Colts announce girls flag football now eligible to be IHSAA sanctioned sport

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WRTV) — The Indianapolis Colts announced on Sunday that the “Road to 100” goal of recruiting 100 Indiana high school girls flag football teams has been achieved. Girls flag football is now eligible to be a fully sanctioned IHSAA sport.

There are now 108 Indiana high school girls flag football teams, with more than 50 cities and towns represented.

The announcement was made during the last day of the NFL FLAG Championships that were held at Grand Park in Westfield.

“Girls flag football provides another pathway for girls to learn, play and love our great sport, as well as all the other opportunities and benefits that come from playing youth sports and being a part of a team,” Colts Owner & Chief Brand Officer Kalen Jackson said. “The Colts are proud to help lead this effort to make football more accessible and inclusive for all, and this is only the beginning for girls flag in Indiana.”

“Reaching more than 100 participating schools is a tremendous milestone for girls flag football in Indiana and it reflects the growing enthusiasm for the sport across our state,” IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig said. “We appreciate the Colts for their vision, leadership, and investment in creating new opportunities for young women. This achievement marks an important step in the IHSAA’s process toward potential championship recognition, and we look forward to seeing the continued growth of girls flag football in Indiana.”

Girls flag football is currently an IHSAA emerging sport. Girls high school flag football started with eight teams in 2023, then 27 teams in 2024, 78 teams in 2025, and now is up to 108 teams. As part of the “Road to 100” goal, the Irsay family invested $1 million to help launch teams.

The vote for girls flag football to become a fully sanctioned IHSAA sport could be as early as May 2027.