Girls High School
Varsity Flag Football

Girls High School Flag Football is Taking Over

See the States Leading the Way!

 

Girls high school flag football is on the rise. With flag football sweeping the nation, the sport is expanding at an unprecedented rate. Schools across the country are recognizing the value of flag football as an official high school sport, paving the way for more girls to compete, earn college scholarships, and make history on the field.

As of today, 15 states have officially sanctioned girls flag football as a high school varsity sport, with many more running pilot programs. States like Florida, California and New York are leading the way, proving that flag football is here to stay.

Sanctioned States: Flag football is fully recognized as a varsity sport by the state high school athletic association. In many states, the season culminates with an official state championship.
Pilot Programs: States are running flag football pilot test seasons in select schools to evaluate full adoption as a sanctioned sport.

Check out the latest map to see where your state stands!

State sanctioning means full recognition by the state, increased competition, and more resources for female athletes. It also opens doors for expanded youth participation and potential collegiate flag football programs. With NFL FLAG and the National Football League supporting these initiatives, young athletes now have a direct pathway from youth leagues to high school, college, and beyond.

 

Whether you’re a player, parent, coach, or administrator, now is the time to get involved! Learn more about how you can support flag football in your state, and be part of the fastest-growing girls sport in the country.

Join the Movement

Join the Movement

Learn how to get involved in bringing girls high school varsity flag football to your state!

Find A League Near You

Find A League Near You

Whether your family is new to the sport or ready to take their game to the next level, NFL FLAG has a team for you.

Start An NFL FLAG League

Start An NFL FLAG League

Get unmatched support, official NFL gear, and free marketing tools to help you succeed every step of the way.

USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Girls Flag Football High School Poll

 

USA TODAY Sports and the NFL have partnered on the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Girls Flag Football High School Poll, a weekly poll ranking the top 25 girls flag football teams around the U.S.

Learn more about the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Girls Flag Football High School Rankings and view the latest rankings below.

Final Fall Rankings: Updated December 6, 2024

Rank Team & State Record
1 Central (Phenix City, AL) (19-0)
2 Orange Lutheran (Orange, CA) (23-2)
3 Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) (17-0)
4 Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, CO) (19-0)
5 Guilford (Rockford, IL) (21-1)

 

Full Rankings

 

 

The inaugural NFL FLAG High School Girls Showcase presented by Visa was played at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The game featured 30 of the top senior high school athletes from teams ranked in the USA TODAY Super 25 from 10 states who offer varsity girls flag football as an officially sanctioned sport. The athletes were divided into AFC and NFC teams, determined by NFL Clubs who supported flag football in their states, and each team had two coaches from the top schools in the rankings.

The NFC won the inaugural game and Gerritt Griggs (QB) from Central High School in Alabama was awarded the NFC MVP award after accounting for over 100 total all-purpose yards and 2 TDs (1 Pass, 1 Rush). On the AFC team, Sophia Baal from Cherry Creek High School in Colorado received 5/6 catches for 37 yards and was awarded the AFC MVP award.

The game was aired live on Postseason NFL Countdown on ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+, and the SportsCenter NEXT and NFL YouTube channels. The game can be watched on the NFL YouTube channel:

WATCH HERE



SANCTIONING FAQ 

 

 

I want to help start a team at my school. What do I do?

Ask your Athletic Director. First, approach your high school Athletic Director or Principal (or other staff member) to express interest.  

Gather resources. Your Athletic Director will let you know the right next steps, which usually include:

  • Finding a head coach
  • Forming a team (10-15 athletes per team)
  • Funding for uniforms and equipment

Connect with your local NFL Club. Your local NFL Club typically has a Community Relations Director who can offer support and resources to help start your high school girls team. We highly recommend reaching out!

 

I’m a parent or coach and want to help start a team at a local high school. What do I do?

Support the joint efforts of your students and Athletic Director

Gauge Interest. Survey other students to see if they’d be interested in playing flag football. Host an informational meeting for interested students and parents to gauge interest.

Secure Funding. Ask the school for help in applying for grants or other funding sources.

  • Look into sponsorships from local businesses.
  • Organize a fundraiser to cover the costs.

Volunteer. Volunteer to be a coach or official! These roles are critical to putting together a successful flag season.

 

How do I join my high school team?

Ask your Athletic Director. The first step is to find out if your school already has a flag football team. If you’re not sure, ask your school’s Athletic Director, Principal, or other staff member.

 

My high school doesn’t have a flag football team, but I want to play flag football. What do I do?

Join an NFL FLAG team. Find an NFL FLAG league in your area and sign up for a team here. Many NFL FLAG leagues offer girls high school divisions, so you can have a similar experience to playing on a high school team.