Flag football moves toward NCAA championship status
NCAA.org • • sports
Key Points:
- The NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact has formally recommended flag football become an NCAA championship sport, with the first championship projected for spring 2028.
- Over 100 schools plan to compete in women's flag football next academic year, surpassing the 40-school sponsorship threshold required for championship consideration, reflecting rapid growth and demand.
- The recommendation must be reviewed and approved by all three NCAA divisions by January 2027, alongside the establishment of an NCAA Women's Flag Football Committee to oversee the sport.
- Flag football’s elevation to championship status is part of the NCAA’s broader initiative to expand women’s sports participation, joining other emerging sports like wrestling and acrobatics and tumbling.
- Stakeholders highlight the sport’s growth as timely due to its upcoming Olympic debut in 2028 and emphasize that NCAA recognition will create sustainable pathways and expanded opportunities for female athletes nationwide.