Final time, Reimel led area powerhouse Lansdale Catholic to the league’s first championship, but in an effort and hard work to develop the sport, he produced the final decision to aid develop Wissahickon’s application from the ground up, accepting a new role coaching the school’s first team.
“I in fact train at the center faculty, and I went to the higher school’s athletic director at the stop of the time, and reported ‘Hey, you need to do this.’ Generally, he gave me an option. He stated, ‘We’ll do it. But you have to mentor.'”
Reimel has been an influential supporter in the flag soccer neighborhood for extra than a ten years, witnessing its swift evolution just about every move of the way. But nevertheless, when droves of high schoolers arrived to test out to be founding gamers for Wissahickon’s applications – he was in awe. He counted an astounding 52 interested athletes.
“Flag is a activity for absolutely everyone. It will not subject your dimensions, your color, your peak, or your age. It can be for all people,” mentioned Reimel.
“When I went to the to start with follow, and all these ladies basically showed up, some not knowing everything about football or flag football, it showed the need to try anything new, but also attempt something that the boys currently do. It just presents them an opportunity to do a thing that they have been informed all their daily life they cannot do.”
Wissahickon is one particular of 22 teams becoming a member of the league for the 2022 period – a full of 38 groups throughout the spot have fully commited to competing this spring. A further 14 teams have done so in New Jersey. In order for ladies flag soccer to turn into a condition-sanctioned higher faculty sport, there must be 100 collaborating universities across Pennsylvania.
“I was a minor shocked at 1st, just to see how it turned out,” mentioned Lansdale Catholic quarterback Bridget Keyser, reflecting on the initial 12 months of the league.
“I didn’t know how several girls were being going to clearly show up, and not only just exhibit up, but be in a position to truly be fantastic at it, catch on, and adore it. It is not like a ton of people today can get this prospect, so when we do get the option, it just opens so lots of doorways.”
Keyser is a single of the hundreds of athletes who have benefited from the league’s generation. Her to start with working experience actively playing football was just 5 decades ago – and she explained it finest, given that then, doors have flown open.
Soon after submitting a emphasize reel on her Instagram showcasing her flag football abilities, she garnered fascination from higher education applications across the country, kickstarting her higher education recruitment approach. Soon after speaking with several coaches and visiting campuses, she acquired the chance to participate in at the following level on scholarship at Milligan University in Tennessee.
“At first, I was really nervous, I couldn’t even toss a soccer,” Keyser mentioned. “But the entire flag soccer community is just like, a single major network of assistance.
“I hope that 1 working day flag is in pretty much each high college in Pennsylvania, just about every significant faculty in The usa, simply because it provides ladies an prospect for so a lot of distinct points – they could enjoy in college or university, they could want to make a profession out of it – it opens up so numerous doors and connections.”
Flag soccer is altering the life of girls like Keyser throughout the state, and the Eagles are dedicated to aiding aid its growth just about every step of the way.
“I assume each significant school desires to decide on it up simply because there’s certainly a female out there who is ready for an prospect,” Keyser explained.
