New Study Highlights the Need for Appropriate Head Protection in Girls Flag Football

Girls flag football is experiencing unprecedented growth.

Across the United States, more schools, leagues, and athletic organizations are introducing girls flag football programs, creating new opportunities for female athletes to compete in the sport.

As participation expands, understanding the safety needs of the game becomes increasingly important.

A newly published peer-reviewed study provides one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of injuries among female flag football athletes. The research reinforces that flag football has a substantially lower injury rate than tackle football while also identifying that head injuries and concussions remain part of the sport's injury profile.

Based on their findings, the authors conclude that the use of appropriate protective gear should be emphasized as the sport continues to grow.

New Research Examines Injuries in Girls Flag Football

In a newly published peer reviewed study in The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine researchers from Mount Sinai, the University of Colorado, Loyola University Chicago, and other medical institutions analyzed injury data collected through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS).

The study examined female flag football injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments between 2014 and 2023.

Based on nationally representative estimates, researchers identified approximately 22,666 female flag football injuries during the ten-year study period.

The majority of injuries occurred among younger athletes, with 71.1% of injuries involving players between the ages of 11 and 20, the same age group experiencing significant growth in participation.

The researchers identified head, face, and neck injuries as a significant category. According to the study's discussion, 24.1% of all reported injuries involved the head, face, or neck.

The study also identified concussions as the third most common injury diagnosis, accounting for 8.0% of reported injuries.

Understanding Head Impacts in Flag Football

While flag football eliminates many of the collision mechanisms associated with tackle football, athletes can still experience impacts involving the head during play.

Players sprint, accelerate, change direction, dive for flags, fall to the playing surface, and occasionally make contact with other athletes. The study references previous biomechanical research demonstrating that these factors contribute to the risk that a youth flag football athlete can experience a head impact(s) that produce measurable linear and rotational head acceleration. Key forces involved in concussion injury.

Linear acceleration describes movement of the head in a straight-line direction following an impact, while rotational acceleration describes twisting motion of the head. Both are important factors in understanding head impact biomechanics, and how a concussion or TBI occurs.

Based on the injury patterns identified, previous biomechanical research, and the continued growth of girls flag football, the authors conclude:

"The use of appropriate protective gear should be emphasized to prevent a precipitous rise in injuries as the sport continues to grow in popularity throughout the country."

The study does not evaluate individual products. Instead, it highlights the importance of selecting protective equipment designed for the demands of flag football.

Defining Appropriate Head Protection Through Independent Testing

For coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, and parents, one important question remains:

How can appropriate protective headgear be identified?

Independent laboratory testing provides an objective method for evaluating protective performance.

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab developed a flag football headgear rating system designed specifically for the sport. Using standardized laboratory testing, researchers evaluate how effectively products reduce both linear and rotational head acceleration during impact scenarios representative of flag football play.

Each product is tested using the same methodology and assigned a performance rating based on measured results.

Protective headgear and headbands earning 4-Star and 5-Star ratings is recommended by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab based on demonstrated performance during testing.

GameBreaker AURA: Independently Tested Head Protection for Girls Flag Football

The GameBreaker AURA Protective Headband was designed specifically for the needs of girls flag football athletes.

The AURA combines D3O® smart molecule impact protection technology with a lightweight, flexible design intended to help manage impact forces while maintaining the comfort and mobility athletes need during competition.

Its design focuses on reducing the transmission of forces associated with head impacts, including both linear and rotational impact forces.

In Virginia Tech Helmet Lab's independent flag football headgear testing program, the GameBreaker AURA earned a 5-Star Rating, the highest rating awarded by the laboratory.

Key features of the AURA include:

• D3O® impact protection technology - an industry exclusive partnership

• 5-Star Virginia Tech Helmet Lab rating

• Lightweight, low-profile construction

• Coverage designed for common impact areas

• Moisture-wicking antimicrobial materials

• Machine washable construction

• Secure athletic fit, with a non-slip silicon backed forehead

The AURA's 5-STAR rating from the industry’s leading independent testing lab provides coaches, families, and organizations with directly comparable and trusted performance data to use when selecting the appropriate protective headgear for their girls flag football athletes.

Supporting the Future of Girls Flag Football

As the girls flag football community continues to grow, GameBreaker remains committed to supporting the athletes, coaches, and communities that are building the future of the sport. Through purpose-built equipment, continued innovation, and a focus on athlete protection, GameBreaker will continue working alongside the flag football community to help more athletes compete with confidence. The GameBreaker AURA Protective Headband represents the next step in that commitment—a solution designed specifically for the evolving needs of girls flag football.