Girls tackle football is a fast growing sport, the league started in 2015 with about 50 girls and now in 2026 has over 700 girls. Girls football is a way to help the girls feel more confident in themselves, to help them express how they are feeling, and a good way to take out some emotions. With football being a very male dominated sport in the US, it is important for women to have representation and that is what Utah Girls Tackle Football League has done for many.
Herriman Highs’ girls football team is a part of the club sports. They have won 4 state championships in the league, with the most recent win in the 2023 season in division one. They also played in the Championships, division two, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, placing second in 2024. During that season, they had the number one defense, and number two offense. They played against Ohana (Canyons) and had a tough game against them, with an ending score of 19-12.
When girls think of football, they tend to think that they’ll get hurt, they wouldn’t be a good choice, or they’re too “fragile”. However, for girls who have played, they know this is a complete lie. Girls football is to show that girls can do just as much as boys can, while giving them a fair chance to show what they’ve got. Between the 22 different positions between offense and defense, many will agree that you will be able to find one spot that suits you best.
Haylie Dowding’s first thought about football is that it is really cool, especially the fact it’s all girls. Her first season was 2025. She says, “the girls on the team are a huge reason I keep playing.” Another thing she likes about the girls football league is that it isn’t as demanding as other sports are. Yes, you have to put in the work, but Herriman High’s team doesn’t have the burn-out effect. Dowding mentions that, “people should definitely join because this sport teaches you so many things like how to be tough and how to work together with others and build a positive team relationship. It’s such a great thing to join if you’re looking for a way to connect with people and get new experiences.”
Another girls football athlete is Mia Smith. Her first impression of it was, “I was going to love this sport very much.” She was nervous stepping onto the field for the first time, but after she did that, she was more excited than ever. After her first season, Smith knew immediately that this was her sport. She notes that, “I love the competition and the opportunity to hit hard,” and then she adds, “Football, for me, is the best way to escape. No matter what’s going on in my life, when practice starts, nothing else matters.” If she could say one thing to girls, it would be to let them know that they all should try football because it builds so much confidence and gives you the chance to meet so many amazing athletes/friends.
Addi Allen was excited when she found out about girls football. She saw it as a new opportunity to help her improve in other sports and in other aspects of life. For example, making friends and learning how to work as part of a team. What made Allen want to keep playing was her teammates and being a part of a team that makes her feel included and valued. She said that is really important to her. She loves to push herself to be better each day and see her improvement along the way. Allen really enjoys football and the game itself is so much fun and will help build confidence. She encourages people to join the football team because it can help you grow stronger, make friends, improve your confidence, and believe in yourself. She says, “I would encourage anyone who’s interested to give it a try. You might discover a new passion and become part of an incredible community.”
Another female athlete that plays on the team is Ella Thompson. When she first started she was scared because she didn’t know anyone and didn’t know what she was doing. But after a while, she started to gain confidence in what she was doing, learning more and more to help her understand football. What made her come back was, “the feeling of having the perfect snap and block and being able to help the team on offense,” and, “when I’m playing d [defensive] line and I can just hit people and put pressure on the o [offensive] line.” Thompson recommends that girls should play because of the experience you gain. You will be able to make incredible bonds with the girls, and, “being able to play a male dominated sport and understand it is such a flex.” She also says that they can never have enough people on the team.
When it comes to girls tackle football, there are usually two different reactions. The first is they think it is awesome and that it is incredible that girls get the opportunity to choose to play such a sport. The second is that they laugh or don’t believe when they are told about girls tackle football. That’s the reason for the Utah Girls Tackle Football League and Herriman Highs’ team; to help spread awareness for female athletes since 2015. Girls shouldn’t be scared to try stuff due to stereotypes or out of fear. Tackle football is a good way to start to build your confidence, and to never be afraid of what you don’t know.
