NNPS hosts Washington Commanders Media Day for region's new girls flag football teams
Published September 17, 2026
Washington Commanders representatives hosted Girls Flag Football Media Day for new club programs in Newport News Public Schools, Portsmouth Public Schools and Suffolk Public Schools on September 16 at Heritage High School.
The Commanders revealed uniforms they supplied for each team, players donned them to pose for team and individual photos and videos, and former Washington and three time All-American Norfolk State University linebacker Lynden Trail Sr. spoke to players about the importance of strong academic performance to participating in sports.
All five NNPS high schools are fielding girls flag football club teams this fall. They started practicing this month and will play a schedule of intracity games on Saturdays October 10-31 on An Achievable Dream Middle and High School’s field.
As part of their commitment to supporting the growing sport of girls flag football in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, the Commanders are sponsoring start-up costs for teams.
“We decided in NNPS Athletics to take advantage of the Commanders offer package to start programs,” said NNPS Athletic Director Lee Martin. “They agreed to give each of our high schools 25 flag belts, 25 custom Nike uniforms, 10 footballs and $3,000 for incidentals to start up our teams. We are using that money to offer a stipend to coaches, pay for officials, and for transportation costs.”
In addition, the Commanders sponsor awards for teams to win an additional $2,000 if their coach is chosen coach of the week and $1,000 if a player is honored as player of the week.
Girls flag football is not an official Virginia High School League sport, but is projected to gain that status in the future, Martin said. The number of club teams in Virginia is at 103 this season, up from 51 last year, according to the Commanders.
This season, NNPS teams will play under the New Jersey Girls Flag Football rules. The field is 80 yards long and 40 yards wide, and seven players at a time are on the field for each team.
