The Alabama Community College System is receiving a huge boost to their women’s athletics programs with a $300,000 award in 2025 Alabama Education Trust Fund Supplemental Appropriations specifically to support the development and expansion of women’s sports in the ACCC.

The appropriation was championed for inclusion in the budget package by State Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City).

“The Alabama Community College Conference is grateful to Rep. Blackshear and the state legislature for their generosity to not only flag football, but to female athletics,” said ACCC Commissioner Dean Myrick.

“We look forward to our continued growth in this fascinating sport as well as female athletics in general. Providing additional opportunities in this great conference is something we hold in high esteem.”

The ACCC has women’s sports in basketball, softball, soccer, cross country, golf, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and beginning in September, flag football.

“While Alabama’s community colleges provide one of the state’s most effective workforce development pipelines, they are also proudly home to some of our top athletic programs,” Blackshear said.

“Now featured in the Olympics and the NFL Pro Bowl, the global emergence of flag football is undeniable. After seeing its impact on women’s athletics in my hometown of Phenix City, I felt that working to feature this exciting sport in the ACCC was a no-brainer. I look forward to seeing it continue to grow in our state.”

The flag football aspect is particularly exciting with the rapid growth of the sport.

“Women’s flag football is the fastest growing sport in the United States and arguably ever,” said Izell Reese, a Dothan native and Executive Director of NFL Flag.

“It is skyrocketing. At one time, females didn’t have a path to continue to play flag football beyond high school. It’s phenomenal to now hear of the opportunities that are going to come at the community college level.”

For more information about the ACCC, visit https://www.acccathletics.com/landing/index