In a game long dominated by stereotypes, one quarterback is proving that greatness has no gender. Meet Breidi Higa, a fearless leader on the flag football field, armed with precision, poise, and a passion that fuels every pass she throws. As flag football continues to grow on the national stage, Higa is making history becoming Hawaii’s first 8th grader to receive a college flag football offer from Hope International University. Higa plays the game with heart and hustle that’s impossible to ignore proving that flag football isn’t just for boys anymore.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Breidi Higa.

Breidi, what inspired you to start playing football, and how did you get involved with Flag Football?
I played flag football since I was 6 but i got inspired because my brothers before me played football and my mom said to try it out and I enjoyed it so I’ve been playing till now

How has playing in the Elite Flag Football program helped shape your identity as a player? It helped me get more known around the world. It also allows me to inspire little kids to try out the sport and show that Hawaii football isn’t bad.

How do you prepare mentally for big tournaments?
I think about my reads and talk with my teammates.

What’s your pregame routine or hype music?
I like to take a quick nap and listen to the radio

What’s your mindset when you step onto the field?
My mindset is that I can do this and I’m not gonna lose because we’re not gonna pay all that money for nothing. We came to all those tournaments to win.

How do you stay motivated during the off-season and intense training periods?
I play outside leagues to stay motivated and I go to clinics to help me.

Who is your biggest influence on or off the field and why?
My biggest influence is my older brothers Ian Pakele,Israel Pakele,and Ivan Pakele (Bubz).

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned through this program?
I’ve learned that times are always hard but the more you push the more successful you’ll become.

How do the coaches and mentors in this program impact your development?
They believe that the jobs not done, they believe I can do more and more. They believe I can be the greatest

What does it mean to you to represent your team in Elite Flag Football tournaments?
I feel honored to be able to represent Hawaii because Hawaii isn’t noticed much so I would like to be able to help put Hawaii back on the map.

How do you bounce back after a tough loss or mistake?
I work harder and think about how I can fix things.

What motivates you to keep grinding during the off-season?
I put in work because I feel like it’s not fair there’s other people putting in time and work while I stand there and do nothing

What’s your dream school or team you’d love to play for one day?
I really hope that there will be D1 schools that make college flag.I would really love to go to oregon

What do you do for fun when you’re not playing football?
I play football on my free time.

How have your coaches and parents helped you grow as a player and a person, both on and off the field? They have helped me believe that I have talent and that I can make something for me in the future.

How do you handle pressure or adversity during high-stakes games?
My teammates will always be there for me and help me get my head in the right mindset.

What’s your favorite route to run (or coverage to play) and why?
I love to run a post because you can split your self and adjust your route to be a skinny post or a regular post it helps pull the safety to also help the other routes get open

What are your short-term and long-term football goals?
My short-term goal for football is to win state championships and my long-term goal is to make it to a D1 college.

How do you build chemistry and trust with your teammates in such a fast-paced format?
I build chemistry with my teammates by introducing myself to them and helping them out so they can feel more confident and comfortable.

What advice would you give to younger players who want to join a program like this?
I would say never give up and to remember “hard work beats talent when talents doesn’t work hard”.

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, parent, or sports fan, I’d love to hear from you. Have a story idea? Want to collaborate on coverage? Looking to feature your team or athlete? Use the form below to get in touch.