WCCD Announces Addition of Women’s Flag Football to Athletics

Representatives from participating women’s flag football programs gathered in Montgomery Tuesday for the announcement of the sport’s addition to the Alabama Community College Conference athletic lineup. WCCD Dean of Student Affairs Dr. George Norton (sixth from the right) represented Wallace Community College.

Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD) is pleased to announce the addition of women’s flag football to the College’s athletic offerings after an official announcement from the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) adding flag football at the community college level for the entire state on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Play will begin in the 2025-26 academic year.

“We are thrilled to be adding flag football to our growing athletic department,” said Dr. Ryan Spry, WCCD Athletic Director. “I believe our joint announcement with the ACCC today will only strengthen this sport’s popularity in the area. With the top-notch facilities and talent we have in the Wiregrass, I look for us to be extremely competitive from the outset.”

“Women’s flag football is on the rise at the collegiate level,” said ACCC Commissioner Dean Myrick. “Through an effort with the Alabama Recreation and Parks Foundation, we’re excited to offer an additional opportunity for our female student-athletes at the two-year level. This sport is popular at our state’s high schools, and I believe that will translate into a competitive league for us.”

Among those in attendance at the press event were Izell Reese, the NFL Flag Executive Director and CEO of RCX Sports. Reese is a native of Dothan and played seven seasons in the NFL. Reese and his group played an important role in bringing flag football to high schools and community colleges in Alabama.

“Two of the things the NFL looked at was making sure all kids had the opportunity to play and participate at all levels,” Reese said. “They also wanted to make sure females had the opportunity to play flag football.”

Also in attendance was Katie Conner, the executive director of the Alabama Association of Alabama Recreation and Parks Association. Conner made an important announcement to the group.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Alabama Community College System,” Conner said. “We’re taking our collaboration to the next level by offering a $50,000 sponsorship to support women’s flag football. This initiative supports inclusion, empowers women in sports, and creates new opportunities for student athletes in our community colleges.”

The National Junior College Athletic Association certified sport championship season will be played in the spring, along with NCAA and NAIA teams. The spring season may consist of a maximum of 16 games with two scrimmages. Conference members may award up to 15 tuition, fees, and books scholarships. Teams will also be allowed to have a fall season which may consist of practices and four scrimmage dates.

Once competition begins, the ACCC will feature the largest flag football conference in the NJCAA. Already committed to having a flag football team in Alabama are Wallace-Dothan, LBW Community College, Bishop State, Calhoun, Northwest Shoals, Snead State, Southern Union and Wallace-Hanceville. Three others are still in the process of finalizing the process of starting a team.

Participating member colleges of the ACCC are comprised of 114 individual teams, providing opportunities for more than 2,500 student-athletes. Sports that make up the ACCC are baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, volleyball, and esports.