Troy hosts Alabama’s first college-run girls flag football camp
Troy football made history Tuesday as it became the first college in Alabama to host a girls flag football camp.
Two hundred girls from 11 high school teams packed Veterans Memorial Stadium for the groundbreaking event.
“It’s emotional,” said Troy football head coach Gerad Parker, who helped organize the camp. “My wife came out earlier. She cried about six times seeing all of it. I just got done telling the girls: Why do we want to do this? Well, it’s simple. This is a global sport that’s growing. And we want to do our part to serve this great game, serve this great state and this community — to give our girls a path in this game. It’s done so much for me in my life.”
Parker worked hard to develop a strong camp, leveraging his 7-on-7 background, tapping into his network of women now in NFL leadership roles, and teaming up with local flag football coaches.
The timing couldn’t be better — girls flag football is now the fastest-growing sport in Alabama high schools.
“This is my first time doing flag football,” said Carver quarterback Breunna Stacey, a quarterback at Carver. “And all the girls, they nice. They very respectful. If I’m doing something wrong, they’ll tell me.”
The players encouraged each other in the weight room and on the field — practicing inside a Division I stadium with college-level instruction.
“I told them they could be Olympians,” Parker said. “And how cool is that to say out loud?”
For Parker, it’s personal.
“There’s a vested interest because of my wife’s background in Division I athletics. And our three girls we had before we finally had a son,” he said. “I just think about all of them, our families, and everybody connected to this program.”
He hopes the camp will not only build skill, but inspire long-term involvement in the sport.
“Give them an avenue to grow in the game — but maybe even become a coach,” Parker said.
One of those coaching role models is Montgomery Catholic High School’s Whitney Toole, a two-time state champion whose team has grown from 11 to 35 players.
“We started three years ago, and it’s continued to grow since then,” Toole said. “Seeing this is amazing — because this is something that even last year wasn’t possible.”
“Just seeing the wide eyes of the girls — walking into a D-I weight room, being in a team meeting, working with college coaches — it’s an experience they won’t forget.”
As the players grinded out reps, caught touchdowns and celebrated together, coaches and players alike agreed this was a day to remember.
Carver High School flag football head coach Stanley Robinson said this camp stood out from others he attended. The coaching focused heavily on fundamentals, and he believes the team will take those skills back to Montgomery.
