Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, is spreading like wildfire among US girls drawn by the prospect of its inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, its popularity even sparking plans for a professional league.

"It's the youth version of pickleball, the fastest growing adult sport," says Michael Colt, comparing flag football to the racquet sport that's all the rage among the over-30s. "It's crazy." 

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.