Okay, let’s talk about flag for a minute…
I started falling in love with flag football while writing the pilot for COACH QUINN.
It’s fast.
It’s social.
And it’s taking over the world.
If you’ve been paying attention to the sidelines lately…
You’ve seen the flags flying.
You’ve seen the speed.
But what you’re actually witnessing is a revolution.
Flag football isn’t just a “substitute” for the contact game anymore.
It’s the main event.
And for those of us building brands…
Whether you’re an indie film studio founder…
Or an entrepreneur trying to scale a vision…
There is a masterclass in leadership happening on that field.
Let’s talk about why this matters.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Growth doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens by design.
Since the pandemic, flag football participation has grown by roughly 388%.
Read that again.
388%.
In one academic year alone (2023-24 to 2024-25)…
The number of girls playing high school flag football nearly doubled.
From 43,000 to over 68,000.
That is explosive.
But as a storyteller and indie film studio founder…
I don’t just see numbers.
I see a narrative of intentionality.
I see leaders who looked at a saturated market…
And decided to build something new.
Something inclusive.
Something that met people exactly where they were.
Strength to Build: Visionary Investment
Leadership is about where you put your money.
And where you put your time.
The NFL didn’t just “support” flag football.
They committed $32 million to establish a professional league.
They created a pipeline.
Youth to pro.
As an entrepreneur, this is a strength you should add to your arsenal:
Don’t just build a product. Build a pathway.
When I’m developing projects at Siingle…
I’m not just thinking about one script.
I’m thinking about the ecosystem.
How does the book lead to the audiobook?
How does the audiobook lead to the TV pilot?
That’s what I did with COACH QUINN.
It started as a story about a woman leading in a male-dominated space.
Now, it’s a challenge.
It’s a movement.
It’s a way to show that leadership has no gender.
And if you haven’t checked out the COACH QUINN challenge…
You can grab it on Gumroad.
Or find the book on Amazon and the audiobook on Audible.
Strength to Build: Inclusive Market Positioning
Traditional football has been a “boys’ club” for a century.
Flag football changed the game by centering women.
Specifically, by championing girls’ flag football as a cornerstone strategy.
They didn’t wait for permission.
They partnered with over 2,000 schools.
They worked with 12 states on varsity sanctioning.
They saw an underserved population…
And they made them the stars.
In the world of storytelling and entertainment…
This is how we win.
We center the voices that have been overlooked.
We put Black women in the lead.
We tell stories that reflect the actual world we live in.
Leadership is about expanding the table.
Not just sitting at the head of it.
Strategic Foresight and the Global Stage
You want to talk about leadership?
Let’s talk about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Flag football is officially in.
That didn’t just happen.
That was years of coordinated effort.
It was about securing legitimacy.
It was about creating an aspirational pathway for every kid with a flag tucked into their belt.
They can dream of gold now.
As an indie founder, I look at that and think:
What is your “Olympics”?
What is the massive, global goal you are working toward?
And are you building the infrastructure to get there?
At Siingle, we aren’t just making content for today.
We are building IP that lasts.
We are positioning ourselves for the long game.
Adaptability is the Ultimate Play
Parents’ priorities are shifting.
They want sports that are fast.
They want sports that are social.
They want sports that are safe.
Flag football met those demands perfectly.
While other sports struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels…
Flag football soared.
Why?
Because the leadership was responsive.
They listened to the culture.
They didn’t fight the change: they capitalized on it.
As a storyteller, I’m constantly listening.
What does the audience need right now?
What stories are missing from the conversation?
When I look at the growth of women in sports…
I see a hunger for representation.
I see a need for leadership that looks like us.
The Multi-Hyphenate Approach
Flag football is the multi-hyphenate of sports.
It’s athletic.
It’s strategic.
It’s accessible.
It’s global.
It’s exactly how I approach my work as an artist and founder.
I’m not just a writer.
I’m not just a producer.
I’m a builder.
And if you’re reading this, you’re likely a builder too.
Take a page out of the flag football playbook:
- Invest in the pipeline. (Don’t just think about the “now.”)
- Center the overlooked. (There is massive power in underserved markets.)
- Think globally. (The 2028 Olympics are coming: where will you be?)
- Stay responsive. (Adapt to the culture before it leaves you behind.)
Final Thoughts from the Sideline
Flag football matters because it proves that you can disrupt a legacy industry.
You can take the “way it’s always been done”…
And flip it on its head.
You can create something inclusive, profitable, and culturally dominant.
All it takes is leadership.
And maybe a little bit of speed.
I’m excited to keep watching this sport grow.
And I’m even more excited to keep telling the stories of the people playing it.
Because at the end of the day…
Every flag pulled is a story told.
And every lead taken is a lesson learned.
Let’s get to work.
Want to stay in the loop on all things storytelling, leadership, and indie film?
Ready to lead like Quinn?
Check out the COACH QUINN collection:
See you on the field.
( Kayona)