Story Written by: Christopher Simmons @ CHSAANow.com
AURORA – The Steamboat Springs Sailors are making history as the first school on the Western Slope to launch a girls flag football program. Leading the way is head coach Connor Payne, who has guided the team through its inaugural season with energy, vision, and a pioneering spirit.
In recognition of her leadership and success, Payne has been named CHSAA's Denver Broncos Flag High School Coach of the Week.
Throughout the season, there will be a weekly Broncos Coach of the Week for flag and tackle and every nominee will be recognized on-field at a Broncos home game.
Interview with Connor Payne:
Can you share a bit about your coaching background, where you've coached before and what other sports you've been involved with?
CP: This is obviously my first year coaching flag football, but prior to this, I've coached girls soccer, and I've done that at the high school level for about eight years now. I've also coached girls field hockey up in Fort Collins, and I was the head coach of that team. And then when I moved up to Steamboat, they didn't have any fall sports for girls besides volleyball, which I didn't really have any background in. So I've only been coaching girls soccer for the past four years up here. I was really excited when they added something in the fall that I could be a part of.
How would you describe your coaching style, and what do you emphasize most when working with your athletes?
CP: I would say that my coaching style is really based on community and culture, and so it's really important for me to build a team atmosphere that's built on trust and common goals and relationships, so that the girls know that they can trust me and they can trust their teammates, and they can trust the process. I think what I emphasize most in working with my athletes is personal growth, and how you can use that to contribute to the team as a whole. When those girls are learning and growing, and not just as athletes but as people too, how are they finding their role within the team as a whole, and how is that personal growth elevating everybody else around them?
How did you get involved with Steamboat Springs' flag football program, and what drew you to the opportunity?
CP: There had been rumblings that something was going to start up here. We are the first team on the Western Slope to have a flag football program. It's a really big deal for our community. Being the first girls flag football team on the Western Slope feels like we're opening a new door for female athletes out here. A lot of programs start on the Front Range, so it's exciting to see something new take root in a mountain town like ours. We had actually tried to start a field hockey program up here, me and some of the girls, because they were craving something to do and to be connected with in the fall. We have tons of winter and spring athletes here, and strong women's programs for those seasons, but outside of volleyball and cross country there really wasn't anything up here for girls to participate in. So we tried to get field hockey going, and then I was talking to our athletic director, Luke DeWolfe, and he said, 'If field hockey doesn't happen, what do you think about flag football?' And I said, 'I don't know anything about flag football besides that it's rapidly growing and sounds like a ton of fun.' When they officially announced the team, I knew it would be a big commitment to start something from scratch, but both my principal and athletic director were so encouraging, they'd walk around the hallways pretending to throw footballs at me, so I finally submitted my application, and it's been amazing ever since.
Steamboat Springs is the first school on the Western Slope to launch a girls flag football team. What challenges have you faced being trailblazers for the region, especially with travel and visibility?
CP: It's definitely hard. Something that's been a big challenge for us is that we are a much smaller community than a lot of the teams that we're playing on the Front Range. When we first started, the players were nervous because we were facing big schools that have a much larger population to choose from. There's also a big-time commitment with traveling. We've spent a lot of time on the bus going back and forth, playing multiple games a weekend, and it's really physically taxing on the girls. But getting the word out has been rewarding, and it's been super inclusive for all the girls in our community who wanted something to be part of in the fall. It wasn't a hard sell at all once they saw how fun it could be. I'm really hoping that we can be trendsetters for other Western Slope schools and show that even smaller programs can field competitive teams against those on the Front Range. And beyond that, we're showing other Western Slope schools that it's possible, that being first doesn't have to be intimidating, it can be empowering.
How have other schools or communities on the Western Slope responded to Steamboat starting a flag football program? Do you see interest growing among nearby schools?
CP: I think it's getting everybody excited. It's cool for them to see that even smaller, more rural schools can create something new like this. There's definitely a growing desire for more women's sports, and flag football offers that connection and opportunity. Hopefully we can show that this is a great way for girls to feel connected in their school and community, and that it's something accessible for everyone.
What advantages or unique qualities do you think Western Slope athletes bring to the sport of flag football?
CP: Well, I was from the Front Range originally, and when I moved up here it felt like a whole new world. Back in Fort Collins, we never had to drive more than an hour and a half for a game, sometimes even away games were still in town. Here, we drive for hours to compete, and I think that speaks volumes about the girls' commitment and how much they enjoy being together. If they didn't like being together, they wouldn't spend four hours on a bus every weekend! That travel time actually strengthens our culture and helps us define who we are as a team. So many of the girls here are multi-sport athletes too, which makes them well-rounded and adaptable – huge advantages in flag football.
How do you see girls flag football continuing to grow across the Western Slope and in Colorado as a whole?
CP: I think there's no slowing it down. The excitement on the Front Range is already huge, and it's spreading west fast. One of the best parts about flag football is how inclusive and new it is, you don't have to have been playing since you were little to be great at it. That's what's bringing so many people into the sport. Even here in Steamboat, we've had girls who've never played a team sport before say, 'Yeah, I'll try flag football!' Everyone's learning together, and that's what makes it so special.
What has been the most rewarding moment for you and your team so far this season?
CP: I think the most rewarding part has been seeing the results of the hard work they've put in — not just in wins and losses, but in how much they've grown. This is the first time these girls have experienced building something from page zero, and you can see their hunger and passion grow week by week. They'll say, "We need to do this better," and immediately start figuring out how to make it happen together. Our seniors have really taken to heart the idea of leaving a legacy. They've set the standard for what this program will look like for years to come.
What do you hope your players take away from their time in this program, on and off the field?
CP: I hope they can see how far they've come and recognize their role in something bigger. I tell them about my grandma, who played on one of the first women's softball teams, and about when Steamboat first started girls soccer, how every generation of female athletes helps open doors for the next. These girls are doing that now. They're creating a legacy for future players and leaving a lasting impact on our community and women's sports as a whole.
