Ashlea Klam Is On A Mission To Shape The Future Of Flag Football
Growing up as a young flag football player in Austin, Texas, Ashlea Klam knew her peers were making fun of her behind her back for playing a "boy sport." That didn’t stop her from playing the game she loves, all way to the U.S. Women's National Team—and now, those same doubters see her on their TVs regularly as a Global Flag Ambassador for the NFL's Houston Texans.
“Knowing that they watch an NFL game and they have to see one of my commercials, or a flag football commercial for that matter, I sit there and I'm like, ‘Yeah, told you. We knew what flag was going to be,’” the 21-year-old tells Women’s Health. “That's okay. You weren't on the train. That's fine. Probably going to see a couple bandwagon fans here and there. But you know what? We're adding people to flag football.”
Flag has seen monumental growth in the last decade—USA Football reports girls’ youth participation has increased by 222% since 2014—thanks to more opportunities at the high school and college level and the sport’s upcoming inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. It also benefits from increased exposure from ambassadors like Ashlea, a world champion who plays flag football on scholarship at Keiser University, a force to be reckoned with in the NAIA.