This spring, Mounds View High School joined the first Minnesota high school girls flag football league after being recruited by the Rosemount High School football coach. 

The Minnesota Vikings donated $600,000 to 51 high schools in support of the girls flag football program in 2025. This is a continuation of the 2024 pilot program where the Vikings worked with four high schools in Minnesota to introduce flag football on a smaller scale. Originally the league was supposed to consist of 20 teams, yet it was so popular the program extended to 51 teams. “I think it’s great that they’re sponsoring everybody so that we can just have a good season. People can be introduced to it, they can see what it is with the benefits of not having to struggle…We have a great support system,” said senior Amelie Sorensen. 

Mounds View received $10,000, which they put towards equipment, transportation and uniforms, making it easier for girls to participate in the activity. This donation money will dwindle as the flag football league continues in Minnesota. “We were given $10,000 this year. Next year, we’ll be given $5,000 and year three is $2,500. So we have to look at it as we have $17,500 over the next three years. And the plan is hopefully that by year four, the Minnesota State High School League would come in and take over and then it would become an official [sport],” said Coach Michael Odom. 

Practices at Mounds View began on April 8, leading up to the competitive season, which consists of doubleheaders played on Sundays between April 27 and May 18, playoffs on June 1, and the championship the following week on Monday, June 9. There are three practice times throughout the week —Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays — in order to accommodate athletes who are in spring sports. “A lot of people that are joining football who have a spring sport [are] not joining football as their main sport. It’s just testing it out and to have fun because no one knows what they’re doing right now,” said senior Maddy Hakes.

In fact, one of the biggest concerns the coaches had with starting a flag football team was finding out if there were enough students interested in competing, since many girls were in other spring sports. Despite this, after talking to and recruiting multiple girls from different grades, many students were excited for this opportunity, and they were able to form a team of 30 girls. “I saw how excited they were about it, [and] that really got me more excited, and I realized that there is this opportunity here at Mounds View,” said Odom. 

Many of the athletes on the team participated in the powderpuff event last year, which opened their eyes to the world of flag football. The positive and fun atmosphere of powderpuff inspired girls to break the gender norms and continue playing the sport. “When I saw that there was an opportunity to play football, or an actual sports season, I thought to myself ‘this is such a good idea’ [because] there’s people here who would just love to play football as girls…that’s not really a popularized thing,” said Sorensen. 

With many girls excited to compete against other schools and try for state champion, the team hopes this season is a good start to girls flag football at Mounds View. “If they have a positive attitude, and they give full effort, the results will come along the way, but as long as they’re trying hard and they’re having fun and they’re positive about it, that’s really all I care about.” said Odom.