MOSES LAKE – Grid Kids Football has partnered with NFL Flag to bring more flag football opportunities to girls in grades 1-12 with practices starting in August and their season starting this Fall.  

“I think there is a general movement in women and girls flag football,” said JD Houvener, the NFL Flag Football League organizer for Moses Lake. “It’s just going to continue leading up to the 2028 Olympics, where it's going to debut for the first time as an Olympic sport.”  

JD Houvener has grown an interest in flag football through his two daughters as they both played in the flag football program with Grid Kids. The girls flag football program initially ended after second grade, and his daughters wanted to continue with the sport as they got older. 

Initially, he said he tried to start a league on his own through the NFL Flag organization, but guidelines said that he needed to be associated with an existing institution. Eventually, he got in contact with Jared Pope, president of the Moses Lake Grid Kids football league, who said they’d be willing to sponsor flag football.

“They’re open to us doing it. They’ve fully embraced the girls side of flag football,” said Houvener. 

This year, the league is looking at a six-week season, which is set to start the last weekend of August and run through the first week of October, he said. 

“Pretty short and sweet, all through September and then usually try to end by the first week of October,” said Houvener. “We’ll do some practicing in the hot summer, which will be challenging as always, so we’ll make sure there’s lots of water.” 

The focus for the Grid Kids flag football league is to minimize travel for games, he said.  

“Our main thing is it's here in Moses, come play in Moses, it's within the city,” Houvener said. 

The ability for girls to participate in flag football is important, he said, as it is a great way for them to participate in a sport like football that has so much popularity behind it. 

“It’s just the ability to play a sport in a little bit different way, without contact, in a competitive way,” said Houvener. “It just has a unique thing where it combines speed, athleticism, and talent that I think a lot of young girls don’t get to show off.” 

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association recently passed an amendment to add girls flag football as an official sport that high schools around the state will compete in this coming school year. Houvener said this rise in popularity with the sport makes him even more excited for the league to start practice next month. 

The league is approaching 100 signups at the start of July and will be open for registration until August 1. Houvener said he is curious what the final turnout will be for their league during its kickoff season. 

“I personally would love to have at least six teams of ten for every age group,” he said. 

Cost is $60 per player, which covers the reversible NFL jersey players receive at the start of the season. The only things players need to bring are shorts, a shirt, cleats and a mouthguard with everything else provided by the league.  

Those still interested in signing up can go to moseslakefootball.com or visit the Moses Lake Grid Kids Facebook page. 

    Emma Houvener rushes with the ball during a prior youth flag football game. JD Houvener said his interest in getting a girls flag football league started came from both of his daughters’ desire to continue playing the sport into the future.
  

    A girl in one of the other NFL Flag leagues prepares to hike the ball. JD Houvener said he has seen a growing interest in flag football over the years with its addition to the 2028 Olympics and approval in the WIAA for the 2025/26 school year.