If You Know You Know: Girls Flag Football Is Here To Stay
Anwar Stetson
Friday Night is Ladies’ Night
Football isn’t just for the guys anymore. Young athletes are enjoying the gridiron in a myriad of new ways, including various non-contact forms like 7-on-7.
But a new avenue has emerged for girls who crave the joy of Friday night lights. Girls flag football is exploding in popularity across the nation.
The Explosion of New Game
Across the nation, girls flag football is growing rapidly as a legitimate sport at the high school level. It has seen an evolution from recreational or “powder‑puff” games into a sanctioned varsity sport reflects growing demand.
Now, 17 states have formally sanctioned girls flag football and another 17 states are running pilot programs. Florida led the charge 20 years ago when it became the first state with a sanctioned program. Nevada was also ahead of the curve when it started its pilot program in 2013 and sanctioned a state championship in 2017.
But in the last few years participation has surged. Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, and New York all sanctioned their first state championships this year. California alone added about 25,000 new participants between the 2023‑24 and 2024‑25 school years, an 84% increase.
Support From the Pros
The NFL has done its part to bolster support nationwide. The league created NFL Flag to grow the game. The organization helps players, coaches, and administrators bring girls flag football to their state.
The IOC also sanctioned flag football as an official sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. NFL stars have been encouraged to participate.
Athletes with multi‑sport backgrounds are joining, and competitive benchmarks are rising rapidly. Some players are already top recruits in other sports, like soccer.
The sport is also rising internationally, with superstar athletes on social media becoming idols that future players can look up to. The sport is even growing at the college level. More and more colleges are offering girls flag football as a varsity sport.
The Best of the Best
USA Today compiles a list of the best girls flag football rankings in the country. As of September 18, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation is Orange Lutheran (Calif.), followed by Hamilton (Ariz.), Mountain Vista (Colo.), Central (Ala.), and Willowbrook (Ill.) rounding out the top five.
Central (Ala.) finished the 2024 season as USA Today’s top-ranked team with a perfect 19‑0 season. This was capped by a dominant state title win over Spain Park. Orange Lutheran, ranked 2nd, finished with a 23‑2 record and a Southern Section Division 1 title.
As the sport grows, governing bodies like the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) are better codifying the rules of the game. They approved 15 rule changes for the sport in 2025.
If you don’t know, now you know. We’re excited to cover a new nationwide sport, highlighting some of the best youth athletes in the nation.