On September 18, 2024, Pennsylvania officially sanctioned girls' flag football as a high school sport, a significant step towards promoting female participation in football. The decision by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) follows a successful push from local NFL teams, particularly the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, who have been instrumental in increasing participation levels. With over 42,000 girls participating in flag football this past year, the sport is gaining momentum and is set to become a competitive avenue for young female athletes starting in the 2025-26 school year.

• Girls' flag football is now an officially sanctioned sport in Pennsylvania.
• The move is part of a larger trend to promote female participation in football across the U.S.
• The sport has seen a 105% increase in participation from the previous year.