Austin pilots girls flag football with Vikings grant; 63 players registered for inaugural season

Austin Public Schools presented a new girls flag football pilot program funded in part by a Minnesota Vikings grant and open to female students across grades. District staff said 63 girls have registered for the inaugural season; 23 players also participate in spring sports leaving roughly 40 for whom flag football will be a primary spring activity.

The program’s head coach is Tom Compton with paid assistant coaches Lindsey Brunk and Michelle Do and volunteer assistants Isabel and Katie Brunk. Practices currently meet one evening per week (Wednesdays, 6–8 p.m.) with optional Monday sessions added later in the season to accommodate players’ schedules. The program will host games on Sunday evenings with JV and varsity doubleheaders; the first game date is April 26 and the district will host a larger event May 17 at Hawks Field.

Staff noted community support including donated cleats and equipment from Midtown Auto Clinic and Sheetz Raceway; the district said donated gear will be loaned to players who need equipment. Ruth Halverson, a 10th‑grade player who helped recruit teammates, told the board the program has been meaningful for students who want to play football without full‑contact tackling and that an early interest meeting drew about 75 students. Officials said the program will include a bracketed playoff at the Vikings’ practice facility on June 7.

The presentation framed the pilot as an opportunity to expand equitable participation in athletics, broaden pathways for female student athletes and leverage external grant funding to offset costs.

No board action was required for the presentation.