The most popular girls sport in the Anchorage School District? Flag football, by far.

From the millions of eyes watching NFL games on Sundays to the tens of thousands of fans packing college stadiums on Saturdays to the thousands of high school teams running out under the Friday night lights every fall, it's no secret that football is king in the United States.

In Anchorage high school sports, football is also queen. Flag football, that is.

Nearly 500 girls played flag football in the Anchorage School District last season — over 100 more than any other girls sport.

Girls sports participation in 2016-17 totaled 3,451, with flag football leading the way with 482 participants. Volleyball, the second most popular sport among girls, attracted 378 participants and soccer was close behind with 374.

District-wide, only two boys sports boasted greater participation than flag football — football (857) and track (500).

"A lot of girls are really into football and watching football so it's a fun experience to actually go out and get to play and not just sit back and watch," Dimond senior Jane Daum said.

At Dimond High, flag football is so popular that the Lynx fielded three C teams in 2014. Last season, the 105 girls playing the sport was nearly on par with the 107 boys playing tackle football. This year, the girls have 108 players.

Dimond coach Kathleen Navarre said flag football's popularity stems from its inclusive nature — players are rarely cut — and from the great cross training it provides for other sports like basketball and soccer.

"You can be any type of athlete, any type of body build, and you can find a role on the flag football team," Navarre said. "You don't have to be the fastest or the strongest or have the best hands. There are so many different skill sets."

A lifelong soccer player, South's Olivia Schuster never had an interest in football even though her dad, Joe Schuster, was a 10th-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1988 NFL draft.

She wanted to quit after the first day of flag football practice this season, but she decided to stay with it and is now a leading player on the South JV team.

"I didn't understand any of it," Schuster said, sporting a purple and blue bruised pinky finger after a JV game against West on Tuesday. "Then as soon as you get it, it's so much fun.

"You get that rush when you score a touchdown. (Dad) is really happy for me now. He's like, 'Finally my daughter is playing football.' "

West quarterback Rebecca Syrup decided to play flag football four years ago because her older sister, Lauren, played. The 2016 Cook Inlet Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Rebecca Syrup is also a star for the West softball team and hopes to play softball in college.

Flag football isn't a sport that offers college scholarships, but Syrup said she wouldn't quit it to focus on softball.

"I love the sport, it's right up there with softball for me, but even though there's no scholarships, I wouldn't trade it for anything," Syrup said. "I love the girls. This is a really good team, really good group of girls, and I'm just having fun, honestly."

West teammate Maya Baquiran also joined the flag football team because of an older sister, but unlike Syrup, she doesn't play any other sports.

Last season's CIC Defensive Player of the Year, Baquiran said the team is like family to her.

"We go to people's houses and play Just Dance, we play board games, we just listen to music in the car, sing songs together, go out to eat," she said.

"It's kind of like team bonding everywhere."

The school district started flag football in 2006 to meet Title IX obligations.

According to the National Federation of High School Associations, Alaska is one of six places in the United States to offer sanctioned flag football, along with California, District of Columbia, Florida, Michigan and Nevada.

In addition to the eight CIC teams, four Fairbanks-area schools offer the sport in Alaska — Hutchison, Lathrop, North Pole and West Valley of the Mid-Alaska Conference.

If another conference added the sport, there would be enough participation for the Alaska School Activities Association to consider a state tournament, Navarre said.

One of the biggest changes over the years, in addition to growing numbers, is increased parity in the league, Navarre said.

It's not always the best regular season teams that win the championships. Last year, Chugiak won the CIC championship in a 12-7 thriller over West as the No. 5 seed in the tournament.

Chugiak coach Marilyn Campnell recently called the Mustangs' tournament run "a Cinderella story."

"It was just a magical year for the team," Campnell said. "They just kept believing and believing more they could win."

Anchorage School District sports participation (2016-17)

Girls

Flag football                 482

Volleyball                      378

Soccer                            374

Track                              358

Basketball                       261

Cross country                 256

Softball                             244

Cross country skiing     228

Swimming/diving         159

Stunt cheerleading       157

Tennis                            155

Riflery                            116

Gymnastics                    98

Hockey                       80 (69 girls hockey; 11 boys hockey)

Wrestling                       51

Bowling                          45

Tackle football              9

Total                               3,451

Boys

Football                             857

Track                                 500

Soccer                               384

Cross country                  373

Basketballl                       349

Wrestling                         315

Baseball                            293

Cross country skiing        272

Hockey                               269

Tennis                                166

Riflery                                137

Swimming/diving            137

Bowling                             93

Total                                 4,145