​For Aysia Jones-Robinson, a 16-year-old flag football standout from Germantown, Maryland, losing is rarely part of the plan. “I have always been hungry to win,” she shared. Jones-Robinson sits at the vanguard of a swiftly expanding sport. The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has reported a notable rise in flag football programs at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels, and the game’s forthcoming Olympic debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Games further underscores its growing appeal.
The Olympic Games, officials say, possess a unique power to spark participation and ambition. In a statement to ABC News, the International Olympic Committee noted that seeing flag football included in LA28 could motivate young athletes to pursue opportunities to represent their country at the highest level of sport, potentially boosting grassroots involvement, commitment, and participation across communities.
Jones-Robinson, serving as the junior quarterback for the Clarksburg High School Coyotes, has steered her team through multiple shutouts and claimed two state titles. She is now preparing to test her skills on the national stage after earning a coveted invitation to the U.S. Army Bowl this December. She stands alongside fellow honorees like Angelica Jones in a photo capturing the moment she received U.S. Army All-American recognition. Only 20 girls are selected to participate in the Bowl.
“Knowing that I’m one of the very few in Maryland who has this opportunity is an incredible blessing, and I’m grateful to God for everything that has happened to me,” Jones-Robinson told ABC News. The U.S. Army Bowl is a week-long event in Fresno, Texas?—wait, correction—Fresno, California?—that gathers high school football players from across the country. The premier event is nationally televised and spotlights the best male and female athletes in both tackle and flag football. Flag football, a non-contact variant where defenders are stopped by removing a flag from the ball carrier’s belt rather than by a tackle, has grown dramatically in popularity, particularly among girls’ programs nationwide. In response to this surge, the Bowl added a girls’ flag football division in 2023. Selection is based on a combination of physical ability, position-specific skills, leadership, and game film. Each year, the Bowl receives roughly 10,000 applications, which are meticulously reviewed by a national scouting staff to maintain rigorous standards.
Coach Isaac Williams, founder and CEO of Matrix Sports Academy and Jones-Robinson’s travel flag football team coach, offered high praise: “Aysia is one of the most talented athletes I’ve had the privilege to coach, and I’m incredibly proud to see her recognized as a U.S. Army All-American.” Williams had nominated her for the U.S. Army Bowl. He added that the honor reflects the countless hours she has devoted to refining her game and competing against some of the nation’s best athletes.