Washington Sanctions Girls Flag Football As Official High School Sport

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association voted to make girls flag football an officially sanctioned high school sport.

Apr 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM

Ari Horton

Seahawks.com Writer

On Monday, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced that girls flag football will become a sanctioned high school sport.

"We believe that everyone should have the access and opportunity to play football, and the momentum we've seen for girls flag has been incredible," Mario Bailey, Seahawks vice president of community engagement & legends said. "Sanctioning girls flag is an amazing step in giving these girls a new avenue to pursue playing flag football in college and beyond."

Washington joins Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee as the 15^th state to sanction the sport at the high school level.

"The Seahawks are thrilled with the announcement by the WIAA," Chuck Arnold, President of the Seahawks and First & Goal Inc. said. "This is a historic moment for our state and an exciting milestone for all the girls flag athletes in our region who now have the opportunity to play at the highest level."

The Seahawks have been supporters of girls flag football, hosting championship tournaments, giving grant funding to girls flag teams within Tacoma and Seattle Public Schools, Bellevue, Northshore, Auburn, Renton, Puyallup, Mercer Island, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, and building a wall at Lumen Field titled "The Future of Football is Female," with flags representing each of the high schools with girls flag teams.

Seahawks general manager/president of football operations John Schneider said, "Amazing. It's pretty cool to see Washington, the Seahawks, and the people upstairs do a great job getting out in the community and giving back."

The sport has given athletes the space to forge friendships, build confidence, all while competing for in a sport they love.

Mariah Jackson, a player from Stadium High School said, "Girls flag football has been a big part of my high school experience. It became more than just a sport to me. It's a community where I found friendship, confidence and a deep love for competition. I love the energy of the game, the strategy and the feeling of pushing myself to be better every time I step on the field. Playing flag has given me a sense of belonging and has shown me the power of teamwork, resilience and passion. It's not just a game, it's a part of who I am."

Girls flag football has continued to grow and now women's flag football will be offered in almost 60 colleges and universities across the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA.

Justin Christiansen, head coach of Olympia High School girls flag football said, "Flag is important because it provides opportunities. Opportunities for those that either thought or were told that they would never be able to do it. Football in general was always a sport that excluded girls. Either it being a coach that didn't want a girl on their team or parent that didn't want their daughter to get hurt. Football has always been a game, and really the only game, for half a population. Flag football breaks down these barriers."

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The Seahawks hosted a High School Girls Flag Football camp on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at Pearl City High School ahead of the inaugural Hawaii High School Girls Flag Football season. Photos by Picture This! Photography.