Girls Flag Football now a sanctioned sport

Girls flag football is now a sanctioned varsity sport in the state of Oregon. The Delegate Assembly of the Oregon School Activities Association unanimously voted to sanction girls flag football during its Monday, Oct.12 meeting. This makes Oregon the 25th state to recognize girls flag football as an official sport.

Oregon joined fellow western states Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington in sanctioning the sport.

Girls flag football debuted in Oregon as an emerging activity during the spring of 2023 with 57 high school programs competing as of the 2026 spring season. The sport will begin its inaugural season as a sanctioned activity in spring 2027. Flag Football is the second sport approved by the OSAA through its emerging activity process. Boys volleyball was the first, in 2025-26.

According to the OSAA website, there are 30 teams listed as full participants for the upcoming 2027 girls flag football season. So far there are no Cowapa League teams on the list.

There are seven 4A schools and two 3A schools, with the rest being from 5A and 6A.

In Clatsop County, Astoria played flag football in the spring of 2026, playing Banks, Scappoose, Tillamook and St. Helens. However, it is not yet clear if any Clatsop County teams will be participating in spring of 2027.

History of girls flag football

Girls flag football has had a steady rise in relevance as the sport has institutional backing from the National Football League, USA Football and Nike. Current NFL players including Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson are advocates for girls flag football. Retired quarterbacks Steve Young and Eli Manning have also been big time supporters.

The sport is also set to feature in the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles for the first time — LA28 will feature 120 total flag football athletes, with 60 from each gender.

In Oregon, the Seattle Seahawks have helped the growth of girls flag football by providing support over the last three years. The Seahawks have donated $30,000 to expand opportunities across the state and also provided equipment to help schools launch their flag football program.

Nike has also pledged to provide a set of home and away jerseys for all Oregon varsity teams that compete in the inaugural season. The corporation also says these jerseys will be provided to any program that adds flag football as a sanctioned activity over the next three seasons.

According to the OSAA, a plan book and dates for the 2027 season will be released at a later date.