Press release by New Orleans Saints
Through the support of the New Orleans Saints and their successful implementation of a girls high school flag football league in 2024, the process in the addition as an official sanctioned sport in the state of Louisiana has taken a significant step forward.
On Thursday, January 30, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s (LHSAA) Executive Committee met and recognized that with over 100 member schools interested in adding the sport, it is now conditionally approved. Procedurally, a formal vote to finalize the approval of girls flag football as a sanctioned sport through the LHSAA will take place at the governing body’s Executive Committee meeting in April.
The LHSAA was thoroughly impressed with the demand for the sanctioning of girls flag football through both internal and external response.
The Saints organization started the push last spring when they launched a ten-team girls flag football league with participation in the pilot campaign from ten high schools across Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. As part of an NFL-wide initiative to promote girls high school flag football, the Saints Youth Sports Development department administered the league with assistance from valuable partners including the NFL, LHSAA, Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA), RCX Sports, the NCAA, GENYOUth and Nike, who contributed customized uniforms for all participating athletes. The leadership of the Saints and support of these entities created a commitment to providing a professional and inclusive experience for the players, who participated in weekly games for one month, culminating with a championship event at Joe Brown Park with De La Salle High School taking the first title. The club will again take the lead in hosting a league in metro New Orleans in the Spring of 2025, with play beginning in late March.
Impressed with the response of the league administered by the Saints and their partners in greater New Orleans, the LHSAA recently conducted a statewide survey to gauge all school’s interest in the emerging sport. With over 100 of the 157 member schools expressing interest (at least 80 schools were needed to express interest per LHSAA bylaws) in bringing the sport to their school, requirements have been met for a formal vote by the LHSAA to finalize approval at the April Executive Committee meeting.
This news comes after the Saints, in collaboration with the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) announced on January 28, the official sanctioning of girls high school flag football with the inaugural season set to take place this spring.
“We are excited that the LHSAA has moved to make sanctioned girls flag football an official sport at high schools throughout Louisiana,” said Saints Owner Gayle Benson. “This grows the opportunities for girls in our state to compete in a sport that is growing worldwide thanks to the support of the NFL, the Saints and all of our teams. This progress further increases access for young women to the ideals of athletic competition, inclusivity and the power of teamwork.”
“We are thrilled that Louisiana has decided to sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport,” said Stephanie Kwok, NFL Vice President of flag football. “With Mississippi’s announcement last week, this marks 15 states that now offer girls varsity flag football. The partnership between the Saints and the LHSAA and MHSAA is a wonderful illustration of how we can expand opportunities for girls to compete in high school and beyond.”
“We are excited for the opportunity to see young ladies participate in the nation’s fastest growing NFHS high school sport,” said Louisiana High School Coaches Association Director Eric Held. “Over 100 schools have expressed interest in adding girls flag football as a LHSAA sport. An agenda item at the April Executive Committee Meeting will address sanctioning the sport. We look forward to continuing our partnership in this effort with the New Orleans Saints.”
Flag football will officially be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program, led by efforts of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and supported by the NFL. This will further solidify the flag football’s status as a globally recognized and celebrated sport.