Hope Rozier of Fleming Island High School is an example of how much fun players can have in flag football. Rozier, a sophomore, played multiple positions during her freshman season for the Golden Eagle flag football team, coached by Roger Dailey, that won its district and regional titles for the third straight year. FIHS has only three losses in the first three years of its existence as a program.
Rozier, who also plays for the FIHS girls basketball team and a travel team, said flag football is a refreshing break from other hyper competitive sports.
“It was really fun (last year),” Rozier said. “Our team is smaller (around 10 players). We connected really well. Mr. (coach Roger) Dailey is encouraging and a really good coach. We like to joke around during practice. It’s not as serious as a go-hard and all-out practice that we get in other sports. We try our best and give our best effort during the games.”
Dailey said he tries to give his team more bang for their buck during the season.
“We have a 45-minute practice plus no Friday practice,” Dailey said. “We have games once a week. It’s a maximum amount for minimum investment. They have club soccer and club basketball. Sometimes their responsibilities to other sports become like jobs. My team and I needed something fun and competitive. They leave at 3 p.m. We have no offseason training, no laps, and we do not meet in summer or go through conditioning.”
Last season Rozier played receiver and cornerback in flag football and forward and point guard in basketball. Although receiver is her favorite position, she may end up playing some quarterback. FIHS lost both quarterbacks from last year to graduation, and the potential quarterback for this year, Malory Sinsel, hurt her shoulder playing basketball, and her status is yet to be determined.
It was a memorable season for Rozier in basketball also. She said the team overcame a lot of injuries to advance to the Region 1-8A final four.
Fleming Island girls basketball coach Joey Williams was impressed with Rozier’s versatility.
“She’s done a good job for us at different positions,” Willams said. “She’s started for us in some games and come off the bench to spark us in others. As the year progressed, she got better as she gained more confidence. In the regional game (a 63-53 win over Tallahassee Lincoln), she scored 13 points and played well on defense.”
Rozier made her mark in flag football too. Dailey said last season Rozier was the team leader in points scored, tackles, receiving yardage, and interceptions. She also threw a couple of touchdowns.
“Hope was a great part of that run we made last year to the title game,” Dailey said. “She was outstanding in her first year.”
In flag football, there are seven players on both offense and defense with all players eligible to catch a pass. The teams play 15 regular season games. Flag football continues through the end of May with a 10-game district schedule. The field is limited to 80 yards. A typical roster is 10-11 players that allows every girl a chance to play.
Rozier said flag football is a great game for any girl to play regardless of athletic ability. She said a player’s effort is more important than their skill level.
Dailey said flag football is a sport that athletes and non-athletes enjoy.
“I’ve had great success with cheerleaders, dance team members, or people who never picked up a ball in their life,” Dailey said. “On defense, you line up in the right spot and get the person with the flag. If they can get the alignment, then they almost never break a sweat ‘cause we walk through everything. Hope is hyper-intelligent, so she gets it. Some of the girls in club sports get self-conscious about coming to a new sport because they don’t want to be considered incompetent. We tell them they don’t have to know anything. We will teach them that.”
Rozier said it’s an easy transition going from basketball to flag football.
“I’m having a good time with both sports,” Rozier said. “I can manage it. We don’t run sprints in flag football. I play travel ball too for basketball, so I’m in decent shape.”
Dailey said girls who play basketball make the best flag football players.
“If you can play basketball, you can play flag football,” Dailey said. “They use their hands to catch the ball away from their body so that they don’t have to catch it with their body. They know how to box someone out. They have good timing, footwork, and agility. Basketball is the best cross-training sport. Plus, Hope is athletic, easy to coach, and has great grades.”
Flag football is a growing sport due to the need for Title IX compliance and the small amount of equipment needed.
“ESPN the Magazine did a big article a year or so on the sport,” Dailey said. “There are Title IX issues. Schools have to match the numbers. You buy a couple of balls and a bag of flags. Last year we maybe spent $200 dollars for equipment. You can’t put on a game cheaper than flag football. Girls love it. What’s more fun than football?”
Dailey said he really enjoys playing and coaching flag football.
“I believe that I’m the only coach who started in 1998 in the whole state that is still doing it,” Dailey said. “I’ve played a shameful amount of flag football in my life. It’s such a guilty pleasure. You basically stay injury free. The game is over in 50 minutes. It’s not a major investment for a whole lot of fun. I love it as much as I did in 1998 when we started.”
Flag football has been a sport that is measured in much more than wins and losses. Dailey has found ways to make the sport fun and meaningful for his team at FIHS. The Golden Eagles look to win their fourth district and regional titles with players like Rozier as an integral part of their success.
Flag Football Taken to the Next Level
Written by: Brent Beaird
Photography by: Logan King
