NCAA Committee Recommends Adding Flag Football to Emerging Women’s Sports Program

An NCAA committee has recommended the addition of flag football to its emerging women’s sports program, a significant step towards the sport becoming an officially sponsored championship sport in all three divisions. This move comes as flag football gains popularity, with at least 65 schools already sponsoring the sport at either the club or varsity level, and more schools moving in that direction. In addition, flag football has been added to the lineup for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, further solidifying its status as a growing sport.

The NFL has played a key role in promoting flag football, with initiatives such as the global ambassador program launched in 2022. Domestically, the league and its teams have been advocating for flag football to be sanctioned as a varsity sport in high schools across the country. The support from the NFL has helped raise the profile of flag football and attract more participants at all levels.

For flag football to be considered for NCAA championship status, it would need a minimum of 40 schools sponsoring the sport at the varsity level, as well as meeting certain criteria for games played and player participation. The NCAA’s emerging women’s sports program aims to provide more opportunities for women in sports and allow schools to expand their athletic programs.

Women’s wrestling was the most recent sport to move through the program and was approved last month to become the NCAA’s 91st championship sport. The first women’s wrestling championship is set to take place in 2026. Currently, five other sports are part of the program: acrobatics and tumbling, equestrian, rugby, stunt, and triathlon. Several sports have successfully transitioned from the program to earn NCAA championship status in the past, including rowing, ice hockey, water polo, bowling, and beach volleyball.

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