NCAA Announces Women's Flag Football Initiative

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Feb 12, 2025 5:47 PM ET

On Wednesday, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics recommended that legislation be sponsored to add flag football to the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women program. The NCAA and the NFL are pushing to expand the sport's reach.

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

"The growth of flag football will be exciting to watch in the NCAA as women's sports continue to generate more visibility and opportunities for female student-athletes to excel academically and athletically," said Ragean Hill, chair of the Committee on Women's Athletics.

"The Committee on Women's Athletics wants to thank RCX Sports Foundation and USA Football for submitting the application. CWA looks forward to flag football being added to the Emerging Sports for Women program and watching the sport's exciting journey to NCAA championship status in the future."

In commercials aired during Super Bowl LIX, sports media personality Pat McAfee was featured in the NFL's push for high schools to include girls' flag football as a varsity sport.

Flag football gets recommendation to join NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. https://t.co/vecwBw3VXo
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) February 12, 2025

In 2024, NFL FLAG had college showcases across the country.

"The NFL FLAG College Showcase brings together top flag football players and NAIA and NJCAA coaches, where athletes are evaluated in a series of position-specific and agility drills," per their Females in Flag website.

At least 65 NCAA schools sponsor women's flag football at the club or varsity level. Flag football was added as an event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Also included in the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women program are acrobatics and tumbling, equestrian, rugby, stunt and triathlon. The program is intended to provide support for "more athletics opportunities for women and more sport-sponsorship options for schools."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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