Flag football used to be what kids played before tackle, or instead of it. In 2026 it is a varsity sport with its own growth curve. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) reported on September 10, 2026 that 102,360 girls played high school flag football in the 2025-26 school year, up 48.7% from 68,847 a year earlier. The NFHS put girls’ flag football first among the sports behind a fifth straight annual increase in high school sports participation.
Colleges, the NFL and the Olympic program are building the rest of the ladder. Here is what the participation data show, how the college pathway is forming, why flag now outnumbers tackle, and what families actually need to buy.
Trend Signal
86/100 Strong momentum
- Emerging
- Rising
- Mainstream
- Peaking
- Cooling
High school girls’ flag football up 48.7% as colleges add varsity teams
The NFHS counted 102,360 girls playing high school flag football in 2025-26, up 48.7%, and the NCAA added flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026.
Our editorial reading of the cited data, not a forecast. How it is scored
By the numbers
- 102,360Girls playing high school flag football in 2025-26, up 48.7% from 68,847NFHS
- 37States set to sanction or run pilot girls’ flag football programs, per NFHS (Sept. 2026)NFHS
- 7.6MAmericans age 7+ who played flag football in 2025, up 13.4% (tackle: 6.8M)NSGA via SGB Media
- 100+NCAA schools planning to compete in women’s flag football in 2026-27NCAA
High schools are adding teams fastest
The NFHS survey counted 3,990 schools with girls’ flag football in 2025-26, up from 2,736 a year earlier, and said 37 states will be sanctioning the sport or running independent or pilot programs by the following year. Total high school sports participation set another all-time record at 8,415,684, up 149,440, and by our math girls’ flag football accounted for more than a fifth of that gain on its own.
The contrast with traditional football is sharp. Boys’ 11-player football, by far the most popular high school sport according to the NFHS, grew 1.4% to 1,043,716. Girls’ wrestling, the other fast riser, grew 19.9% to 88,771. By our math, girls’ flag football grew more than 30 times as fast as 11-player football in percentage terms.
The rules are maturing with the numbers. On February 24, 2026, the NFHS published its 2026-27 flag football rule changes: every team must start a game with seven players, charged time-outs rise from two to three per half, and states may adopt instant replay for postseason games. Flag belts and flag pulls are one of three points of emphasis for the 2026-27 season.
| Girls’ high school flag football | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Participants | 68,847 | 102,360 |
| Schools | 2,736 | 3,990 |
Girls’ flag football added about 33,500 players in one school year.
The college and pro ladder
On January 16, 2026, the NCAA added flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program after all three divisions approved it at the NCAA Convention. A sport in that program needs at least 40 schools sponsoring it at the varsity level, plus minimum contest and participation levels, to qualify for a championship.
The count moved quickly. On May 19, 2026, the NCAA said more than 100 schools planned to compete in the following academic year, and its announcement quoted an estimate of as many as 60 schools sponsoring the sport at the varsity level in spring 2026. Its Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact voted to recommend that Divisions I, II and III each sponsor legislation for a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship; all three divisions must approve it at their next convention votes.
The NFL is pushing from the top. Its flag football site says the game is played by more than 20 million people in over 100 countries, and its news feed covers flag football’s confirmation for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, NFL clubs approving player participation and a partnership with TMRW Sports to launch a professional flag league.
Flag now outnumbers tackle
The National Sporting Goods Association’s 2026 report, based on a survey of about 25,000 people age 7 and older conducted by Ipsos, counted 7.6 million flag football participants in 2025, up 13.4% year over year, as reported by SGB Media. Tackle football recovered slightly, to 6.8 million from 6.6 million in 2024, but remained below 7.3 million in 2019 and 7.9 million in 2016.
SFIA’s mid-year data point the same way. Team sports were the fastest-growing major participation category in SFIA’s mid-year report, released August 20, 2026, up 3.8%, with basketball, flag football and baseball among the notable gains, and team sports participation has risen for three straight years.
Cost is part of the appeal. In SFIA’s mid-2026 survey, 26.9% of participants said out-of-pocket costs had affected how they take part. NFL FLAG says tackle leagues can cost families up to $300 more because of the extra equipment. We read the low gear bill as one reason flag keeps drawing players tackle does not.
