KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In an effort to assist the rising progress of flag soccer, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs revealed an promoting marketing campaign known as “Let Her Play” on Thursday in hopes of persuading the Kansas State Excessive Faculty Actions Affiliation (KSHSAA) to make ladies’ flag soccer a sanctioned sport within the state.
In a 55-second video, the Chiefs showcased a number of ladies who already play the game. The Chiefs then highlighted ladies in Kansas who can solely dream of representing their college by taking part in organized flag soccer. The Chiefs, who’ve received three Tremendous Bowls up to now seven years, need their marketing campaign to lift consciousness forward of the vote the KSHSAA board will maintain April 23 to find out whether or not ladies’ flag soccer will likely be sanctioned. The Chiefs say they consider having the assist from KSHSAA will give extra ladies the chance to play the game and enhance pathways to later play in school.
“There’s over 20 million individuals taking part in flag soccer worldwide proper now,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan mentioned Thursday. “Over half of one million ladies [ages] 6 to 17 play flag. Proper now, a lady in Kansas cannot play for a state championship and may’t play organized highschool flag soccer. What this vote does is give them that chance.”
Donovan mentioned the Chiefs have been working for six years to extend the game’s progress amongst ladies in Kansas. Based mostly on information from their marketing campaign, the Chiefs mentioned highschool ladies’ flag soccer participation within the state of Kansas grew 163% from 2024 to 2025.
Let Her Play 🔥 We’re proud to announce our assist for sanctioning highschool ladies flag in Kansas.
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 2, 2026
“What we do know is flag, globally, is rising very quick,” Chiefs membership proprietor Clark Hunt mentioned Monday on the NFL house owners assembly. “It is rising quick within the U.S., significantly the feminine demographic. There’s a number of optimistic statistics a few translation of people that performed flag soccer changing into followers of the NFL. Long run, it will be very helpful for the league.”
The vote will likely be determined by the 73 members of the KSHSAA board. It consists of highschool principals, college board representatives, athletic administrators and superintendents. A minimum of 51% of the board should vote sure for the petition to cross. If that occurs, Kansas will change into the 18th state to sanction the game. The Chiefs even have the petition on their web site that followers can signal.
The Chiefs’ video ends with distinguished members of the group — together with coach Andy Reid, Donovan and gamers akin to proper guard Trey Smith, heart Creed Humphrey and receiver Xavier Worthy — shouting the three-word phrase, “Let Her Play,” as a ultimate name to motion for the KSHSAA board.
Donovan says he understands that passing the vote could possibly be one of many essential first steps of a future ladies’ flag soccer star who’s from Kansas with potential to carry out within the 2028 Summer time Olympics and maybe an expert league.
“That might make it potential for a younger woman in Kansas having the ability to play highschool flag soccer for a state championship, get a full-ride scholarship to play school flag soccer, play on an Olympic flag soccer staff after which after that play in an expert flag soccer league,” Donovan mentioned Monday on the house owners assembly. “That is an thrilling alternative that we have been an actual, actual large supporter of.
“There’s most likely some youngsters, girls and boys, who’re probably going to essentially concentrate on flag. Possibly they’re smaller, sooner, faster or [other] explanation why they’d be higher at that than deal with soccer. It is one other alternative for these youngsters.”
