More high school girls are taking up flag football. As its popularity increases, more opportunities are arising for the athletes.

Girls flag football is now officially a sanctioned sport here in Ohio. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OSHAA) announced that it will sanction girls’ high school flag football in the spring of 2026, according to an OSHAA spokesperson. This makes Ohio the 17th state to sanction girls flag football in the United States.

In May, the Browns and Bengals hosted the inaugural Girls High School Flag Football State Championship at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, where the top four teams from both the Browns and Bengals divisions competed. Hamilton Badin High School won the inaugural championship over Willoughby South.