Executive Summary
- Florida became the first state to sanction high school girls flag football in 2003.
- Robinson High School in Tampa has built a dynasty with 10 state championships.
- The NCAA has approved flag football as an Emerging Sport for Women.
- Flag football is scheduled to make its Olympic debut in 2028.
TAMPA, Fla. — Girls’ flag football is rapidly gaining traction in high schools across the United States, following a developmental path established by Florida institutions over twenty years ago. According to the Associated Press, while 14 states have sanctioned flag football as an official high school sport within the last three years, Florida began this process in 2003, creating a robust infrastructure that now includes over 10,000 participants across four divisions and more than 450 schools.
Robinson High School in Tampa has emerged as a premier dynasty within the state, securing 10 state championships. The program’s longevity has fostered multi-generational participation; freshman twins Alicia and Taylor Jones represent the fourth and fifth daughters in their family to play for the school. “Our sisters tried so hard, they put in all the work,” Taylor Jones told the AP. “So it lets us do the same thing.”
The sport’s recent national growth has been bolstered by significant financial support from major entities, including Nike and the NFL. This influx of resources coincides with a broader surge in interest regarding women’s sports. Alonso High School, located near Robinson, has also established itself as a powerhouse with four state titles. Natalie Fischer, a sophomore at Alonso, credited the sport with changing her life after moving to Florida from Malaysia.
The maturity of Florida’s programs has allowed alumni to return as coaches. Deliah Autry-Jones, a Robinson alumna who discovered the sport in 2009, currently serves as an assistant coach. Autry-Jones has spent five years on the U.S. Women’s Flag national team and is a prospective competitor for the 2028 Olympics, where flag football will make its debut. “I decided what better way to give back than to the program that just absolutely changed everything for me?” Autry-Jones stated.
Robinson coach Joshua Saunders noted that the program’s reputation attracts inquiries from across the country. Saunders told the AP that he frequently advises coaches starting new programs in states like Wisconsin to focus on patience and student engagement. Alonso coach Matt Hernandez confirmed that national interest in their established programs is increasing.
Collegiate and International Prospects
The trajectory of girls’ flag football is shifting from a recreational high school activity to a recognized competitive pathway with collegiate and international implications. With the NCAA recently approving flag football as an Emerging Sport for Women, the discipline is taking the initial administrative steps toward becoming an official sport for Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 athletics. Currently, at least 65 NCAA schools sponsor the sport at the club or varsity level. This institutional formalization, combined with the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games, suggests a sustainable growth model that will likely result in increased scholarship opportunities and standardized recruitment protocols in the coming years.
