Based in Omaha, Nebraska, the Jr Stockmen girls flag football team are looking to make a name for themselves nationally and grow the sport of girls flag while they’re at it. Founded in 2023 by Andrew Mather and Coach Jason, the team began as a high school league before evolving into a travel team. What was once a team of just nine players now has up to 50! And among those 50 players are some real stars. Adelaide is the team’s “most dominant player” according to Mather, able to keep track of the ball anywhere on defense and catch from anywhere in her radius on offense. Ava, a center and corner, is one of the best corners in the area’s tournaments, a “lockdown corner”, and Ella is a wide receiver and safety who Mathers also says is one of the best safeties he’s seen. Jr Stockmen pulls students from the entire Omaha metro area, and since their founding, two high schools in that area have announced the formation of their own girls flag teams, as well as the College of Saint Mary, where the team holds practices. Mather says this has always been a goal of the team, for them to inspire and encourage more schools to start their own teams, supporting the growth of the sport in the region. At many schools, students from Jr Stockmen are the ones initiating these new teams, showing great leadership skills as well as dedication to the sport. Having recently transitioned to a travel team, Mather says that many of the students on Jr Stockmen have committed more fully to flag football than other sports, and the hard work is paying off. While they struggled at first against the tougher travel competition, this year the Jr Stockmen high school 7v7 team won a MoKan Sports 7v7 tournament, beating a team they’ve never won against before for the championship. Their 14 year old team also saw great success this year, winning the Kansas City NFL Regionals to go on to represent the Chiefs at the NFL Flag Nationals. Wanting to branch out more into 7v7 football, Jr Stockmen has and will continue to participate in many of our MidAmerica 7v7 tournaments! The team will continue to work for the growth of girls flag football, and hopes to get many of their players recruited for college teams, furthering their careers and the sport. With an already impressive track record and fantastic goals, Jr Stockmen will be an exciting team to watch! 

Founded just this February by Kanisha Hartman, the Ladii Warriors are a new girls flag team already growing and making a name for themselves. Starting as a training camp in February 2026, this is the team’s first year competing, recruiting students from across the Cedar Rapids area as the first girls flag team in the city! And for such a young team, they already have players showing great promise, such as Kylee Parks at running back and safety, as well as Emani Phelps, also a running back and safety. Other standouts include Kaylanee Williams, a quarterback with good discipline, and Sijourney, who Coach K has described as “the glue of the team”. With all of their students being so young, the oldest right now being 11, it’s important that the Ladii Warriors have built a sisterhood as a team, relying on and supporting one another even against older, more experienced opponents. According to Coach K, playing against older teams was something they struggled with at first, but she found that the team built each other up, often with the younger students encouraging the others and keeping the team focused. With a team that is so new to the sport, it’s been great for them to see the students stepping up to lead, correcting each other’s mistakes and learning from them. Looking to grow, the Ladii Warriors want to provide more opportunities for girls to be involved with the sport. To that end, Coach K hopes to get the parents of students more involved as well, to show the team their support and help the students where they can. Already some of the parents have stepped up in this regard, with Kenneth helping coach. With more time and experience, the Ladii Warriors will surely continue to become an even stronger team, and grow the sport of girls flag football. For more information on the Ladii Warriors or to get into contact with them, you can find them at Roosevelt Middle School Tuesdays/Fridays from 5-6:30, Sundays from 2-3:30, or on their socials below:

A team we at MidAmerica have shared an office with for three years, the RedZone RaZors were founded in 2021 by Tyler Blum and are based out of Iowa City. Veterans of 7v7 Football, they’ve recently added a girls flag football team: the RedZone RoyalZ. RedZone doesn’t recruit from a specific town or school, instead welcoming students from across the state of Iowa, including as far from Iowa City as the Quad Cities. Coach Blum aims to bring a level of professionality to his club, using his own experience to provide more structure for his students. The team wants to attract players who are serious about football, providing a high level place to compete and play football. With open registration, RedZone wants to put up as few barriers to entry as possible, giving more students the chance to play. The format of 7v7 football helps make that possible, as it “Fast-tracks the exciting parts of football” according to Coach Blum. With 7v7 football, students learn the basics of football with structure, but more freedom than allowed in tackle football. Coach Blum views 7v7 as a separate sport, carving out a niche and more opportunities for flag football as well. With a long history in 7v7 football, the RedZone RaZors have their share of accomplishments, including winning 2 division 2 state championships at the 10U/12U level in 2023. Coach Blum appreciates all the students who’ve come through the team and taken the pledge to play for the RaZors. The organization wants to help it’s students develop the intangible skills of focus, effort, and desire, the three things Coach Blum believes can help athletes achieve their full potential. Without the drive to reach 100%, many students may never realize what they’re fully capable of, and Coach Blum wants to get as many of them to meet that potential as possible. With their recent expansion, RedZone hopes to provide more opportunities for girls with RedZone RoyalZ as well. According to Coach Blum, there’s been a push for more girls flag football, but the challenge is still getting people involved and laying the groundwork for the future of the sport. For the RoyalZ, their goal is to get in as many games as they can against the best competition RedZone can find. Despite the work required, just like with 7v7 football, it will be worth it to RedZone if they can provide more chances for students to fall in love with the sport of football. 

