TAMPA, Fla. — Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country — especially for young girls.

A Bay area middle school team is continuing that trend, hoping to become its league’s national champions.

The Saints are headed to the University of Maryland for this year’s Spring UA Rise Girls National Championship. It’s the first time the league has ever held this national tournament for girls flag football. The Saints are ready.

“We’re not going just to go,” said Saints player Payton Ward. “We’re going to win.”

They are part of the growing number of girls who have been attracted to the sport.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, about 500,000 girls played flag football last year. That’s a 63% increase from 2019. The girls range from 6 to 17 years old.

“Football, it’s a way to stay physically in shape, but it keeps me mentally in check because of all the mental aspects of it,” said Saints player Ayden Klaiber.

The middle schoolers who play for the Saints agree they have learned a lot through flag football, and they can’t wait to play in their league’s championship game

“It’s really cool because we’ve won our league but we’ve never been able to make the championship,” said Saints player Devon Miller.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us,” said Hannah Beal, the Saints quarterback. “I think it’s going to be really fun.”

Most of the girls on the team attend Roland Park K-8 IB World School in Tampa. And most of them also participate in other sports.

Win or lose, they said flag football is helping prepare them physically and mentally for wherever life takes them in the future.

“I think they feel powerful when they play flag football,” said Saints General Manager Meloneese Beal. “And football has such a history of being a male dominated sport and they’re like, they can do it. We can do it.”

The national championship tournament begins Saturday.

(Courtesy: Isaiah Calabaza)