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Ohio's OHSAA officially sanctions high school girls flag football

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo07/18/25Andy_Villamarzo
Syndication: The Commercial Appeal
Southwind’s quarterback Malani Duncan (2) runs with the ball as she dodges Millington defenders trying to pull her flag during a game at Millington High School on Thursday, April 24, 2025. This is the first year girls flag football is a sanctioned high school sport in Tennessee and Southwind ended the regular season undefeated at 8-0. (© Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

There’s little doubt to the growing popularity of girls flag football on the high school level. Thursday was another example of the sport’s growth as the fastest expansive high school sport in the country.

The Cleveland Browns announced that the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has officially sanctioned girls flag football as an official high school sport.

“The announcement today is a testament to teamwork and the strength of advocacy,” Cleveland Browns Vice President of Community Relations Jenner Tekancic said via a team press release. “There are countless individuals who made history with us today, and we are grateful for the officials, volunteer coaches and so many people behind the scenes who have been integral to get Ohio to this point. We look forward to the continued collaboration with the coaches association, our partners and those who are as passionate as we are to advance the game.”

Before Thursday’s announcement, Indiana and Washington had been the previous newest states to enter the world of girls flag football on the high school level, sanctioning the sport back in the spring.

Indiana recognizes girls flag football as an emerging sport, while Washington has fully sanctioned it for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

With the NFL’s initiative on growing the game of girls flag football around the country, the Cleveland Browns became the latest franchise to be the leader in its respective state when it came to bringing the sport onto the high school platform.

“The decision to officially sanction girls flag football in Ohio is an important moment not just for the Browns, but for the entire state of Ohio and the game we love,” Cleveland Browns managing and principal partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a press release.

“We have seen firsthand how powerful the game of football can be in shaping confidence, leadership, and community, and we are proud that more young women will have the chance to experience that same growth. When we launched our Girls High School Flag Football League in 2021, the goal was to get to this day, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the continuous work of the athletes, coaches, administrators and parents who all believed in the future of this sport. We want to thank the OHSAA, the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL for their partnership on bringing this to life as we continue to grow the game for girls across the state.”

There are now 17 states that recognize girls flag football on the high school level either as a sanctioned or emerging sport, which includes the following:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Louisiana

Nevada

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Washington

Montana