Open practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m.
This is likely the first photo ever taken of Women’s Flag Football at Virginia Wesleyan.
Virginia Wesleyan University is breaking new ground in women’s athletics with the launch of its flag football team.
“We had about 15 to 20 women that came out for the interest meeting, and we had another 20 that expressed interest or emailed,” Women’s Flag Football Coach Jamaar Hawkins said.
Hawkins is a native of Virginia and has a background in playing football, basketball and track. He made his return to football by founding the first all-girls flag football league in Hampton Roads, the I-64 All-Girl Flag Football Circuit.
Andrea Hoover-Erbig, executive director of VWU Athletics, reached out to Hawkins in July about the head coaching position. “I was excited about the opportunity, and when she offered me the job, I accepted it without any hesitation,” Hawkins said.
Practice began Sept. 18 and the team has been holding open practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “We will have 24 practices this fall, so that will be the introductory phase because we don’t start playing until the spring,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins said he is using this time to focus on the fundamentals by teaching positions, offensive and defensive responsibilities and taking a slow, methodical approach to learning the sport. “There’s no rush to get them into ‘game shape’ or ready to play tomorrow,” Hawkins said.
Freshman Jurhnee Richardson has attended practices and shown excitement for the upcoming season. “I was already playing in Coach Hawkins’ league before I even started thinking of wanting to commit and go to college on a collegiate level for this [sport],” Richardson said, “It’s an honor, and I’m forever grateful and blessed to be here.”
Hawkins defines his team philosophy as the “three C’s,” which include commitment, character and community. He said he looks for these key components in the recruiting process. “You just have to be committed to the sport and getting better, have a great work ethic and have great character.”
Current students at VWU have shown interest in the formation of a Women’s Flag Football team, so this is a chance for women to continue training during the off-season. Hawkins said he looks for athletes with good personal qualities: those who can lead by example, show up with a positive attitude and make an effort to excel academically. He encourages athletes to think beyond individual performance and build team cohesion.
“You don’t necessarily have to be experienced. Women’s Flag Football is new anyway, so most people won’t be experienced. But you have to kind of hit those marks, which is what I look for in a student-athlete,” Hawkins said.
While some of the players have had prior experience, freshman Terrah Henrich is a newcomer. “I’ve never played football before,” Henrich said, “It’s exciting that we can have that female bond with each other over this sport.”
Community is an important subject to Hawkins because he has extensive experience working with youth sports. Hawkins believes that community goes beyond just the playing field.
To Hawkins, community is a critical component in developing well-rounded student-athletes who can serve as positive role models and contribute meaningfully to their team and school. During his time coaching, Hawkins aims to help athletes understand their role in a larger team.
Former VWU basketball player Alexis Platt ‘17 is the founder of the non-profit organization, She Scored Sports. Platt empowers female athletes by recognizing and celebrating their success. She shared her thoughts on the new team arriving at VWU.
“I think that [Coach Hawkins] is a great fit for what we are trying to grow at Virginia Wesleyan,” Platt said, “Women’s sports are growing, so I love to see that Virginia Wesleyan is adding that and growing with where society is going.”
Hawkins said he is looking forward to helping the new flag football team integrate with other championship-level teams. “We have a lot of good models to follow. We just want to fit in there and go along with what’s already been established here,” Hawkins said.
Platt is passionate about having a new team to bring a new vibe to the school. “Being able to adapt to incorporating new sports or new opportunities that come along is always an amazing thing,” Platt said.
“I think that having this team is going to encourage young women to reach for the limit to step outside of their comfort zone, try something different and be able to grow their confidence,” Platt said.
Since this is the first flag football team at VWU, this spring’s team will set the standard for the coming years. “They have the opportunity to create a legacy,” Platt said.
“I know Coach Hawkins is going to recruit local, and I know that it’s going to give young ladies the opportunity to go to college and play a sport that is different, that’s new and that’s going to continue to help grow women’s sports across the board,” Platt said.
“This is a huge opportunity for me, and I’m excited,” Hawkins said. “It’s been very welcoming, and I love being on campus whenever I get the opportunity.”
According to Sports Illustrated, in 2023, about 500,000 girls aged 6-17 played flag football, which was a 63% increase from 2019. A significant number of universities have begun offering flag football for women, which will likely increase interest to high school students. Flag Football will debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, showcasing this sport on a global level.
