Georgia Advocates for Girls’ Flag Football in High Schools

High school girls engaged in a flag football game on a sunny day.

News Summary

Georgia lawmakers and the Atlanta Falcons are championing the expansion of girls’ flag football teams in high schools statewide. Following the passage of House Resolution 347, this initiative aims to promote gender equality in high school sports. With over 300 high schools expected to participate, the program reflects a growing trend toward gender parity in athletic opportunities. The upcoming expansion plan, funded by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, will introduce girls’ flag football to 45 new high schools, increasing accessibility for aspiring female athletes.

Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia lawmakers and the Atlanta Falcons are advocating for the expansion of girls’ flag football teams in high schools across the state. The initiative, which aims to promote gender equality in high school sports, was discussed at a recent news conference featuring State Representative Brent Cox, members of the Atlanta Falcons, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

This push to increase the number of girls’ flag football teams comes in the wake of House Resolution 347, which was passed during the 2025 legislative session. This resolution is a pioneering step as it is the first of its kind in the United States, urging Georgia high schools to create dedicated programs for girls’ flag football. The initiative reflects a growing trend to support gender parity in athletic opportunities at the high school level.

The effort is modeled after the success of existing college women’s flag football teams in Georgia. Representative Cox underscored the positive impact of athletics in fostering a sense of community and belonging among students, highlighting flag football as one of the szybko growing sports in the country.

Since its inception, the Atlanta Falcons have been instrumental in this movement. In 2018, they launched a girls’ flag football pilot program in 19 high schools within Gwinnett County, which has since seen considerable growth. Currently, over 300 high schools in Georgia are expected to participate in girls’ flag football programs, a substantial increase that signals strong interest and demand.

According to data, in 2024, more than 7,000 girls participated in girls’ flag football across over 270 high schools in Georgia. The state took significant steps forward by becoming the fourth in the nation to officially sanction girls’ flag football as a high school sport, an initiative led by the GHSA in 2020.

The upcoming expansion plan for fall 2025 entails grants from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to support girls’ flag football programs in 304 Georgia high schools. As part of this expansion, 45 high schools will introduce girls’ flag football for the first time, further increasing accessibility for young female athletes.

Many students have expressed aspirations of competing at the collegiate level in flag football, while some are setting their sights higher on potentially earning a place on the U.S. Olympic team, especially since flag football will make its debut in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Amanda Dinkel, the Senior Director of Community Relations for the Atlanta Falcons, highlighted her pride in the sport’s rapid growth, noting how participation has surged from the initial pilot program to over 300 schools statewide. Rich McKay, CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment, also acknowledged the impressive expansion of girls’ flag football and reaffirmed the commitment to providing these opportunities to female athletes throughout Georgia.

The news conference, held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, served as a celebration of the significant progress made thus far, while also motivating current female athletes interested in joining or participating in flag football programs. As advocates work to increase the number of teams, the future of girls’ flag football in Georgia looks promising, with an enthusiastic and engaged community ready to embrace this growing sport.