The She Plays Flag Podcast

Matt Mashburn
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Football

She Plays Flag is a podcast focused on the growth of girls flag football and the people shaping its future. Hosted by longtime football fan and coach Matt Mashburn, the mission of the show is simple: to educate and advocate all things girls flag football.  The show explores the sport through conversations with coaches, administrators, organizers, and leaders working across the flag football ecosystem. From understanding the rules and structure, to navigating high school and college pathways, to examining where the game is headed next. She Plays Flag is for anyone who cares about where girls flag football is going and how it gets there.

  1. Sheldon Miller on Building Brewton-Parker Women’s Flag, Recruiting Fit, and Growing the Game

    3d ago

    Sheldon Miller on Building Brewton-Parker Women’s Flag, Recruiting Fit, and Growing the Game

    In Episode 15 of The She Plays Flag Podcast, I sit down with Sheldon Miller, head women's flag football coach at Brewton-Parker Christian University in Mount Vernon, Georgia. As one of the newer NAIA programs, Brewton-Parker may not be on every recruit's radar, but Coach Miller explains why schools like his deserve a closer look. After spending years coaching high school tackle football, Coach Miller embraced the challenge of building a collegiate flag program from the ground up. He shares what it was like learning a new game, leaning on experienced high school and college coaches, and creating a program culture centered on honesty, relationships, and finding the right fit. The conversation also explores the realities of recruiting young women, earning the trust of parents, and navigating the challenges of an inaugural season with an all-freshman roster and no true quarterback. Coach Miller discusses the adjustments he made, the lessons learned, and how those experiences shaped the future of the program. Whether you're a player, a parent, or a coach, this episode offers an inside look at what life is really like at an emerging college flag football program. Topics include: Building a college flag football program from the ground upTransitioning from tackle football to flag footballRecruiting with honesty and integrityCreating a culture built on relationships and trustLessons from a challenging first seasonHelping athletes gain exposure through film and recruiting platformsWhy smaller colleges can be a great fit for the right student-athlete

    1h 20m
  2. 5 College Coaches Explain Flag Football Recruiting

    Jun 15

    5 College Coaches Explain Flag Football Recruiting

    High school flag coaches, players, and families - This is the episode you've been waiting on! In this special Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) recruiting roundtable, I joined five college flag football coaches to discuss what flag football recruiting really looks like, what coaches are actually evaluating, and how athletes can improve their chances of finding the right college fit. Featuring: • Seth Berkebile – Wesleyan College • Emerson Joseph – Reinhardt University • Zack Desmarais – Life University • Sheldon Miller – Brewton-Parker Christian College • Shaka Long – Point University Topics include: • How the college recruiting process works • When athletes should begin communicating with coaches • ID camps, showcases, and recruiting events • Highlight film mistakes and best practices • What coaches look for beyond athletic ability • The importance of character, culture, and coachability • Scholarship realities and choosing the right school • Advice for athletes and parents navigating recruitment This episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at one of the fastest-growing opportunities in women's sports. She Plays Flag exists to educate, advocate, and grow girls flag football by connecting athletes, coaches, and leaders across the game.

    1h 48m
  3. First-Year Lessons in Girls Flag Football with Coach Kelley Palfrey

    May 25

    First-Year Lessons in Girls Flag Football with Coach Kelley Palfrey

    In this episode of She Plays Flag, I sit down with Kelley Palfrey, assistant girls flag coach at East Paulding High School. As a first-year coach in the sport, Kelley shares what it was like stepping into girls flag football, organizing tryouts, building team culture, and learning the game alongside her players. The conversation dives into player-led learning, early program challenges, developing confidence in female athletes, and how new coaches can approach the sport without needing years of flag experience beforehand. This episode is a great listen for:  new girls flag football coaches  athletic directors considering starting programs  coaches transitioning from other sports  anyone interested in the growth of girls flag football Topics include:  building a first-year program  conditioning and tryout structure  culture development  coaching while learning  empowering athletes  teaching beginners

    1h 22m
  4. How Brandon Harwell Built Blessed Trinity into a Georgia Flag Football Power

    May 11

    How Brandon Harwell Built Blessed Trinity into a Georgia Flag Football Power

    Coach Brandon Harwell of Blessed Trinity joins the She Plays Flag Podcast to talk about building one of Georgia’s top girls flag football programs and the coaching philosophy behind sustained success. Coach Harwell shares his journey from coaching baseball and freshman tackle football into girls flag football, how coaching every position shaped the way he teaches the game, and why communication, efficiency, and adaptability matter so much in a growing sport. We also discuss:  Building culture in a championship-level program  Coaching female athletes  Managing small coaching staffs  Translating tackle football concepts into flag football  Multi-sport athlete development  Practice organization and efficiency  The rapid growth of girls flag football in Georgia  Lessons learned from coaching multiple sports  Creating buy-in and accountability This episode is packed with insight from one of the most respected coaches in the Georgia flag football community.

