Northville’s girls flag football camp a sign of sport’s ascension
A participant in Northville’s Girls Flag Football Clinic held earlier this month.
Imagine the delight that surged through the mind of Northville High School sophomore-to-be Lili Vettraino when she learned before her freshman year that the Michigan High School Athletic Association was making girls flag football an official varsity sport for the first time in 2026.
“I played flag football in the youth program the NFL offered throughout elementary school and I absolutely loved it,” said Vettraino, during a break in a youth girls flag football camp hosted by Northville High School. “When that ended, I was bumming because I didn’t think I’d be able to play again.
“When I found out before my freshman year that the MHSAA was making it a varsity sport I was so excited.”
First-year success
Only a freshman, Vettraino was a key member of the Mustangs’ inaugural team that compiled a sterling 3-1 record this spring — missing the playoffs by the width of a football.
“It was disappointing knowing we came so close to making the playoffs,” Vettraino admitted. “But at the same time, it gives us confidence that we can make it next year.”
According to multiple sources, girls flag football is the fastest-growing high school sport in the United States. Close to 70,000 girls competed in flag football this past spring — a 60% increase compared to a year earlier.
Statistics from organizations like NFL Flag indicate approximately 50% of girls playing high school flag football had never competed in a high school sport before.
Clinics are essential for young athletes
The growing interest in the sport makes it a perfect time to start hosting fundamental camps like the one Northville held two weeks ago.
“Judging from the excitement that spread throughout the community during our first high school season, it made sense to offer a clinic that gives young girls an avenue to learn the fundamentals of the sport,” said Chris Manno, who coached the first-year Mustangs along with four varsity boys football players and teacher sponsors Teryn Chrzanowski and Nancy Smith.
“We had 40 girls sign up and the age range was 6 to 14, which reflects the interest in girls flag football. The sport is only going to grow from here.”
It takes a village
The 40 pre-high school athletes who participated in Northville’s first girls flag football clinic were assisted by coaches from Legacy Sports and returning Northville High School players.
The clinic focused on basics like how to properly throw a football, catching passes and securing handoffs.
“I think this clinic is a great way to introduce young girls to the sport of flag football,” said Northville High School sophomore-to-be Jenna Chrzanowski. “Clinics like this will only increase the interest in the sport.
“Personally, I was really impressed by how organized the first year of the league went and how competitive it was.”
Chrzanowski twins’ amazing hook-up
One of the highlights of the season for Chrzanowski was catching a 66-yard touchdown pass from her sister/QB Taylor on the first play of a victory over Saline.
Jenna Chrzanowski said one of the most-challenging skills to learn was the pulling of flags (which is equivalent to a tackle in boys football).
“It takes a lot of practice to pull the flag, especially when the ball-carrier is running fast and weaving back and forth,” she added. “But like with anything, the more you practice, the better you get.”
Manno, who holds a corporate job and is an assistant coach for Northville’s boys football program, said the progress his first-year team made from the very first practice to the final game was amazing.
“Obviously, our first practice was kind of spotty due to the learning curve involved,” he said. “But by the final game or two, the improvement was off the charts.
“You can tell the girls are really into this, too, because they’ve been working hard during the summer at Ethos in Plymouth to get ready for next year already.”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
