Ohio becomes 17th state to sanction Girls’ Flag High School Football

High school girls' flag football is now an officially sanctioned sport in Ohio.

High school girls’ flag football is now an officially sanctioned sport in Ohio. On Thursday, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that the Buckeye State is the 17th state to make girls’ flag a varsity sport.

At at a press conference at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, in conjunction with the NFL Flag Championships, the OHSAA announced that it will launch its first official season next spring.

“We are pleased that the OHSAA Board of Directors has approved the sanctioning of girls flag football as an OHSAA sponsored championship event,” said Doug Ute, Executive Director of the OHSAA. “Flag football is growing rapidly and we look forward to working closer with teams, coaches and schools to help that growth. The Browns, Bengals and NFL have already put in so much work to promote the game and bring us to this moment to welcome girls flag football to the OHSAA.”

Related: 2025 NFL Flag Championships

The National Football League‘s Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals have been instrumental in fostering the growth across the state, hosting regional tournaments and supporting local high school programs.

In 2021, the Browns launched their girls’ flag football program with just six teams. By 2025, Northeast Ohio alone boasted 60 participating high schools, while Southwest Ohio grew from six to 20 schools in a single year.

In 2024, the Browns held an initial conversation with the OHSAA regarding adding a division for girls flag football. The coaches association then officially included the sport in the association by adding a new region, Region 18. The Browns are the only NFL club that sits on a board for a high school football coaches association.

“Ohio becoming the latest state to sanction girls flag football is a testament to the strong growth and appeal of the sport,” said Stephanie Kwok, NFL Vice President, Head of Flag Football. “This is an exciting time with 17 states having sanctioned girls flag football and we’re thankful to the Browns, Bengals and OHSAA for their support in growing the sport.”

“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,” said Cleveland Browns Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “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 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.”

“This is an incredible day for the state of Ohio, the sport of football and most importantly the young women who have dreamed of this moment,” said Bengals Director of Strategy and Engagement Elizabeth Blackburn. “On behalf of the Cincinnati Bengals, I want to thank the Ohio High School Athletic Association, athletic directors, players, coaches, referees and every single advocate who helped make today possible. Flag football is more than a sport — it’s — a platform for teamwork, leadership, development and community. The Bengals are proud to support the growth of flag football and celebrate this historic milestone.”

Related: Badin wins inaugural Ohio Girls’ Flag Championship

The inaugural Ohio Girls High School Flag Football State Championship, held in May 2025 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, showcased the sport’s rising popularity. Badin High School defeated Willoughby South 40-16 to claim the title. The event featured four teams each from the Browns’ and Bengals’ flag football divisions.

Visit NFL FLAG at nflflag.com

About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America. Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet. Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.