Maryland approves girls’ flag football as varsity sport
The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association has approved girls' flag football as a varsity sport, making it the state's 26th championship sport starting in the 2026-27 school year. The sport was piloted in Frederick County Public Schools in 2023 with support from the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour and has since expanded to 132 schools across Maryland. While the move highlights growing opportunities for girls in sports, it coincides with ongoing debates in the state over transgender athlete participation and proposed legislation to restrict girls' sports to biological females.
- ▪Girls' flag football will become an official MPSSAA varsity championship sport in Maryland beginning the 2026-27 school year.
- ▪The pilot program for girls' flag football launched in Frederick County Public Schools in fall 2023 with support from the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour.
- ▪The sport is now offered in 132 Maryland schools and will be part of the state's high school athletic championship structure.
- ▪Delegate Kathy Szeliga introduced the 2026 Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act, which would restrict girls’ sports to biological females, but the bill did not advance past committee.
- ▪MPSSAA guidelines affirm that student participation in athletics should be consistent with their gender identity, regardless of sex listed on official records.
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The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association ruled girls’ flag football is now the state’s 26th championship sport. In recent years, women’s and girls’ sports have drawn national attention over transgender athletes’ participation, leading to legal battles rising to the Supreme Court. The MPSSAA announced on April 25 that the sport will be recognized at the varsity level in Maryland beginning in the 2026-27 school year.“The growth of girls’ flag football demonstrates its inclusive reach to our female student-athletes, providing opportunities for teamwork and leadership in an equitable sporting environment,” Andy Warner, MPSSAA executive director, said in a release.
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