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Tennessee girls flag football fully sanctioned starting in 2025-26 season

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez06/10/25lawandfern
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)

Tennessee girls flag football is now a sanctioned sport after the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Board of Control voted unanimously for its inclusion during their June 10 meeting.

According to The Tennessean’s Tyler Palmateer, this vote means that the sport will have its first official state championship in the 2025-26 season. Likewise, the TSSAA Legislative Council voted to conduct Tennessee girls flag football competitions during spring. This mandate will have some adjusting their schedule because they played games during the fall.

Before the vote by the Board of Control, the TSSAA already sanctioned girls flag football but determined it as an emerging sport. However, the growth in participation was undeniable, leading the governing body to fully sanction its competitions.

While there were over 127 Tennessee girls flag football programs last season, they were all under a single division with 16 districts. However, the emerging sport saw the creation of junior varsity teams and tryouts attended by more than 75 players.

To help the sport grow, the Tennessee Titans initiated a six-week inaugural season with Williamson County Schools in 2022. A year later, it was Metro Nashville Public Schools’ turn to have their pilot. Last spring, Tennessee girls flag football had its state invitational.

This year, the participation with the districts vary, ranging from four in District 11 to 19 in District 16. However, given its low expenditures for starting a program, Tennessee girls flag football is growing faster than traditional American football.

Flag football games are played over 40 minutes, divided into two 20-minutes halves. For Tennessee girls flag football, the playing field stretches for 80 yards with two ten-yard end zones and is at least 40 yards wide. Teams earn first downs if they cross each of the 20-yard lines. Likewise, the clock only stops during timeouts. Meanwhile, plays stop once the opposing team pulls the ball carrier’s flag, which is worn around the waist area.