Lehman’s Flag Football Offers a Field of Opportunity

Lehman students participating in a game of Flag Football in Harris Park. (Photo credit: Brandon Coombs)

By Dylan Febus

Safiyah Dimson created the Lehman Flag Football Club a year ago to center
teamwork, inclusion and competition. Open to anyone willing to participate
regardless of skill level, the club has gathered a steady following since its
inception, with over 40 students getting involved.

Dimson stated that she always had a hand in sports throughout her academic career through volleyball and flag football, with the latter being her first sport. “That just ended up being a sport I ended up liking,” she said. Then she “came to Lehman and saw there was no football, no
nothing … there were no other outside activities.” Once she started the club
and became its president, she gained three recruits.

One was Aaron Recalde, the club’s vice president, wide receiver and recruiter. In terms of recruitment, Recalde said he “meets people where they’re at” by understanding someone’s skill level or feelings toward the
club and discussing how he managed to overcome certain adversities that allowed him to assist members of the club. “I ask them how open they are to playing football … if they say they don’t have experience, I tell them, ‘Me too.’ I don’t want them to feel singled out.”

One measure taken by the board to ensure every member has time to
participate is holding club meetings on Friday afternoons, with the goal being for members to show up for the group itself. “Who wants to come to school on a Friday? I believe that it’s because we created something,” Dimson said.

As the year progresses, the board for the Flag Football Club is looking to host events on and off campus to continue growing the club’s popularity. The club is always interested in newcomers who want to help establish the club’s presence and legitimize the sport as an official team at Lehman. Dimson stated, “This semester, I want to ensure that we grow our social media presence … I really love the idea [of being a CUNY sport].” The
existence of a club like this brings about an opportunity to change the landscape of CUNY sports, and Dimson hopes that it will begin at Lehman College.