The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced that girls flag football will become an officially sanctioned sport beginning with the 2027 season, marking the 23rd state high school association to adopt the game.
The decision follows a period of rapid expansion, with participation swelling to 162 school‑run programs across Ohio and the sport now ranking as the 29th officially recognized offering by the OHSAA.
A partnership that spans the league and the community
To celebrate the launch, the OHSAA joined forces with the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to stage a state tournament in May, where Macedonia Nordonia captured the inaugural title.
Executive Director Doug Ute said the move reflects pride in welcoming the sport into the OHSAA family and underscores the organization’s commitment to providing new opportunities for female athletes.
From a handful of teams to a statewide movement
Just three seasons ago only a handful of central Ohio schools fielded flag football squads; today Central Ohio alone boasts 15 teams, up from three a year earlier. The growth has been fueled by grassroots programs run under the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association and supported by schools in Northeast Ohio.
Westerville Central coach Peyton McBride, who led her team to a regional final at the University of Akron on May 11, expressed excitement about the sport’s trajectory, even as she prepares to relocate abroad with her husband, a professional basketball player.
The momentum extends beyond high school fields. The International Olympic Committee confirmed that flag football will appear as a new sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, promising a global stage for the discipline.
With 40 states already offering girls high school football programs and the sport poised for national visibility, Ohio’s decision is being watched as a bellwether for the future of the game at the secondary‑school level.