Empowering Young Women: Colorado Sanctions Girls Flag Football as a Permanent High School Sport

In a historic move, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has officially sanctioned girls flag football as a permanent high school sport. This decision comes after a successful pilot program that saw over 50 schools in Colorado participate, with many of them located in the Denver metro area. With this development, Colorado joins 10 other states in the country that have also sanctioned the sport for high school girls.

The CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger highlighted the importance of providing opportunities for female athletes to participate in sports and emphasized the leadership, confidence, and equality that can be cultivated through girls flag football both on and off the field. He also noted that more than a dozen NAIA colleges are already offering scholarships for girls flag football players, and DII and DIII colleges may follow suit in the near future. Additionally, the sport is set to be included in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Denver Broncos played a significant role in promoting girls flag football in Colorado, with the Denver Broncos Foundation providing financial aid to schools that adopted the sport. Companies like Nike and USA Football also contributed by ensuring that teams had uniforms and necessary equipment. According to Broncos owner Carrie Walton Penner, this development represents a historic moment for Colorado and provides girls in the state with a new pathway to sports through flag football. Penner emphasized the empowerment, inclusion, teamwork, and community-building aspects of the sport for the next generation of leaders.