The Iowa Zealots were founded out of Empigo Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, by Fig Newton in 2025. Working as a club sport founded through the private school, the Zealots have recruited students from Empigo Academy and throughout the state of Iowa. Purposefully recruiting no 18 year old students in their first season, allowing more time for developing the team, the Zealots also offer scholarships for many of their students to allow them to play football. With developing younger players as a goal, the Zealots have a number of rising stars. These include Sophomore QB and receiver Jaka Newton from Des Moines Christian, as well as running back Eli Cosby, who’s signed with Simpson College. Chase Harden is a freshman who starts on the 18U team, going against older athletes and excelling, and Torrion Cotton, a student from Aimes who Coach Newton believes is an overlooked athlete. Besides improving their football skills, the Iowa Zealots aim to use 7v7 as a platform for character development, learning business skills, and team bonding. Off the field the team works on learning marketing skills, setting up professional social media accounts, and watching film to learn from their past games. While traveling for tournaments, the team also makes educational field trips to places near tournament locations, helping to expose the players to things besides football to better their understanding of the world around them. According to Coach Newton, the players are drawn to the communal aspect of the team, and enjoy being given opportunities outside of football while still getting to play the game they love. With such a young team, the Zealots had expected to experience “some bumps and bruises”, but a holistic approach allows them to “always win.” After a rough start to the season, the Zealot’s got their first win in Topeka, and with it a boost to their confidence. Pushing themselves to shoot for the stars, the Zealots want to be the best 18U team in Iowa by record and performance. Analyzing their games and learning from mistakes, the team has rapidly improved. As Coach Newton put it, “We don’t compete against others, we compete against our own potential.” 

Formed underneath the umbrella of 4 Verticals Academy, the 4 Vert Boyz from Peoria, Illinois are entering their 2nd year of 7v7 football. Pulling students from Peoria area schools, the 4 Vert Boyz bring in students from Washington Community High School, Normal Community High School, University High School, Farmington High School, and Dunlap High School. With students from so many different schools, it’s no surprise that the team has a number of star players. These include freshman quarterback from Farmington High Carson Noy, who threw over 30 touchdowns last fall, as well as sophomore quarterback Noah Garcia and Charlie Anthony the 4th, who plays on offense and defense, both from Washington Community. According to coach Rob Garcia, many of the students on their 7v7 team train with the 4 Verticals Academy for the whole offseason, developing important skills for the regular fall season. Despite that, he feels that at times high school coaches don’t appreciate how 7v7 helps students improve. But Coach Garcia finds that 7v7 football’s unique, fast-paced playstyle has helped students learn to make quicker plays with tighter windows. The format emphasizes good reaction speeds, forcing players to adapt to high level competition. And adapt the 4 Vert Boyz have, with their 18u team taking 2nd place at our Pearl City Classic tournament as well as 1st place at a tournament in Indianapolis! Still being so new to 7v7 tournaments, the 4 Vert Boyz have made great strides throughout this season and still have plenty of room to grow. Competing in many of our upcoming tournaments, the 4 Vert Boyz are aiming to bring home a championship title at a MidAmerica 7v7 event, and we look forward to seeing them continue to compete for years to come!

For decades, Spirit Football has been a staple of youth football in the Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas. Founded in 1977 by Dan Bellino as a youth tackle football league, Spirit football added NFL flag in 2020 followed by 7v7 in 2023. With ten teams competing in 7v7 football this year, Spirit Football has no shortage of talented players. According to Spirit Football Director Greg Wittmeier, here are just a few of their best high school players: Quarterbacks Bradin Van Winkle (Plattsmouth), RJ Vitera (Papillion/LaVista), Garrett Schinning (Fremont), Scott Miner II (Westview), Aiden Stacken (Elkhorn), Wide Receivers / Defensive Backs Tavion Johnson (Raymond Central), Hudson Jennings (Fremont), Traceson Skalberg (Plattsmouth), DD Chambers (Papillion South), Kingston Moore (Westview), Grant Harpster (Creighton), and Running backs / Linebackers Sage “Crash” Giddings (Westview), Jagger Cox (Papillion South). With so many players across their teams, Spirit Football has found 7v7 football to be a great way to get in more reps quickly and at a highly competitive level. The speed of the format forces players of every position to adjust their playstyle, learning to think and react quicker. Spirit’s players also enjoy the “constant action, with more chances to touch the ball and make plays.” While this is all working to improve for the fall, it’s also a fun format for the players to enjoy with their teammates, bringing the team closer together. In the past year, Spirit has seen great growth in their organization and coaching staff. With a group of coaches “committed to developing athletes and creating a competitive environment”, Spirit achieved a total of 16 championship and runner-up finishes at tournaments last year. As such an impressive record implies, the team has always strived to compete at the highest level, and will continue doing so into this season. With plans for improving the quality of their coaching and offering players even more chances to compete at a high level, Spirit Football means business. According to Director Greg Wittmeier, “our goal is to continue building a strong culture where players enjoy competing, improving, and representing the program and 7v7 as a whole the right way.”

