From first practice to Olympic dreams: Inside Saudi Arabia’s first women’s flag football team ...Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH — No helmets, no heavy pads — just speed, focus, and a shared determination to improve with every session among a group of women reaching for flags instead of tackling each other. Team Up is Saudi Arabia’s first all-women flag football team. Less than a year ago, there were only three players. Today, the team has grown to fourteen women from different generations and backgrounds, united by a common goal: to develop the sport in the Kingdom. **media[2701495]** “I would say eighty to ninety percent of the team is made up of Saudis,” Ali Tewfik, one of the team’s coaches and former quarterback of Saudi Arabia’s first men’s flag football team “Al Bahara,” told Saudi Gazette. “We also have a few expatriate players. The ages range from 15 to over 30, some are students, some are married. It’s a diverse community, but we all share one goal, which is to grow flag football in Saudi Arabia.” What began as a small experiment is now part of something much bigger. The team is emerging at a time when flag football is gaining global momentum, with the sport is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, a milestone that has sharpened the team’s ambitions. “Everybody is playing it now. It’s a new Olympic sport in 2028, so countries across the Gulf, Europe, and Asia are all working toward that goal,” Tewfik said. Flag football is often described as a simplified version of American football. Played five-on-five, it removes tackling and heavy contact, replacing it with a system where defenders stop plays by pulling a flag from the ball carrier. **media[2701490]** “You don’t wear helmets or heavy gear, and there’s no tackling,” Tewfik explained. “It depends more on skill, speed, and athleticism.” For many players, that is exactly what makes it appealing. “It’s the best of American football without some of the harder aspects, but it still has the excitement and the fun,” Rebecca Pack, an expatriate from South Carolina, told Saudi Gazette. The game is fast-paced and relies on agility, coordination, and quick decision-making. It keeps the core elements of traditional football — passing, catching, and running plays — while opening the door to a wider range of participants. **media[2701491]** The women’s team officially began in August 2025, supported by local coaches and organizations working to expand the sport in the Kingdom. Pack, who works with Global Sports Partners, explained how the initiative took shape. “GSP helped connect us with Ali Tewfik from the men’s team and get the women’s team started and I’m so excited to see how it’s growing,” she said. The squad includes players with varying levels of experience. Some are complete beginners, such as interior designer Aseel Zaraa, while others, such as Esin Bayer from Turkey, have been playing flag football for years. For the coaching staff, the pace of development has been impressive. “They’re all improving very quickly,” Tewfik said. “They’re progressing really well, and that’s something we’re proud of.” **media[2701494]** The ambitions for the team extend beyond local growth. Tyrone Jones, a former Division 1 college football player in the United States and professional player in Japan who now coaches the team, is clear about the bigger picture. “I hope that with the time, effort, and energy we’re putting into this — from both coaches and players — we can achieve something bigger,” Jones said. “I want to see us grow and eventually compete internationally.” Heba Obaid, a player from Jeddah, shares that vision. “The coaches are very passionate, and they have high expectations for us,” she said. “That motivates me to work harder. Hopefully, we’ll see more opportunities, more teams, and a bigger community.” **media[2701489]** For Obaid, the experience goes beyond competition. “The camaraderie between the players is special. I’ve played a lot of sports, and this is the best team so far,” she said. “We’re competitive in a positive way, we push each other, but we also support one another.” Being pioneers brings both excitement and pressure. “There is pressure,” Obaid said. “Everyone is watching and waiting for what comes next.” At the same time, that responsibility comes with a unique opportunity: to shape the future of the sport in Saudi Arabia. **media[2701488]** Earlier this year, the team reached an important milestone. During an annual tournament in Jeddah — held during Ramadan — women’s teams were included for the first time, marking the first official women’s flag football matches in the Kingdom.For the players, it was more than just participation. “It showed that the sport is starting to grow here,” one of the team members said. Looking ahead, the goal is not just to sustain one team, but to build a wider ecosystem — with more teams across cities such as Jeddah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, eventually leading to a national structure capable of supporting international competition. “We want to grow the community,” Tewfik said. “There’s a lot of potential, not just for men, but for women as well.” **media[2701496]** Despite the ambition, challenges remain. Training sessions are limited to around 90 minutes, only a few times per week, far from ideal for a team aiming to compete at a higher level. For Jones, however, the focus is clear. “Time is precious,” he said. “We focus on what we can control. In those 90 minutes, we try to get the most out of every session.” Much of the development happens beyond official training, through individual conditioning, personal commitment, and continuous encouragement. **media[2701497]** At the heart of the team is a goal that once seemed distant, but now feels increasingly within reach. “With God’s will, we can reach the Olympics by 2028,” Obaid said. “If not, then this is just the beginning, a stepping stone.” What started with three players on a field in Jeddah has grown into something far greater: a new sport taking shape, a community forming, and a group of women stepping into uncharted territory determined to make their mark. **media[2701492]**

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