This spring, the Atlantic East Conference is making history by becoming the first NCAA conference to introduce women’s flag football as an official varsity sport. Seven schools — Centenary University, Eastern University, Holy Family University, Immaculata University, Marymount University, Neumann University and Penn State Schuylkill — will compete in a full regular season and playoff structure, marking a significant step forward for the sport. While flag football has existed at the club and intramural levels for years, its transition to varsity competition within the NCAA signals increasing legitimacy and institutional support.
The conference, which competes at the NCAA Division III level, received financial and organizational backing from the NFL and RCX Sports, a flag football development partner. The Philadelphia Eagles, one of the most active NFL teams in promoting flag football, have also been involved, hosting the Atlantic East’s media day to celebrate the start of the season.
While the Atlantic East is the first NCAA conference to introduce women’s flag football as a varsity sport, it won’t be the last. The NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program has recommended flag football for inclusion, an important step toward gaining official NCAA championship status. To reach that milestone, at least 40 schools must sponsor varsity programs. With the Atlantic East leading the way and other conferences likely to follow, it’s possible that flag football could achieve full NCAA recognition within the next few years.
Alabama State University became the first school to offer a scholarship for women’s flag football, showing that institutions are beginning to invest in the sport beyond club and recreational play. If other Division I schools follow suit, the talent pipeline for the sport will only continue to grow.
At the high school level, the sport has grown at an even faster pace. The NFL, which has made expanding women’s flag football a priority, has played a significant role in pushing for official recognition. Through its NFL Flag 50 initiative, the league has worked to get the sport sanctioned as a varsity high school sport in all 50 states. So far, 14 states have fully sanctioned girls’ flag football, while 18 others have introduced pilot programs. With more states expected to follow, the sport’s rapid expansion could soon make it a nationwide standard.
The drastic growth of the sport is undeniable — according to the National Federation of High Schools, approximately 500,000 girls aged six to 17 participated in flag football in 2023, representing a 63% increase since 2019. This surge in participation has made flag football one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.
Recognizing this momentum, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell emphasized the league’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women in the sport.
“We really feel, at this time, there is strong momentum, strong need, particularly for women, to be able to participate in a sport that they hadn’t had the opportunity to do,” Goodell told The Associated Press in 2024.
Perhaps the biggest sign of the growth of women’s flag football is its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The International Olympic Committee officially approved flag football as a five-on-five sport for the LA28 Games, making it the latest addition to the global sports stage.
The NFL and USA Football were heavily involved in securing flag football’s spot in the Olympics, seeing it as a key opportunity to expand football internationally, particularly in countries where tackle football has struggled to gain traction. The Olympic debut is expected to bring even more visibility and investment to the sport, creating new opportunities for female athletes worldwide.
Women’s flag football has gone from a grassroots movement to an emerging varsity and Olympic sport in just a few years. With increasing high school participation, growing collegiate support and a historic Olympic debut on the horizon, it’s clear that the sport is here to stay.
