New Jersey becomes latest state to sanction girls’ flag football at high school level
The move follows a two-year pilot and support from the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and New York Jets as participation surged to 69,000 girls.
- The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association voted Monday to sanction girls' flag football as a varsity high school sport beginning with the 2026-27 school year, making New Jersey the 18th state to do so.
- This milestone follows a successful two-year pilot program and over a decade of advocacy from the New York Jets, who provided funding to grow the game from eight pioneering schools to over 140 statewide.
- Approximately 4,200 girls currently play the sport in the Garden State, while nearly 70,000 participate annually nationwide, establishing flag football as the 35th sanctioned sport in New Jersey high school athletics.
- With varsity status, female athletes now have equal footing to compete for scholastic championships and access collegiate pathways. NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen E. Maguire credited the National Football League, saying its commitment helped build the "solid foundation we see today."
- Flag football is played in some form in at least 40 states, while the NCAA is considering women's flag as an emerging collegiate sport and the 2028 Los Angeles Games will feature it as an Olympic event.
20 Articles
20 Articles
The Toronto Star
New Jersey becomes latest state to sanction girls’ flag football at high school level
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association voted Monday to sanction girls' flag football as a varsity high school sport beginning with the 2026-27 school year, becoming the latest state to expand one of the nation's fastest-growing sports.
Associated Press News
New Jersey becomes latest state to sanction girls' flag football at high school level
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has voted to sanction girls’ flag football as a varsity high school sport beginning with the 2026-27 school year, becoming the latest state to expand one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports.
New Jersey Sanctions Girls Flag Football as Varsity Sport, Continuing New York Jets' Proven Legacy of Driving Varsity Recognition
/PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark decision, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) voted to officially sanction girls' flag football as...
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