News Summary
The Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation are significantly enhancing girls flag football programs across Georgia, providing grants to 304 high schools for new and improved initiatives. This expansion follows Georgia’s official sanctioning of girls flag football as a high school sport. Looking to the future, an additional 45 high schools will introduce programs, with the Falcons hosting a Girls’ Flag Football Clinic to further encourage participation. These efforts reflect a national trend towards supporting female athletes and the growing popularity of the sport, which is now recognized in several states.
Atlanta – The Atlanta Falcons along with the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation are making significant advancements in expanding girls flag football programs throughout Georgia, supporting participation from over 300 high schools in the upcoming fall season.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has provided grants to 304 high schools across Georgia to either launch or bolster their girls flag football initiatives. This expansion marks a remarkable growth, particularly since Georgia became the fourth state in 2020 to officially sanction girls flag football as a high school sport.
Looking ahead, in 2025, an additional 45 high schools in Georgia are set to introduce new girls flag football programs. This is part of an ongoing effort to promote inclusivity and provide equal sports opportunities for female athletes in the state.
Since the Falcons first piloted girls flag football in 2018 with a program involving 19 high schools in Gwinnett County, the sport has gained immense popularity. By 2024, more than 7,000 girls participated in flag football across over 270 high schools in Georgia. This rapid growth demonstrates a rising interest in the sport, which is also reflected in the recent changes in other states, such as Alabama, where girls flag football saw a staggering 289% increase in participation, with 113 teams competing for a state championship in 2024.
The Georgia House of Representatives passed House Resolution 347, which is a bipartisan resolution urging all Georgia high schools to establish girls flag football programs. This resolution represents the first piece of legislation in the U.S. specifically supporting the growth of girls flag football at high schools, further solidifying the state’s commitment to this initiative.
To encourage skill development and participation, the Atlanta Falcons are hosting a Girls’ Flag Football Clinic on May 31st at Legion Field, where high school students can learn essential skills and fundamentals of the game. The clinic is free, though registration is required to ensure all interested participants can attend.
The trends seen in Georgia resonate with national efforts to expand girls flag football. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation supports youth football programs nationwide through its Youth Fund, providing financial assistance to cover costs such as coach stipends and travel for the initial years of establishing girls flag football programs.
In Billings, Montana, local student Irelynn Reeve has been a strong advocate for introducing girls flag football in the community, having experienced the sport’s positive impact while living in Nevada. Recently, the Billings Public Schools board voted 8 to 1 in favor of adding girls flag football, aligning with efforts across the nation to ensure Title IX compliance and offer equal sports opportunities for girls.
The interest in girls flag football continues to rise, with NFL teams increasingly playing crucial roles in sponsorship and support. As a testament to its growing prominence, flag football is set to become part of the 2028 Summer Olympics, and is currently sanctioned in 14 states, indicating a bright future for the sport.
With these developments, the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation are paving the way for a more inclusive sporting environment in Georgia, providing young female athletes with the opportunity to engage in a dynamic sport that is rapidly growing nationwide.
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Additional Resources
- Atlanta Falcons News
- Wikipedia: Girls Flag Football
- Bham Now
- Google Search: Girls Flag Football in Georgia
- BVM Sports
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Flag Football
- 406 MT Sports
- Google News: Girls Flag Football Expansion
- All On Georgia
