This spring marks a historic moment for the RCS athletic program as we launch our inaugural Girls Flag Football season. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, girls' flag football is creating new opportunities for female athletes, and RCS is proud to be building its program from the ground up.

We sat down with Head Coach Bill Brozowski to talk about the program, the league, and what the RCS community can expect this season.

Girls' High School Flag Football officially launched in New York State in 2024 and has already experienced tremendous growth. There are now approximately 230 teams across New York State competing in sectional play, with the season culminating in the State Championships held in Cortland in June.

RCS competes in Section 2, which includes three classes of teams, like many of the other sports offered in our District. This year, RCS will face approximately 10 teams, many of which are also newer or smaller programs, just like ours.

The sport’s reach extends far beyond New York, however. Thirty states now offer Girls Flag Football and nearly 100 colleges sponsor flag football programs. Flag Football (both men’s and women’s divisions) will debut in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“We are at the ground level of starting to build a program,” Coach Brozowski shared.

The long-term vision includes adding Modified and JV levels as interest continues to grow. Within five years, Coach Brozowski has his sights set high: “Our goal is to become the top team in the Capital Region.”

By offering the sport in the spring, the season is able to build its own identity, fan base, and culture within the school community. Girls can continue on to league programs, which start in the summer, much like other sports. 

For those new to the sport, Girls Flag Football offers the excitement and strategy of football without full-contact tackling.

“Flag football gives you the thrill of competing in a football atmosphere without the extreme physical contact,” Coach Brozowski explained. “It’s more reliant on quickness, agility, and strategy than heavy hits and blocking.”

He compares the strategy to a chess match, where positioning, movement, and “screening” are key components.

One of the most exciting aspects of Girls Flag Football is how naturally it complements other sports. According to Coach Brozowski, soccer and basketball players bring shiftiness and quickness. Track athletes contribute speed and endurance, and softball players add hand-eye coordination and reaction time.

“I feel confident that I can put all of those skills together in each athlete to help them succeed,” he said. “They’re going to fall in love with it.”

Coach Brozowski brings decades of experience to the program. He played in the Capital District Flag Football League (CDFFL) from 1990 to 2010 and was inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame in 1998. During his playing career, he competed in national tournaments at venues including Giants Stadium, RFK Stadium, the Georgia Dome, and Dallas Stadium.

In 2006, he founded and ran a co-ed flag football league through 2021. Today, he coaches multiple indoor and travel teams and is a partner in the All-American Sports RFP travel program. Recently, teams from the program competed at the Wide World of Sports Nationals at Disney, where the 14U girls team returned home as National Champions.

His connection to the sport is also personal. His wife, Kristyn, is a STEAM teacher at A.W. Becker, and their four children are active student-athletes in the district. “Our kids grew up watching us play flag football. They fell in love with the sport,” he shared.

Coach Brozowski is especially excited about the opportunity to introduce something new to RCS.

“I’m excited to teach the girls a new sport that will give them more opportunities at the next level. It’s the fastest-growing women’s sport,” he said. “I care about our students individually and meet them where they are.”

Because the sport is new to most athletes, everyone starts at square one.

“They haven’t been told incorrectly how to play. Everyone is learning together,” he said. “It’s okay to be nervous. It’s a new sport, and I’ll make the transition smooth and stress-free.”

The team has 10 scheduled games this season, with sectional play on the horizon. As the program grows, the goal is to expand into Modified and JV levels and build a strong pipeline for years to come.

But the most immediate goal? Community support!

“I would love to see our students and community come to our games and support us like they do our boys' football program,” Coach Brozowski said. “The growth of this sport will be monumental.”

Check our RCS Athletics Page for the full schedule and more information on Spring sports! 

www.rcscsd.org/page/athletics

RCS Communications