Flag football is the hottest thing in the youth sports industry.

One of the area where it is rapidly taking hold: High school sports.

It seems like a new state sanctions girls flag as a varsity sport each week. The pace of adoption is so fast that it can be hard to keep track of where each stands.

Hence the Buying Sandlot High School Girls Flag Football Sanctioning Tracker (or HSGFFST for short).

Thanks to NFHS for providing its most recent rundown to get things started.

LAST UPDATED: June 22, 2026

✅ Sanctioned States (24)

Girls flag has been approved as a varsity sport in these states:

  • Alabama

  • Alaska

  • Arizona

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Connecticut

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • Hawaii

  • Illinois

  • Kansas

  • Kentucky

  • Louisiana

  • Maryland

  • Mississippi

  • Nevada

  • New Jersey

  • New York

  • North Carolina

  • Ohio

  • Pennsylvania

  • Tennessee

  • Washington

  • Washington D.C.

🗳️ Vote Pending (3)

These states will soon vote on sanctioning:

👩‍✈️ Independent/Pilot Programs (13)

These states currently have non-varsity flag competition:

  • Delaware

  • Iowa

  • Massachusetts

  • Michigan

  • Minnesota

  • Missouri

  • Montana

  • North Dakota

  • Oklahoma

  • South Carolina

  • Texas

  • Virginia

  • Wisconsin

🤔 Interest Shown (5)

Girls flag is on the radar in these states:

  • Idaho

  • South Dakota

  • Utah

  • Vermont

  • West Virginia

🤷‍♀️ Not Considering (6)

At least not yet:

  • Arkansas

  • Maine

  • Nebraska

  • New Hampshire

  • New Mexico

  • Wyoming

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