COLUMBUS — The high school gridiron is getting bigger in Ohio, and no longer a sport reserved just for the boys beginning in the spring of 2026.
High school girls across the state will soon have their own path to win a state football championship on the field after the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced last Thursday, July 17th that it will sanction a state championship event in girls flag football.
Dates for competition and the 2026 state tournament will be determined in the near future.
A pair of area athletic directors in Cambridge High’s Jeff Wheeler and Craig Taylor of Buckeye Trail each gave the decision by the OHSSA a big thumbs up for the move that opens up a new chapter for Ohio high school sports
“It’s a great opportunity for young ladies to play a sport and be involved in teamwork, discipline, dedication, leadership, skills, and competitiveness,” Taylor said. “I’m a big believer in the benefits of competition and all the good habits that come from it.”
“We recently added a trap shooting team and used to offer boys volleyball,” Taylor added. “So we have a record of providing non-traditional opportunities for our students. So we would not be opposed to adding girls flag football if it looks like good fit.”
Taylor explained that discussions among the administrators and board of education for the East Guernsey School District would be the first step in deciding if this is an opportunity they want to provide for Buckeye Trail students.
Wheeler, who served on the OHSAA Board of Directors 3 years ago when girls wrestling became a sanctioned varsity sports by the OHSAA was also in support of girls flag football being added.
“I think it is awesome,” Wheeler offered. “Anytime you can create more opportunities for kids inside and outside of the classroom, it is a great thing. If there is enough interest from our female athletes, I would do everything I could to make it happen.”
NFL support helps make decision to pull the trigger easier
The announcement was made at a press conference in Canton alongside representatives from the National Football League, the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the NFL FLAG Championships presented by Toyota.
OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute and OHSAA staff have been meeting with Ohio flag football leaders for several years. The growth of girls flag football began in 2021 with the creation of the first Girls High School Flag Football division in Northeast Ohio, led by the Cleveland Browns. Three years ago, there were 20 schools in Ohio that had a team. There are currently 80 high schools in Ohio that have a team and that number is expected to continue to grow.
“We are pleased that the OHSAA Board of Directors has approved the sanctioning of girls flag football as an OHSAA sponsored championship event,” said Ute. “Flag football is growing rapidly and we look forward to working closer with teams, coaches and schools to help that growth. The Browns, Bengals and NFL have already put in so much work to promote the game and bring us to this moment to welcome girls flag football to the OHSAA.”
Flag football has been added by 100 college club and varsity programs and now 17 high school state associations have sanctioned the sport with a state tournament. It will be included as a new sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Numbers could be problem area for local schools
Spring sports is already a crowded sports season, and especially at some smaller school districts the amount of eligible female student-athletes might be an issue.
Girls who currently participate in track, softball or other spring sports might be forced to choose between their current sport and flag football, potentially thinning out rosters in the more traditional sports such as softball and track.
“Us being a small school my only concern would be taking student-athletes away from track and softball.” Taylor said. “I think our question will be is if we have enough students to support the three sports in the spring if we did offer flag football.”
Meadowbrook athletic director Johnny Jones feels a possible solution could be the various sports sharing student-athletes that often already happens within smaller school districts.
“Our annual powder puff football game amongst female high school athletes always draws a large turnout each year,” Jones said. “So I think with the right leadership and drive, Meadowbrook is a prime candidate to add flag football.”
“The obvious barrier for us and other schools is how to make the numbers work,” Jones continued. “Last year we had 70 girls involved with track and 22 in softball. We would probably need to work on cooperation between sports and share the girls.”
Other potential issues could come with resource allocation, budget concerns, ample facilities, equipment and uniforms, transportation, scheduling conflicts to name a few.
But despite the potential issues, sanctioning girls flag football is a forward-thinking move by the OHSAA that will provide valuable opportunities for young female student-athletes in Ohio.
“Adding girls flag football is something we will take a hard look at,” Ridgewood athletic director Jesse Smolder said. “We are always interested in providing positive opportunities for our students. I feel we do a good job of doing that, and its something we want to continue to do. So we will take a hard look at adding girls flag football.”
KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