    1h 32m
  5. Building a Girls Flag Football Program: Culture, Practice & Reality | Jordan Davis

    May 4

    Building a Girls Flag Football Program: Culture, Practice & Reality | Jordan Davis

    What does it actually take to build a successful girls flag football program? In this episode of She Plays Flag, I sit down with Jordan Davis, Head Coach Girls at Allatoona HS in Georgia, to break down the realities of coaching, building culture, and running a program from the ground up. Jordan shares his journey from multi-sport coaching into girls flag football, including how early experiences coaching his own kids shaped his understanding of the game and its unique strategy. The conversation dives into:  What a strong program culture looks like  The gap between “ideal” programs and real-world challenges  How to structure practices and manage game day  Coaching philosophy vs. execution  Lessons learned from coaching multiple sports This episode is especially valuable for:  New coaches entering girls flag football  Programs trying to build consistency and accountability  Anyone looking to understand how successful teams are actually run As girls flag football continues to grow across the country, conversations like this highlight what it takes behind the scenes to build something sustainable.

    1h 11m
  6. Coaching Female Athletes in a Growing Game with Kelly Bendall - Milton HS, Alpharetta GA

    Mar 23

    Coaching Female Athletes in a Growing Game with Kelly Bendall - Milton HS, Alpharetta GA

    In this episode of the She Plays Flag Podcast, I sit down with Kelly Bendall, assistant girls flag coach at Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. Kelly didn’t come into flag football with a background in the sport. She came in as a coach. With years of experience in soccer and a deep understanding of how to lead and connect with female athletes, she stepped into a brand new game, learned it in real time, and helped build one of the most respected programs in the state. This episode focuses on what matters when you’re starting out in flag football: How to coach when you don’t know the sport yetWhy relationships come before schemesHow girls teams build culture differentlyWhat new coaches should focus on firstWhy female coaches are essential in this spaceWhat the growth of college flag football means for today’s playersKelly shares incredible insights into coaching female athletes and leaves us with a clear message: You don’t need to be an expert in flag football to get started. You need to be willing to step inside the fence.

    1h 5m
  7. Dakota Hughes: Leadership, Resilience, and the Rise of Girls Flag Football

    Mar 16

    Dakota Hughes: Leadership, Resilience, and the Rise of Girls Flag Football

    Dakota Hughes has lived nearly every chapter of the women’s flag football story. From a childhood spent throwing the football in the backyard to becoming the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Steam, Dakota’s path eventually led her into coaching and developing the next generation of players. In this episode, she shares the lessons she learned stepping into leadership at a young age, why adversity and failure are essential parts of growth, and how sports can shape confidence, resilience, and character. Dakota also discusses the rapid rise of girls flag football and the responsibility coaches carry to lead athletes not just on the field, but in life. This episode gives us a look at the mindset, leadership, and purpose that continue to shape the game as it grows.

    55 min
  8. Inside One of Georgia’s Top Girls Flag Programs with Coach Clark Nixon

    Mar 9

    Inside One of Georgia’s Top Girls Flag Programs with Coach Clark Nixon

    In this episode, I sit down with Clark Nixon, head coach of the Milton High School girls flag football team in Georgia. Clark didn’t come from the flag world. He was a math teacher, basketball coach, and tennis coach who simply loved football and saw an opportunity to create something meaningful for girls in his school. Starting with just a handful of players and no prior flag experience, Clark and his staff built a program that now competes at the highest level in Georgia. We talk about what those early days really looked like: recruiting athletes, teaching football from scratch, navigating multi-sport participation, and building a culture that lasts beyond one season. Clark also shares what it means to coach a sport that is growing rapidly across the country, and why the girls playing today are truly trailblazers for the future of football. This conversation is a blueprint for coaches, athletic directors, and communities who are thinking about starting girls flag football programs of their own.

    1h 12m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

She Plays Flag is a podcast focused on the growth of girls flag football and the people shaping its future. Hosted by longtime football fan and coach Matt Mashburn, the mission of the show is simple: to educate and advocate all things girls flag football.  The show explores the sport through conversations with coaches, administrators, organizers, and leaders working across the flag football ecosystem. From understanding the rules and structure, to navigating high school and college pathways, to examining where the game is headed next. She Plays Flag is for anyone who cares about where girls flag football is going and how it gets there.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Mashburn
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The She Plays Flag Podcast
  • Show Website
    The She Plays Flag Podcast

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