Troy University Athletics
Troy Football Hosts Inaugural Girls Flag Football Camp
6/23/2025 9:52:00 AM | Football
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TROY, Ala. – Universities across the country host high school football team and 7-on-7 camps all summer; Troy head coach Gerad Parker took it one step further last Wednesday, hosting a girls' flag football camp, believed to be the first held in the state of Alabama.
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"We certainly want to be groundbreaking in everything we do," Parker said. "We think we're the first in the state to do this, and we want to be forward-thinking in what we do and how we do everything. My wife came out earlier and she cried about six times seeing it all; it's emotional. I told the girls that this is a global sport that's growing, and we want to do our part to serve this great game, this great state, and this community to allow the girls to have a path forward in this game."
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Troy welcomed 11 teams to campus for the inaugural event and spent the morning in a traditional camp format with different teaching circuits covering all phases of the game. Troy women's assistant coach Jennifer Graf provided a special message to the campers before a break for lunch.
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Following lunch, teams played six scrimmage games inside The Vet and on the grass practice fields behind the new indoor practice facility.Â
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"We tried to tie two worlds together of a 7-on-7 experience and also a teaching and development segment," Parker said. "I got feedback from women I've worked with throughout my career, including some in NFL management positions, on what would make a good experience today.
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"I told them they can be Olympians if they wanted to take this game all the way; how cool is that to say out loud," Parker said. "There is a vested interest because of my wife's background as a Division I athlete and to our three girls."
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TROY, Ala. – Universities across the country host high school football team and 7-on-7 camps all summer; Troy head coach Gerad Parker took it one step further last Wednesday, hosting a girls' flag football camp, believed to be the first held in the state of Alabama.
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"We certainly want to be groundbreaking in everything we do," Parker said. "We think we're the first in the state to do this, and we want to be forward-thinking in what we do and how we do everything. My wife came out earlier and she cried about six times seeing it all; it's emotional. I told the girls that this is a global sport that's growing, and we want to do our part to serve this great game, this great state, and this community to allow the girls to have a path forward in this game."
Â
Troy welcomed 11 teams to campus for the inaugural event and spent the morning in a traditional camp format with different teaching circuits covering all phases of the game. Troy women's assistant coach Jennifer Graf provided a special message to the campers before a break for lunch.
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Following lunch, teams played six scrimmage games inside The Vet and on the grass practice fields behind the new indoor practice facility.Â
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"We tried to tie two worlds together of a 7-on-7 experience and also a teaching and development segment," Parker said. "I got feedback from women I've worked with throughout my career, including some in NFL management positions, on what would make a good experience today.
Â
"I told them they can be Olympians if they wanted to take this game all the way; how cool is that to say out loud," Parker said. "There is a vested interest because of my wife's background as a Division I athlete and to our three girls."
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