News Summary
Georgia is taking significant strides towards gender equality in sports with efforts to establish more girls’ flag football teams in high schools. Led by State Representative Brent Cox and supported by the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia High School Association, this initiative follows the enactment of House Resolution 347, which marks a pioneering approach to promoting female athletes. This fall, over 300 high schools are expected to participate in girls’ flag football, showcasing the rapid growth and popularity of the sport among young female athletes in the state.
ATLANTA – Georgia is taking significant strides toward promoting gender equality in sports as advocates push for the establishment of more girls’ flag football teams in high schools across the state. This initiative is being led by State Representative Brent Cox, alongside members of the Atlanta Falcons, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
A recent news conference held on Thursday emphasized the need for high schools to create girls’ flag football teams, responding to the sport’s increasing popularity. This effort is bolstered by House Resolution 347, which was enacted during the 2025 legislative session, marking a pioneering legislative measure for female athletes in high school sports. The resolution is being recognized as the first of its kind in the nation.
The proposed program to advance girls’ flag football is set to model Georgia’s existing college women’s flag football teams, indicating a commitment to creating a robust infrastructure for female athletes. Representative Cox highlighted the critical role of athletics in building community and a sense of belonging among students.
The Atlanta Falcons launched the first girls’ flag football pilot program in 2018 across 19 high schools in Gwinnett County. Since then, the program has seen substantial growth. It is expected that this fall, over 300 high schools will be participating in girls’ flag football initiatives. By 2025, 45 Georgia high schools will launch girls’ flag football programs, reflecting the sport’s rapid expansion in the state.
The GHSA sanctioned girls’ flag football as an official high school sport in 2020, positioning Georgia as the fourth state to recognize women’s flag football in this capacity. The sport has become one of the fastest-growing youth activities in America, with over 7,000 girls participating in 2024 across more than 270 high schools in Georgia alone. Currently, only 15 states have sanctioned women’s flag football as a varsity high school sport, indicating the significant role Georgia is playing in elevating women’s participation in athletics.
During the press event, current female athletes expressed their aspirations to play flag football at the collegiate level and potentially represent the U.S. in the 2028 Olympics. This reflects not only the ambition of young players but also an emerging culture that supports women’s sports at higher competitive levels.
Support for this initiative comes from various stakeholders, including bipartisan endorsements from Georgia legislators and Speaker Jon Burns. The Atlanta Falcons, GHSA, and the Blank Foundation are working together to provide resources and grants that will facilitate the expansion and sustainability of girls’ flag football in schools. Their active involvement is aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable sporting environment for female athletes.
The Falcons’ Senior Director of Community Relations shared insights into the notable growth of girls’ flag football since its inception in the state, illustrating how the sport has gained traction among schools and students alike. Female flag football players at the event conveyed their excitement and dedication to the game, emphasizing the sense of community and lifelong friendships formed through participation in the sport.
As Georgia moves forward with this initiative, the impact on young female athletes is anticipated to be profound, fostering not only sportsmanship but also empowerment through athletic participation. The resolution represents a significant step toward achieving gender equality in high school sports, setting a precedent that could inspire similar movements across the nation.
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Additional Resources
- Atlanta News First
- Wikipedia: Girls’ Flag Football
- Fox 5 Atlanta
- Google Search: Girls’ Flag Football in Georgia
- Atlanta Falcons
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Flag Football
- WAFF
- Google News: Girls’ Flag Football
- High School Football America
