High school flag football coach dominates the field with kinesiology and coaching knowledge

The Lightridge High School girls flag football team may be new, but it's far from green. Their perfect record is proof of a spectacular inaugural season. And it's thanks, in part, to their head coach and George Mason student Maya McAfee. By combining her kinesiology major with a coaching minor and a passion for football, McAfee is helping Lightridge High School score big on the flag football field.

McAfee's path toward a kinesiology degree began with a lifelong love of sports. "Sports have always been a huge part of my life," said McAfee, who grew up playing basketball, volleyball, and softball. Chronic hip issues requiring multiple surgeries often kept her out of the game; as a result, she started her college career at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as a biomedical engineering major with a plan to pursue orthopedics.

Recovering from another hip injury her freshman year at VCU, McAfee sought personal training in order to stay connected to sports. And when she couldn't find a trainer, she decided to become one. Over the course of her personal training certification, she realized that the real healing process happened during rehabilitation. "Physical therapy wasn't just about rebuilding my physical strength; it required an incredible amount of mental resilience and trust in my body," she said. "That's when I started to realize that I was more interest in being part of the process of helping athletes rebuild themselves."

McAfee transferred to George Mason and into the kinesiology major in the College of Education and Human Development in 2022. She picked up the minor in coaching after becoming the assistant coach for the junior varsity (JV) girls basketball at Independence High School. She went on to become the head coach of JV girls basketball at Tuscarora High School before becoming head coach for JV girls basketball at Lightridge High School, where she is now the coach for the varsity girls flag football team.

"I'm a die-hard Washington Commanders fan, and football has always been a true passion of mine. And I fell in love with flag football playing on George Mason's intramural team," she said. "It's a safe space for me, and it's a safe space for these girls."

After the announcement of flag football's inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the sport exploded in popularity across the United States. While dreams of Olympic gold are certainly part of the equation, McAfee explained that flag football is also a more accessible version of gridiron football that allows for wider participation.

"Since its newer, everyone is entering the sport on a more even playing field," she said. "It's something different, which is good for lifelong athletes tired of other sports. And people can enjoy the game of football without fear of potentially dangerous physical contact."

As a coach, McAfee is finding that one of the best parts of the job is helping the students build confidence in themselves as athletes and leaders. This is where her George Mason education has been especially valuable. "Studying kinesiology has helped me tremendously with the physical side of coaching, while my coaching minor has helped me develop a stronger understanding of the mental and psychological foundations," she explained. "I'm using what I learned in my Foundation of Sports Coaching and Psychology of Sports classes daily." Public Speaking-a class she took to fulfill a Mason Core requirement-also helped strengthen her ability to communicate with students, parents, staff, and other coaches.

"The more I learn, the more I realize how much there still is to learn. That's one of the things I love most about coaching. I'm constantly eager to be a sponge absorbing as much knowledge as possible and continue finding ways to improve," she said.

And the results are apparent in the scores. In its inaugural season, the Lightridge Lightning have dominated the field. They won the inaugural NOVA Girls Flag Football Tournament, and have gone on to have a perfect first season leading to the playoffs. It's also caught the eye of her favorite team; The Washington Commanders named McAfee the Flag Football Coach of the Week in September.

One thing is for certain: football will always have a special place in McAfee's life, whether she's making a play on the field or coaching from the sidelines.

"My George Mason education has really helped me in the real world," she said. "And the more I'm educated, the more I can bring back to the field to help my girls. It's just very full circle."