USA FOOTBALL STATEMENT ON NEW JERSEY SANCTIONING GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL AS A HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY SPORT
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:
"On behalf of USA Football, I want to congratulate the NJSIAA on sanctioning girls' flag football as a high school varsity sport. This has been a monumental spring for flag football as states across the country recognize the amazing opportunities it provides girls and women. New Jersey girls now have the opportunity to join their peers in New York, Pennsylvania and several other states in the region in developing their skills at the high school level to pursue college scholarships and national and international success.
"The pipeline to our U.S. Women's National Team gets stronger with every new state that sanctions girls' flag football. The New York Jets, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles have done a tremendous job growing the sport in New Jersey and building a pathway for girls to learn and grow with flag football. We've seen the state's talent during our New Jersey Talent ID Camps, and it's impressive.
"USA Football is proud to support the growth and development of flag football and all who compete in the sport. We look forward to playing a role in the next step of these athletes' journeys as more opportunities to represent the U.S. in national and international events, like the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, continue to arise."
Background:
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has voted to officially sanction high school girls’ flag football as a varsity sport. New Jersey is the third state to sanction the sport this spring, joining Kansas and Maryland. More than a third of the country now sanctions girls’ flag football as a high school varsity sport.
Support from local NFL Clubs, including the New York Jets, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, played a significant role in the sport’s growth over the past five years. Beginning in 2021, the Jets supported New Jersey's first high school flag league. Now, 140 high schools in the state field teams.
As part of their efforts, the Jets also launched Jets Flag Elite, an official girls’ flag football club travel team with 14U and high school aged squads. Two members of the 14U team, Kaitlyn Richards and Myla Ramos, were recently selected for USA Football’s 15U U.S. Girls’ National Team.
The Eagles have also been instrumental in the sport’s growth, partnering with schools in South Jersey to grow the game since 2023 through the Eagles Girls Flag Football League. The Eagles collaborated with USA Football to deliver USA Football Flag Kits to their 30 NJSIAA member schools.
According to USA Football research, from 2015 through 2024, the numbers of girls ages six to 12 playing flag football increased by 283%, and that momentum is starting to carry up to the high school and collegiate levels. 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 sport's National Governing Body, USA Football oversees all aspects of American football in the United States. This includes partnering with NFL Clubs to support girls’ flag football programs through grants and additional resources. USA Football also hosts 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 in 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.