Jamila Robinson, Writer

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has declared high school girls’ flag football an officially sanctioned sport in the Keystone State. The announcement was made following the PIAA Board of Directors meeting on Wed, Sept. 18, 2024 in Mechanicsburg, PA where girls’ flag football was reviewed and approved on the third and final reading to be designated as a state-sanctioned sport. 

The approval was also made with some help from the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. The flag football program is set to begin next fall for the 2025-2026 school year. It is also one of the fastest-growing sports in America. This is a very exciting addition to the roster of several high schools across the Commonwealth, meaning that young ladies will be able to get engaged with the sport, as well as gain exposure to the game of football and all of the excitement surrounding it. 

Let’s begin with a basic lesson of what flag football is. Flag football is a non-contact version of American football where players remove flags from the ball carrier instead of tackling them to the ground. The goal of the game is to advance the ball into the opposing team’s end zone. There is no contact, and players are not allowed to tackle, block, dive, screen or fumble. 

Here is where the flags come into play. The players wear flags attached to their waists, one on each side and one at the back. Defenders remove one or both flags to “tackle” the ball carrier. Flag football fields are usually 25-30 yards wide and 70 yards long, with two 10-yard end zones.

In the case of girls’ flag football in Pennsylvania, it was required that there be at least 100 participating teams across the state. According to the PIAA, that threshold was achieved in April with 65 schools from the eastern side of the state (Eagles) and 36 from the western side (Steelers). And yes, both of these teams had to work in collaboration to ensure that this momentous sanction was a success. 

Many people may not be aware that the NFL is heavily involved in this major addition to PIAA sports. The Philadelphia Eagles heavily invested in growing the game of girls’ flag football. The Eagles have ensured access for young girls across the Double-A region in southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and southern New Jersey to utilize their facilities for practice, games and even the use of their equipment.

Between the three states, there are currently over 100 teams with the hopes of 100 more teams participating. These teams will span public, private and parochial schools. There is major anticipation of opportunities for scholarships for these young ladies to not only play in high school but to play collegiately. It’s a very competitive environment, and I feel that great things will come from this endeavor. Many colleges are now starting a girls’ flag football program which only means more doors opening and exposure for so many young ladies who might otherwise not have an interest in this sport.