The Indianapolis Colts this week celebrated the kickoff of the first season of high school girls flag football as an “emerging sport” in Indiana, the first step toward becoming a fully sanctioned high school sport.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) earlier this year voted to move girls flag football into emerging status, paving the way for more expansion across the state.
This fall, 79 teams have opened or will open competition across Indiana. For game scores from the previous week, visit Colts.com/GirlsFlag.
“This 2025 football season will be historic as hundreds of new girl flag football players take the field to compete as an emerging high school sport in Indiana,” said Kalen Jackson, Colts Owner & Chief Brand Officer. “The Colts are proud to be a part of this incredible momentum for girls flag across Indiana, and this fall is only the beginning.”
Also this season, the Colts will feature several new elements highlighting girls flag:
- Girls Flag Coach of the Week, honoring successful coaches who have excelled on and off the field.
- Girls Flag Games of the Week, where up to five key matchups will be highlighted by Colts Life at @ColtsLife each week.
- Colts High School Woman of the Year, presented by Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, which will honor an outstanding girls flag player who has excelled on and off the field.
Over the past several years, the Colts have led the effort to develop girls flag as a sanctioned IHSAA sport.
The Colts created the Colts Girls High School Flag Football League in 2023 with eight teams. In 2024, the league expanded to 27 teams, qualifying to be an emerging sport. To become eligible as a sanctioned sport, 100 schools must compete while in emerging sport status.
To reach this goal, the Colts launched the “Road to 100” – with a $1 million investment from the Irsay family – to support and sustain the launch of 100 girls teams in 2025. Costs associated with launching a team typically range from $5,000 to $8,000for equipment, uniforms, training and coaching stipends. To help offset those costs, the Colts have invested up to $10,000 each in the schools that have joined the Road to 100.
Schools and communities interested in fielding a team may visit Colts.com/GirlsFlag.
Colts Girls Flag Football is fueled by Gatorade and sponsored in part by Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. The Colts have prioritized flag football development to introduce the game to new players and fans, especially girls, who traditionally have not had the same opportunities to learn and play the game as boys.
The above story is from a Colts news release