The story of MidAmerica 7v7 Football, from a realization to a regional movement, is the story of Trevor and Jennifer Bollers' journey with 7v7 football. In 2016, traveling the country with their son TJ to find more opportunities for him to improve as a defensive lineman, Trevor noticed a huge disparity in the number of Midwestern students receiving football scholarships compared to other regions. Confused as to why so many highly skilled players were being passed by, he talked to coaches, and was told that players from the Midwest just didn’t have “the touches, the game knowledge, or the experience that kids from other places had.” What was the Midwest missing? The answer was 7v7 football. While the Midwest was in its offseason, teams in other regions continued to play and practice through the spring with 7v7 football. Trevor knew teams in Iowa played 7v7 all the time for practices, but hadn’t heard of any leagues for it in the state. Looking further into it, he found there were players traveling as far as Florida to play 7v7 in the spring. So, aiming to make a home for 7v7 football in the state of Iowa, Trevor called 50 schools. Three answered: Iowa City West, Clear Creek Amana High School, and Thomas Jefferson High School. The three schools met at Tiffin City Park for the state’s first independent 7v7 event, which Trevor called “a shot heard around the Midwest”. Out of this first event came the Iowa Elite Playmaker Circuit, a series of three events. When the Covid-19 pandemic began, Trevor and Jennifer worried it might be the end of their new 7v7 events. But partnering with Adam Bolander and Cedar Falls Tourism, they were able to host the Back 2 Ballin tournament at the UNI Dome, a tournament which “has become the jewel of the Midwest when it comes to 7v7 touch football events”, breaking records for 6 years. Over the years, MidAmerica 7v7 Football has grown to include teams and organizations across the Midwest. "Our goal is creating an ecosystem for athletes to fall in love with the game of football, giving them the chance to learn and grow as players," Bollers explains "Since 2018, hundreds of athletes have come through our doors and played in our tournaments. Many of those athletes have gone on to attend and play for division three, division two, and even division one schools." From humble beginnings in Tiffin City Park with the Bollers family running events, to today with over 4,000 athletes and 400 organizations participating in events, and as recently as this year, adding girls' flag to our circuit. The MidAmerica 7v7 journey is still only just beginning. Building amazing relationships with a variety of organizations and seeing other programs grow alongside us, has been fantastic. Thanks to the Bollers’ hard work and determination to bring 7v7 football to the Midwest. We look forward to the next 5 years of MidAmerica 7v7 Football and thank you for joining us on this journey.

The Papillion Lavista Youth Athletic Association (PLYAA) pulls students from elementary and middle schools in the Papillion La Vista district, as well as schools in Omaha, Nebraska. Currently, the PLYAA runs two 7v7 teams for every grade from 3rd to 8th grade, and their numbers are growing as more students and families get involved. As this is only the organization’s second year competing in 7v7 football, they have plenty of room for growth. Throughout the 7v7 season, the PLYAA teams compete weekly on Monday nights against other teams from their conference, giving them a regular set of opponents for games. Besides these weekly games, the team has participated in travel tournaments, and is planning to join more. According to coaches, traveling and playing in tournaments is an aspect of 7v7 the students seem to really enjoy. Besides being able to express themselves on the field as they practice and improve their skills, they’re given the chance to experience new places and meet new people. Getting to play (and win!) inside Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is one moment in particular that the students are sure to never forget. Of course, playing 7v7 isn’t just about traveling: it’s about the sport. For the PLYAA, 7v7 football in the spring has made a real difference for their students come the fall. With more time to practice and develop closer bonds as a team, students come back to football in the fall excited to play and better than ever. By offering a fun, fast-paced way to play football in the spring, 7v7 has given the members of the PLYAA a way to stay engaged with the sport year-round. As the team continues to grow, both in skill and number of players, the PLYAA will continue providing great opportunities for students to fall in love with and learn the game of football. Understanding the importance of being competitive while also making the game fun for young players, the PLYAA is sure to be a staple of 7v7 football in the state of Nebraska.

If you’re looking for the top-tier 7v7 tournament for competitive play, look no further. The Back 2 Ballin High tournament is a stay-to-play tournament hosted at the UNI Dome from 4/18-4/19, featuring over 50 teams from the 15U and 18U divisions! Including college visits and scouts, it is THE event for players to show what they’re made of at a state-of-the-art indoor stadium. Bookings are required through our hotel links. We look forward to what is sure to be a thrilling weekend of high level play, and encourage you to join us! The UNI Dome is the indoor football stadium of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. With a turf field, a maximum capacity for football of 12,500, and indoor temperature control allowing for comfortable weather year-round, the UNI Dome is a premier stadium for 7v7 football. Find out more about the Back 2 Ballin High, including how to register your team, on our website’s event page (https://midamerica7v7.org/blog/post-16/). Thank you to our sponsors Urban Pie, Subway, Cedar Falls Tourism, Cedar Valley Sports Commission, and Body Armor! For more information about our sponsors, check out their websites below! Urban Pie Subway Cedar Falls Tourism Cedar Valley Sports Commission Body Armor