Data from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) indicates that girls flag football has become the fastest-growing high school sport, with over 102,000 participants in the 2025-26 school year, marking a 551% increase over the past four years. This growth reflects a significant shift from a niche sport to a mainstream athletic opportunity for girls. In 2024, only 12 states sanctioned high school girls flag football, but this number has increased to 23 states and Washington, D.C., now recognizing it as an official varsity sport, with 3,990 schools reporting participation in 2025-26.
The NFL has also supported this growth by investing millions to launch and expand high school programs and featuring the sport in Super Bowl commercials. Additionally, flag football is set to debut at the 2028 Olympics, and at least 40 NCAA schools currently offer it as a collegiate varsity sport.
However, it remains uncertain whether flag football is primarily attracting new athletes or drawing participants away from established sports. A recent analysis by Newsday on Long Island noted a rise in flag football participation alongside declines in girls' participation in lacrosse, softball, and track. Meanwhile, girls varsity wrestling is also experiencing growth, with all 50 states reporting participation and 40 state athletic associations holding championships, a significant increase from just five a decade ago.