Girls’ flag high school football is officially a sanctioned sport in Mississippi. The Mississippi High School Activities Association, in collaboration with the New Orleans Saints, announced Tuesday the official sanctioning of the sport at the high school level.
Twelve schools will kick-off the initial season in March. Mississippi is the 14th state to officially sanction the sport that is exploding across America.
There 12 schools playing the inaugural season will be:
- Brandon
- East Central
- George County
- McComb
- Meridian
- Oak Grove
- Perry Central
- Picayune
- Richland
- South Pike
- St. Martin
- Vancleave
“In keeping with our mission to enhance the educational experience through opportunities for participation in interscholastic activities, this initiative reflects our commitment to growing access and opportunity for student-athletes throughout the state,” MHSAA Executive Director Rickey Neaves said in a press release. “We are grateful for the New Orleans Saints and the NFL for their partnership in this effort and look forward to building a robust, long-term relationship with the Saints organization.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the MHSAA and bring the excitement of girls’ flag football to the state of Mississippi,” Gayle Benson, Owner of the New Orleans Saints, said in a press release. “This is just the beginning, and we look forward to seeing the league grow, offering more young women the chance to experience the joy and empowerment that sports bring.”
“This is an amazing milestone in our quest to sanction all 50 states for girls flag football,” said Stephanie Kwok, NFL Vice President of flag football, in a Saints news release. “Mississippi makes the 14th state that has sanctioned flag football as an official girls’ high school varsity sport. We have seen tremendous increase in participation in the sport, but it would not happen without NFL Club support like the New Orleans Saints.”
All games will take place at eith Southwest Mississippi Community College or Picayune High School.
Flag football will officially be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program, led by efforts of the International Federations of American Football (IFAF) and supported by the NFL.