In 2003 Florida was the first state to sanction flag football, and they also began paving the way for thousands of future flag football athletes.1
Fast forward to January 2025, 9 states had sanctioned the sport for girls (Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Nevada, Alaska, New York, Arizona, Illinois and California), and 19 states were in various stages of pilot programs. 2
The NFL and its clubs have been instrumental in helping states launch and sustain girls’ flag football programs across the country. Special shoutout to the Chicago Bears for starting a pilot program in Chicago in 2021 and continuing to help grow flag football in Illinois with the IHSA voting to sanction the sport for the 2024 season.
Unfortunately, the expansion shows a clear geographical reliance, highlighting a key barrier for many regions. As you can see from the map below, there is a distinct correlation between states not yet offering flag football and the lack of a resident NFL team or adjacent team partnership. This demonstrates that where the powerful infrastructure and financial backing of the NFL is absent, schools and communities often lack the necessary resources and advocacy to establish the sport.
As of today, 38 states are offering girls high school flag football programs with 17 states that have officially state sanctioned championships.3
Flag Football 4 All is eager to step in to help fill the gaps, ensuring that every girl, regardless of her proximity to an NFL franchise, has access to equipment, coaching, and scholarship opportunities. The goal is clear: to establish Flag Football as a sanctioned high school sport in every state.
Flag Football 4 All 