Which states have sanctioned girls high school flag football?

Girls flag football is rapidly expanding at the high‑school level, with 19 states and Washington, D.C. officially recognizing it as a varsity sport by May 2026, and many more piloting programs ahead of its 2028 Olympic debut. Key points: As of early May 2026, 19 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. have officially sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity high‑school sport. Florida was the earliest state to sanction the sport in 2003 and has been holding state championships for decades. Seventeen states have added sanctioning within the past five years, including Kansas, Maryland and New Jersey, which approved it in 2026. Recent sanctioning years also include Alabama (2023), Alaska (2024), Arizona (2022), California (2023), Colorado (2024), Hawaii (2024), Illinois (2024), Mississippi (2025), Nevada (2016), New York (2023), Ohio (2025), Pennsylvania (2024), Tennessee (2025), Washington (2025), and Washington, D.C. (2025). Official sanctioning means the sport is recognized as a varsity offering with an official state champion and possible inclusion in the USA TODAY Sports flag football Super 25 rankings.