Roadrunner Brianna Howard is a first-year student who plays RCSJ Women’s Soccer. She participated in flag football as a Washington Twp. high school student and looks forward to learning more about RCSJ's new women's flag football program.
Women's Flag Football is coming to Rowan College of South Jersey's (RCSJ) Gloucester campus, with the inaugural season starting in the Spring of 2027.
RCSJ-Gloucester was awarded a $10,000 grant from the NJCAA Foundation, NFL Flag, and Reigning Champs Experiences to begin this new sports venture. These organizations are committed to enhancing youth sports experiences nationally. RCSJ-Gloucester will use the grant money to launch this new sport on campus and add a great opportunity for female athletes.
Flag football has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, fueled by increased participation at the high school level, support from national athletic organizations, and rising visibility through collegiate and professional initiatives. By introducing this program, the college is positioning itself at the forefront of an evolving athletic landscape while creating new pathways for female athletes to compete, develop leadership skills, and engage in a dynamic team environment. Flag Football will also become an Olympic sport for the first time in 2028 and will be featured prominently through televised coverage which will continue the growth trend for the sport.
"As we continue to grow our athletic offerings, adding Women's Flag Football is both an exciting and intentional step forward for our program," commented RCSJ-Gloucester executive director of athletics Brian Rowan. "This new sport represents opportunity - opportunity for female athletes to compete at a high level and opportunity for our college to lead in an emerging space. We will begin the search for a head coach immediately and will be recruiting heavily this spring to fill a competitive roster for our launch in Spring 2027."
Flag football is on the rise and does not look like it is slowing down. The NJCAA supports the growth of the sport and is looking for steady expansion.
"The NJCAA Foundation is passionate about the value women's flag football brings to institutions' overall growth, the student-athlete experience, and equality across playing fields," stated Andrew Givens, NJCAA foundation executive director. "This is an opportunity for women of the association to compete at the highest level, and we are fortunate to work hand in hand with NFL Flag and RCX Sports during this exciting time."
In the short term, Roadrunner Athletics has tabbed Kenyatta Collins as the point person for interested students, and he will oversee the early recruiting until a head coach is in place. Collins has been successful across the program as an Assistant Coach with the Women's Soccer and Women's Basketball programs this year with each team earning trips to NJCAA National Championships. "Coach Collins has the energy and enthusiasm to get almost anything off the ground, he will be a great face for this program until we have a head coach in place," said Rowan. A head coach posting is expected soon via the RCSJ Human Resources page. For questions, please email [email protected].
An on-campus interest meeting will be announced soon so that current students can get started and join the program. Women's Flag Football will be the 17th intercollegiate athletic sport for the Gloucester campus. The Roadrunner program has won 33 NJCAA National Championships and has twice been named the Learfield Cup Champions as the top two-year athletic program in the country.
"Our program is known for excellence and leadership, and we strongly support women's athletics," said Rowan. "This is another opportunity for us to lead in getting this sport moving at the two-year and intercollegiate level in New Jersey and we will be strong supporters of these women athletes. I have no doubt that this will be a great sport for years to come in our program."
To stay updated on all Roadrunner Athletics programs visit RCRoadrunners.com and follow us on Social Media @RCRoadrunners. If you are interested in participating in Roadrunner Athletics' Women's Flag Football, please email [email protected].
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ABOUT ROWAN COLLEGE OF SOUTH JERSEY
Rowan College of South Jersey is a comprehensive, two-year regional college serving approximately 8,000 full- and part-time students with degree and workforce development programs, on campuses in Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. Rowan College of South Jersey is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
ABOUT NJCAA FOUNDATION
The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.
ABOUT RCX SPORTS
RCX Sports is the premier youth-sports experiences business, running and operating leagues, camps, combines, tournaments and events.
RCX works with professional leagues, national governing bodies, sports-centric businesses and brands to reimagine youth sports experiences. RCX produces events with world-class partners including the NFL, Jr. NBA, NAIA, Rivals.com and the 2022 World Games.
RCX is committed to improving the accessibility and inclusivity of sports by enhancing the youth sports experience and creating opportunities for all athletes to play. We believe sports have the power to transform lives and that every athlete should have the opportunity to experience the value of sports. For more information, visit www.rcxsports.com.
ABOUT NFL FLAG
NFL FLAG is an NFL-licensed property of more than 1,600 locally operated leagues and over 500,000 youth athletes across all 50 states. NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program available for girls and boys ages 5-17. Players benefit by being physically active through non-contact, continuous action while learning the fundamentals of football as well as lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship. RCX Sports is the official operator of NFL FLAG.
