The Board of Directors of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) voted on Wednesday to officially sanction women’s flag football as an NCHSAA championship sport, marking a historic step in expanding athletic opportunities for female student-athletes across the state.
The decision comes after several years of growing interest and participation in the sport at the high school level, as well as successful programs across the state and increased national momentum for women’s flag football.
High school flag football in North Carolina will now be governed by the NCHSAA and will compete under NFHS rules. The season will take place in the fall, and the first NCHSAA Flag Football Championship will be held in late 2026.
Flag football has rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing high school sports in the country, providing new opportunities for female athletes to compete in football while emphasizing speed, strategy, and teamwork.
“Today’s decision represents a meaningful investment in the future of our student-athletes, in this case females, and the continued evolution of school-based athletics in North Carolina,” said Que Tucker, commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in a press release. “Girls Flag football offers an inclusive, fast-paced, and highly engaging opportunity for students to compete, connect, and grow through sport, and we’re proud to bring it into our championship program.”
The growth of flag football has also been supported by partnerships with the NFL and the Carolina Panthers as they have worked to develop the sport at the grassroots and scholastic levels.
“Sanctioning high school flag football marks a major milestone for girls’ athletics in North Carolina,” said David and Nicole Tepper of the Carolina Panthers. “The Panthers are proud to be a driving force behind this movement beginning with the launch of the first pilot program in 2022 with 19 schools and followed by continued investment under the leadership of Riley Fields and the Panthers Community Relations team. Today, the sport has grown to more than 150 participating schools statewide, reflecting the commitment of coaches, school administrators and participants – and the growing momentum for the sport across the Carolinas.”
The board also voted Wednesday to sanction men’s volleyball as an official NCHSAA championship sport.
The season will take place in the spring, and the first NCHSAA boys Volleyball Championships will be held in May 2027.
“Today is a red-letter day for men’s volleyball in North Carolina, and the decision of the Board of Directors reflects the momentum that students, coaches, and advocates have built over many years,” said Tucker. “Sanctioning men’s volleyball allows us to provide more championship opportunities and continue our mission to expand participation and create positive experiences for student-athletes across the state.”
Coaches and advocates across the state have played a critical role in the sport’s growth and organization.
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