Louisiana is closing in on becoming the 15th state to officially sanction girls’ flag football as official sport in the state.
Last week, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s (LHSAA) Executive Committee announced over 100 member schools are interested in adding the sport, which means the sport is now conditionally approved. A formal vote to finalize the approval of girls’ flag football as a sanctioned sport, through the LHSAA, will take place at the governing body’s Executive Committee meeting in April.
Thanks to the New Orleans Saints, the sport has been growing rapidly since the NFL Team launched a ten-team girls flag football league last spring. As part of an NFL-wide initiative to promote girls high school flag football, the Saints Youth Sports Development department administered the league with assistance from valuable partners including the NFL, LHSAA, Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA), RCX Sports, the NCAA, GENYOUth and Nike, who contributed customized uniforms for all participating athletes.
Related: Mississippi sanctions girls’ flag with help from the Saints
“We are excited that the LHSAA has moved to make sanctioned girls flag football an official sport at high schools throughout Louisiana,” said Saints Owner Gayle Benson. “This grows the opportunities for girls in our state to compete in a sport that is growing worldwide thanks to the support of the NFL, the Saints and all of our teams. This progress further increases access for young women to the ideals of athletic competition, inclusivity and the power of teamwork.”
“We are thrilled that Louisiana has decided to sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport,” said Stephanie Kwok, NFL Vice President of flag football. “With Mississippi’s announcement last week, this marks 15 states that now offer girls varsity flag football. The partnership between the Saints and the LHSAA and MHSAA is a wonderful illustration of how we can expand opportunities for girls to compete in high school and beyond.”
Louisiana is one step closer to sanctioning girls flag football as a high school varsity sport.
— Troy Vincent, Sr. (@TroyVincentSr) February 3, 2025
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Related: Rosters for the first-ever NFL FLAG High School Girls Showcase
“We are excited for the opportunity to see young ladies participate in the nation’s fastest growing NFHS high school sport,” said Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held. “Over 100 schools have expressed interest in adding girls flag football as a LHSAA sport. An agenda item at the April Executive Committee Meeting will address sanctioning the sport. We look forward to continuing our partnership in this effort with the New Orleans Saints.”
Flag football will officially be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program, led by efforts of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and supported by the NFL.