What the gear list looks like
NFL FLAG, the NFL-licensed youth program, says every player receives an official belt and flags, attached with a small plastic pop socket, plus a team jersey on registration. Families supply the rest, and the list is short.
High school programs can differ. NFL FLAG notes that some high school programs and 7-on-7 teams may require soft shell helmets, and the NFHS rule book governs school play, so check your state association and coach before buying anything beyond the basics.
- Mouthguard: the only protective gear NFL FLAG players wear, and it recommends a backup
- Football cleats: allowed, but metal cleats are not
- Shorts without pockets: keep the flags visible and fingers from catching
- Gloves: optional, for grip
- Soft shell helmet: only where a school or 7-on-7 program requires one
Who should buy now, and who should wait
Families signing up for a fall or spring season can buy the basics now: a mouthguard, cleats without metal studs and a pair of pocketless shorts. Do not buy game belts for a league that provides them; a separate practice set is useful only for backyard or team drills.
Wait on anything specialized. Soft shell helmets, position gloves and team-specific apparel depend on the program, and with the NFHS rules changing each season and college flag football still building its structure, the program’s own list is the one to follow.
What to watch next
- The NFHS 2026-27 participation survey, for whether girls’ flag football spreads past 37 states and keeps growing near 50%.
- NCAA divisional votes on a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship, which needs approval from all three divisions.
- NSGA and SFIA full-year 2026 data, for whether flag football’s lead over tackle football widens.
Where to start
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The short flag football gear list
| Product type | Good fit for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Flag football belt and flags set | Fits backyard and team practice | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Molded football cleats | Fits league rules on cleats | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Youth sports mouthguard | Fits the one required safety item | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
Product types that fit the trend described above, not tested models. Check the exact listing before you buy. How we pick them.
Flag football belt and flags set
Where to look: Amazon
NFL FLAG gives every player an official belt and flags, so a separate set is for practice. Flag pulls are an NFHS point of emphasis for 2026-27, which makes drilling them worthwhile.
- Lets kids drill flag pulls anywhere
- Sets cover a full team
- Leagues already supply game belts
- Attachment styles differ
Molded football cleats
Where to look: Amazon
NFL FLAG allows football cleats but not metal ones. Molded cleats in the current size are the one footwear purchase most players need.
- Grip on grass fields
- Molded studs meet flag rules
- Kids outgrow them quickly
- Metal-stud models are not allowed
Youth sports mouthguard
Where to look: Amazon
NFL FLAG calls the mouthguard the only protective gear players wear and recommends keeping a backup in the bag.
- The only protective gear worn
- Cheap enough to keep a spare
- Fit varies by brand
- Needs replacing as kids grow
More: Sports and Recreation trends and how the Trend Signal is scored.
Sources
- Led by Girls Flag Football and Girls Wrestling, High School Sports Participation Increases for Fifth Consecutive Year — NFHS
- Flag Football Rules and 2026-27 Rules Changes — NFHS
- NCAA adds flag football to Emerging Sports for Women program — NCAA
- Flag football moves toward NCAA championship status — NCAA
- Flag Football — NFL
- Flag Football Equipment — NFL FLAG
- Study: Pickleball Growth Slows as Skiing, Flag Football, and Pilates Step Up — SGB Media
- U.S. Sports and Fitness Participation Reaches Record High, New SFIA Mid-Year Data Shows — SFIA
Questions readers ask
How fast is girls’ flag football growing?
The NFHS counted 102,360 girls playing high school flag football in 2025-26, up 48.7% from 68,847, at 3,990 schools, and says 37 states will be sanctioning the sport or running independent or pilot programs by the following year.
What equipment do you need for flag football?
NFL FLAG supplies a belt, flags and jersey. Families add a mouthguard, football cleats without metal studs and shorts without pockets; gloves are optional, and some high school or 7-on-7 programs require soft shell helmets.
Is flag football cheaper than tackle football?
Usually. NFL FLAG says tackle leagues can cost families up to $300 more because of the helmets, pads and other protective equipment tackle requires.
Is women’s flag football an NCAA sport?
It became part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026. In May 2026 an NCAA committee recommended a national championship, which needs approval from Divisions I, II and III.
Is flag football more popular than tackle football?
By total participants, yes. NSGA counted 7.6 million flag football players and 6.8 million tackle players age 7 and older in 2025. In high schools, 11-player football is still far larger, with 1,043,716 boys in 2025-26.
