Photo by William Crooks
The Champlain Lennoxville Women’s Flag Football Team was hard at work practicing on a drizzly and cool Aug. 28 morning

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Champlain Lennoxville has introduced a new Women’s Flag Football team this year, an initiative that has generated significant enthusiasm among students and staff. This marks the first time the CEGEP has fielded a women’s flag football team, a project spearheaded by retired Galt Vice Principal Jim LeMaitre, who now serves as the team’s head coach.

LeMaitre, who has a long history with football in the region, explained in an Aug. 28 interview that the idea for the team came naturally, given the growing interest in the sport among young women in the area. “When [it was] first posted on Champlain’s student messaging board, 62 girls signed up,” LeMaitre recalled. The overwhelming response highlighted the demand for such a team, but it also presented logistical challenges. “It kind of put the fear of God in me for a couple of days,” he admitted.

The enthusiasm for flag football in the Eastern Townships isn’t new. LeMaitre noted that many high school girls have long wanted a league of their own. However, opportunities were limited, with most leagues requiring extensive travel, particularly to the Montreal area. “A lot of the girls who played at local high schools like Galt, Triolet, and la Ruche ended up at Champlain but stopped playing because there was no team,” LeMaitre said. The introduction of the Champlain team now gives these players a chance to continue competing at a higher level.

The team’s formation comes at a time when women’s flag football is becoming increasingly popular in the region. “Flag football is pretty established in the high school realm around here, and it’s getting even more so,” LeMaitre said. This year, the league the team will compete in has expanded to nine teams, reflecting the sport’s growing appeal.

LeMaitre emphasized that the sport requires a unique strategy, particularly in its rules. “The girls are playing seven-on-seven, full field, but to get a first down, two of the four plays have to be passing plays,” he explained. This rule keeps the game balanced and prevents teams from simply running their way down the field. “It balances it out and makes it a bit fairer for the defence too,” he added.

The team has been hard at work preparing for the season, with several tryouts and practices already completed. “We had four days of tryouts and have selected our team. This is our second week of practice, and we still have another week before our first game,” LeMaitre said. The team will compete in a newly expanded division that includes teams from across the more eastern part of the province, such as Granby and Drummondville.

LeMaitre is optimistic about the team’s future, thanks in part to the strong support from assistant coach Justine Provost. “Justine is very knowledgeable, played herself for a long time, and is still coaching at the high school level,” he noted. The combination of Provost’s fresh ideas and LeMaitre’s extensive experience gives the team a solid foundation as they embark on their inaugural season.

As the season approaches, LeMaitre expressed hope that Champlain Lennoxville will host some home games, though logistical challenges like securing qualified officials remain. “It’s not easy in our end of the world, in Sherbrooke, to find capable officials,” he said, but he remains hopeful. “I’m pretty optimistic we’ll have one, but optimism sometimes doesn’t mean practicality.”

The Champlain Lennoxville Women’s Flag Football team is set to make its debut on Sept. 8, with the schedule expected to be posted on the CEGEP’s sports website soon. This new addition to the college’s sports roster marks an exciting development for both the players and the wider community.