US EditionOHSAA Sanctions Girls Flag Football as Varsity Sport with State Championship Starting in 2026
OHIO, UNITED STATES, JUL 17 – Ohio becomes the 17th state to sanction girls high school flag football with pilot leagues expanding and NFL teams like the Browns and Bengals supporting growth, officials said.
- On July 17, 2025, Ohio High School Athletic Association announced it would sanction girls high school flag football as a varsity sport, making Ohio the 17th state and starting a state championship in spring 2026.
- Beginning in 2021, the Cleveland Browns launched their girls flag football program with six teams, growing to 51 teams by 2024 and supporting Bengals' pilot season.
- OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said 80 high schools now field teams with growth, 'Ohio becoming the latest state to sanction girls flag football is a testament to the strong growth and appeal of the sport,' and the sport is now a sanctioned championship event.
- Through the newly created Region 18, girls can join their school teams, compete for titles, and the Ohio High School Athletic Association involves the Browns as a liaison.
- In the near future, girls flag football will continue as a spring sport, with 17 high school state associations and over 100 colleges involved, reflecting a broader trend of growth.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Ohio High School Athletic Association officially adding girls flag football
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN) - The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced on Thursday that it will sanction a state championship event in girls flag football beginning in the spring of 2026. The announcement was made at a press conference in Canton alongside representatives from the National Football League, the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the NFL FLAG Championships. OHSAA Executive Directo…
The Athens Messenger
OHSAA Sanctions Championship Event for Girls Flag Football
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced today that it will sanction a state championship event in girls flag football beginning in the spring of 2026. The announcement was made at a press conference in Canton alongside…
OHSAA sanctions girls flag football championship
[Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage in the player above.] COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) -- The Ohio High School Athletic Association on Thursday announced it will sanction a state championship in girls flag football, beginning in spring 2026. The first Girls High School Flag Football division in Northeast Ohio began in 2021, backed by the Cleveland Browns with the goal of eventually becoming a varsity sport, according to a news release. Just a few years …
OHSAA to sanction girls flag football starting in spring 2026
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced today that it will sanction a state championship event in girls flag football beginning in the spring of 2026. The announcement was made at a press conference in Canton alongside…
Ashland Source
OHSAA sanctions championship event for girls flag football, starting in 2026
CANTON — The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Thursday it will sanction a state championship event in girls flag football, beginning in the spring of 2026. The announcement was made at a press conference in Canton alongside representatives from the National Football League, the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the NFL FLAG Championships presented by Toyota. OHSAA Executive Director …
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