In the Fall of 2026 Girl’s Flag Football could possibly be added to the Virginia High School League (VHSL), therefore, adding more opportunities and options for female athletes looking to advance in their sports and further the future of female sports.
In early 2025, the idea of adding Girl’s Flag Football was introduced. At the time, the sport had already been added to Prince William County Public Schools as a Varsity sport, and it grew in popularity with the Washington Commanders beginning a program for young female athletes interested in the sport. The popularity of the sport continues to rise with a professional team playing in the 2028 Summer Olympics, showcasing the sport to all younger female athletes looking for a sport to do.
The sport being added to VHSL could potentially provide many more opportunities for female athletes, such as scholarships and future professional sport plans. Junior flag football player, Elise Mcclellan, is interested in furthering her skills in the sport in college, and even expressed her interest in trying out for the 2028 Olympics. “Hopefully I could get a scholarship to Mount St. Mary’s or Ferrum to play,” stated Mcclellan.
Men’s football has been a high school sport since around 1870. Women were not allowed to participate in any sports without major discrimination and abuse until Title IX in 1972: the law that prohibited discrimination against gender in education, and sports. This granted women the opportunity to receive full education and participate in sports alongside men. Many women still feel as though they’re sports are still overlooked. Bella Kelly, a junior playing flag football, shared, “I don’t think they really considered that women also enjoy playing the sport and being involved. I think it just took a while for them to really consider that.”
Playing team sports creates the opportunity to meet and get to know new people, as well as possibly building relationships inside and outside of obligations like school and work. Many see sports as an escape from stress or a relief of pressure, because they get to hangout with friends and do something they love. “It’s so fun seeing all these girls come together as a team. I really enjoy the impact it has for flag football,” McClellan states.
Most high school students already have obligations outside of school that coincide with being able to play a sport after school. Practices for varsity sports, such as Girl’s Flag Football, take up time, which conflicts with students schedules. Students who play Girl’s Flag Football outside of school, such as freshman player Blake Deputy, would struggle with overlapping practices “I would have to have to choose either to play with the school or the club,” she says.
Adding Girl’s Flag Football to VHSL would have a large impact on the players, “I think it’ll impact it by [adding to] the love of the sport, because I feel like girls sports in general needs to be more up there with the men’s sports” McClellan explained, describing how the growth of the sport is beneficial to both the players and the audience. The addition of Girls’ Flag Football affects the players in many ways by making new relationships, upgrading skills, and building the sport.