AHSAA Approves Girls Flag Football for Fall 2021

April 8, 2021 / Athletic AdministrationCoachingFootball
Girls flag football will be taking the field in Alabama for the Fall 2021 season.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) announced earlier this week that the sport will become an officially sanctioned sport, according to a report from WSFA12.

flag football
(Photo: Barry Lenard / Creative Commons)

“After discussions with the Atlanta Falcons for several months, we are excited to be adding this girls’ sport for our membership. We think it will grow rapidly,” Associate Executive Director Alvin Briggs, who oversees football for the AHSAA. “The AHSAA appreciates the support, commitment, and funding being provided by the Atlanta Falcons, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and NFL FLAG.”

The state is now one of five, including Alaska, Nevada, Georgia, and Florida, to offer girls flag football competitively at the high school level. Additionally, it will be the 14th sport available to girls in AHSAA member schools, WSFA12 reported, and the 27th school sport overall.

According to the AHSAA, the season will end in December with a championship game at the 2021 Super 7 State High School Football Championships in Birmingham, AL. Each roster will feature 25 players at most, and play a minimum of an eight-game regular season.

“We are thrilled to see girls flag football continue to expand outside of Georgia. The goal has always been to grow the game,” says Atlanta Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay. “The need and desire for more girls’ programming is there, and we are really excited the Alabama High School Athletic Association has agreed to add the sport and can now give young women more opportunities to play sports in high school. We look forward to seeing how far and wide we can expand the game of girls’ flag football together.”

NFL Flag Executive Director Izell Reese added to WSFA12, “These young ladies are ballers. They’re very athletic and I know we’re going to represent and show up in Alabama and I can’t wait to watch these young ladies play.”

To read the full story from WSFA12 about the AHSAA giving the green light for girls flag football next fall, click here