 2019, about 500,000 girls ages 6 to 17 have taken up flag football. Research from Children’s Hospital Colorado found that girls who play flag football report more daily activity, higher energy levels, and stronger positive mental health outcomes compared to non-athlete peers.
Flag Football’s non-contact format makes it an accessible, welcoming entry point for girls of all skill levels, including those who have never played a sport.
“We have been watching the growth of flag football at the national level, and we knew it was time to bring a dedicated girls’ league home to the Lehigh Valley,” said Keri Neidig, VP of the
Board of Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics. “Our co-ed league attracts some girls, but a dedicated league gives them the confidence to grow, compete, and lead in a way that is truly their own.”
Games will be held on Sundays at the Charles Chrin Community Center, 4100 Green Pond Road in Palmer, PA. The league will run from late May June through late July, with practices within fifteen minutes of home whenever possible, expanding access and reducing transportation barriers for families across the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Every Girl Plays. Period.
A unique founding commitment across all co-ed and girls GLVA programs is that every child plays, every single game, no exceptions, which sets GLVA apart from the competitive travel team programs. Each participant receives an official NFL FLAG jersey and flag belt.
GLVA has no tryouts, no benching, and no pressure to be the best athlete in the room. GLVA teams are intentionally capped at twelve players to ensure meaningful playing time for everyone who registers. There are no fundraising requirements for parents or players, no mandatory volunteer shifts, and no hidden obligations.
Player safety is a priority at every level of GLVA operations. St. Luke’s Health Network staffs all GLVA games with a certified athletic trainer. Safety incidents are tracked each season, and coaches receive extensive training in injury prevention and participant welfare. GLVA follows established safety protocols aligned with NFL FLAG rules, including required safety equipment for all participants.
As an added commitment to its programs, all coaching staff are trained through GLVA’s partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance, ensuring age-appropriate instruction rooted in positive youth development. All coaches and volunteers are required to complete National criminal background checks and PA State child abuse clearances.
Community Support Makes It Happen
Funding to cover the cost of scholarship equipment, uniforms, and belts is partially provided through a grant award from IronPigs Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and through many GLVA community and corporate donors who support the power of youth recreation and shaping stronger, healthier communities across the Lehigh Valley.
“Girls in our community deserve an NFL Flag Football league designed specifically for them, where they can show up, build friendships, discover confidence, and play a sport with a future,” Neidig said. “They are ready for it, and so are we.”
Families interested in registering, applying for a scholarship, or anyone interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to visit www.glvathletics.org, contact Keri Neidig at glvathletics@gmail.com, or 610-674-3521.
About Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics
Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics (GLVA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) youth sports organization serving co-ed youth ages 5 to 15 across Northampton and Lehigh Counties since 2013. GLVA offers NFL flag football and cheerleading each fall and spring season, with roster spaces filling quickly each season. The organization is grounded in the belief that every child plays, and that sports are a proven pathway to physical health, mental well-being, confidence, and community. GLVA is expanding in 2026 with its inaugural Girls Flag Football Summer League, bringing dedicated opportunities for regional girls ages 9 to 17 to discover the sport. Learn more at www.glvathletics.org.
GLVA Flag Football League Video: https://youtu.be/vXFuV2rzHhE
GLVA Website: Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics > Home
Information provided to TVL by:
Hayden Rinde
