USA FOOTBALL STATEMENT ON NCAA COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION TO ADD FLAG FOOTBALL AS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT FOR 2028
The following quote can be attributed to Scott Hallenbeck, CEO and Executive Director of USA Football. USA Football is the National Governing Body of American Football in the United States and will select, train and lead Team USA Football when flag football makes its debut in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles:
"This is great news for flag football. Growing the game is central to our mission, and the potential for college programs to play at a championship level does exactly that. It also strengthens the talent pipeline as we prepare for the Olympics in 2028. That's going to be a massive year for flag football – the sport's debut in Los Angeles and now potentially a full NCAA championship structure in place. As the National Governing Body, we'll continue to work closely with the NCAA and our partners to support this growth. More young women will have the chance to play at the highest collegiate level and ultimately compete for a spot on Team USA Football."
Background:
On Tuesday, the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact (CAOI) voted at its meeting to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship. This decision continues to move flag football toward becoming an NCAA championship sport, with the first championship projected to occur in spring 2028.
The CAOI committee oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program, which aims to grow participation and competitive opportunities for women’s sports across the NCAA. Flag football was added to the program at the 2026 NCAA Convention.
Before the committee can make a recommendation to add a championship for an emerging sport, 40 schools must sponsor it at a varsity level and meet the sport’s minimum competition and participant requirements. The sport’s sponsorship numbers among NCAA schools reflect the growing demand and momentum for the game, with over 100 schools planning to compete during the next academic year.
Flag football’s momentum is growing at all levels. In addition to the developments at the collegiate level, flag football is now sanctioned as a girls’ high school varsity sport in more than 20 states. In December 2025, the NFL clubs voted to support the development and launch of a professional flag football league.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with women and girls driving the surge in participation. According to USA Football research, the number of girls ages six to 12 playing flag football increased by 283% from 2015 through 2024. More than 68,800 girls played high school flag football in 2024, 60% more than the prior year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations' latest participation survey.
As the National Governing Body, USA Football oversees all aspects of American football in the United States. This includes hosting Talent ID Camps for both youth and adult competitors to showcase their skills, refine their techniques and enter the National Team pipeline. USA Football will select, train and lead Team USA Football® when flag football makes its debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football® in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.