NCAA Looks to Add Flag Football to Women’s Sports Program

A committee within the NCAA has recommended adding flag football to its emerging women's sports program. This is an important move toward the sport potentially becoming an officially sponsored championship in all three divisions of NCAA athletics.

Currently, at least 65 schools sponsor flag football at either the club or varsity level, and more schools are expected to follow suit. Additionally, flag football has been added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, with strong support from the NFL.

The NFL has been advocating for flag football for several years, initiating a global ambassador program in 2022. The league has also been pushing to have flag football recognized as a varsity sport in high schools across the United States. If flag football is accepted into the NCAA’s emerging women’s sports program, it will need at least 40 schools sponsoring the sport at the varsity level, in addition to meeting minimum requirements in terms of games played and player participation. If these requirements are met, flag football could be considered for NCAA championship status.

The NCAA’s emerging women’s sports program was designed to increase opportunities for women and help schools offer more sports programs. Women’s wrestling was the most recent sport to be approved for full championship status, and the first women’s wrestling championship is set for 2026. Other sports currently in the NCAA’s emerging women’s sports program include acrobatics and tumbling, equestrian, rugby, stunt, and triathlon. Rowing, ice hockey, water polo, bowling, and beach volleyball have previously emerged from this program to become NCAA championship sports.