A Girl’s Game: Strike League Flag Football 

In 2022, Ben Ezugha encountered a video that stopped his scroll and started something entirely new for Oklahoma. “I saw a video of Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passing out scholarships to high school athletes, and some of those recipients were girls,” Ezugha recalls. Intrigued, he discovered that girls had been playing flag football in Florida since 2002. But in Oklahoma, this sport was practically unheard of. 

Motivated by this gap, Ezugha decided to act. “I googled to see if I could participate, but I realized there was nowhere here for girls to play.” As a former high school football coach in San Diego and a graphic designer, he had the skills to not only coach the game but also to create a brand and launch a league. “I thought, hey, if I were to start a brand, what would it look like?” And so, Strike League was born. 

“I always kind of believed I’d find my way back to football, but I assumed it would most likely be with my future sons,” Ben explained. “But then I had three daughters and I realized this was the way it was meant to happen. It’s really ignited my passion for the sport again.” 

Starting with free camps and a few volunteers, Ezugha worked to build interest. “We topped out with 48 girls, which amounts to six teams, roughly eight girls each.” The league operates with a 5-on-5 format, and teams play a round-robin style schedule, culminating in playoffs where every team has a shot at victory. 

But more important than a win are the benefits it brings to each player. Ben says, “It makes most of them a 2- or 3-sport athlete, building different skills and helping prevent burnout from their main sport.” He also emphasized the unique camaraderie that flag football fosters, where each position has a distinct role and teamwork is essential. 

“They truly learn to rely on their teammates to do something that is unique to each position and it all has to happen in concert so you can succeed together. It’s a feeling that I don’t think any other sport provides.” 

Ezugha believes the rise of girls’ flag football is part of a larger trend. “In America, we have a love of the game, and men have been in this for a long time. But now, we’re starting to see female participation become more prevalent, and as a father of three daughters, I am proud to play a part.” 

Looking ahead, Strike League plans to expand with a winter camp and even more teams in the spring. “I couldn’t wait for someone else to do it,” Ezugha says. “I believe that with some time, and enough work, girls’ flag football is really going to catch fire. 

Visit strikeleague.co for scrimmage and camp information.