MOORHEAD — Concordia’s women’s flag football team will make history Saturday, taking the field for the first time in a league sponsored by the Minnesota Vikings . But getting game-ready has been quite the journey.“I read the text. I was super excited. Yes, immediately," said Cobbers flag football coach Bre Nelson. "Then a couple minutes later, you kind of think through, 'Oh, I've never coached flag football. I've never played flag football.'" ADVERTISEMENT Nelson, who played and currently coaches women's soccer at Concordia, dove right in. A few YouTube videos and a couple weeks of practice later, it's game week for Cobber flag football. For most of the roster, flag football is just as new to them as it is to the school.“The only experience I have is playing in the backyard with my brothers, just throwing a football around and learning what they know, but never pulling flags or doing anything," said team member Ashlyn Thompson, who also plays basketball at Concordia.About half the current roster of 16 currently plays a competitive sport at Concordia. Soccer player Darby Hannan fits that description.“It's so unique. It's so different," Hannan said. "I was just like, 'Yeah, I'd love to try out football.' I've watched it my whole life and been around it, but just I've never been able to play. So it was just like, yeah, try it out, which is definitely not how soccer worked at all."Concordia is hoping to get in on the ground floor of one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Flag football will be at the 2028 Summer Olympics and the NCAA is looking in to adding it as a sanctioned sport. “I'm super proud to be a part of an institution like this that prioritizes women's sports and kind of excelling in that way," Nelson said. " I'm proud, excited that this opportunity came about and that Concordia women get to join this." ADVERTISEMENT Concordia's first competition will be Saturday at a jamboree hosted by the University of Northwestern, St. Paul. The season culminates at the Vikings TCO Stadium on Saturday, April 26. By Cullen Holt Cullen Holt is a sports anchor and reporter for WDAY News, while handling play-by-play duties for high school and select college sports. Twitter Facebook

'It's so unique'; Cobbers gear up for first women's flag football competition

MOORHEAD — Concordia’s women’s flag football team will make history Saturday, taking the field for the first time in a league sponsored by the Minnesota Vikings . But getting game-ready has been quite the journey. “I read the text. I was super excited. Yes, immediately,” said Cobbers flag football coach Bre Nelson. “Then a couple […]

MOORHEAD — Concordia’s women’s flag football team will make history Saturday, taking the field for the first time in

a league sponsored by the Minnesota Vikings

. But getting game-ready has been quite the journey.

“I read the text. I was super excited. Yes, immediately,” said Cobbers flag football coach Bre Nelson. “Then a couple minutes later, you kind of think through, ‘Oh, I’ve never coached flag football. I’ve never played flag football.'”

Nelson, who played and currently coaches women’s soccer at Concordia, dove right in. A few YouTube videos and a couple weeks of practice later, it’s game week for Cobber flag football.

For most of the roster, flag football is just as new to them as it is to the school.

“The only experience I have is playing in the backyard with my brothers, just throwing a football around and learning what they know, but never pulling flags or doing anything,” said team member Ashlyn Thompson, who also plays basketball at Concordia.

About half the current roster of 16 currently plays a competitive sport at Concordia. Soccer player Darby Hannan fits that description.

“It’s so unique. It’s so different,” Hannan said. “I was just like, ‘Yeah, I’d love to try out football.’ I’ve watched it my whole life and been around it, but just I’ve never been able to play. So it was just like, yeah, try it out, which is definitely not how soccer worked at all.”

Concordia is hoping to get in on the ground floor of one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Flag football will be at the 2028 Summer Olympics and the NCAA is looking in to adding it as a sanctioned sport.

“I’m super proud to be a part of an institution like this that prioritizes women’s sports and kind of excelling in that way,” Nelson said. ” I’m proud, excited that this opportunity came about and that Concordia women get to join this.”

Concordia’s first competition will be Saturday at a jamboree hosted by the University of Northwestern, St. Paul. The season culminates at the Vikings TCO Stadium on Saturday, April 26.

Cullen Holt