NCAA recommends adding women’s flag football as ’emerging’ varsity sport

• An NCAA committee on Wednesday recommended that flag football enter its Emerging Sports for Women program. The recommendation is a significant step in making it an officially sanctioned varsity sport.
• To move forward, flag football must have a minimum of 40 schools sponsor it at the varsity level.
• Since 1996, six women’s sports have been given championship status after going through the Emerging Sports for Women program.

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Flag football has received a lot of support and attention as of late. First from the NFL during last week’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, and then on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from the NCAA.

An NCAA committee has recommended adding flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program. The recommendation could fast-track its transition to becoming an officially sponsored sport.

Once in the program, the sport needs a minimum of 40 schools to participate at the varsity level before it can be considered for NCAA championship status in all three divisions. The sport must also meet a minimum for player participation and games played per season to qualify.

However, flag football’s popularity seems to have already pushed it well beyond those barriers. At least 65 schools sponsor the sport at either the club or varsity level, according to the NCAA.

During his State of the League press conference in New Orleans last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pumped up the game. He said the league is also considering starting professional flag football leagues for men and women.

“I think I am more excited about the young women who are finally getting a chance to participate in our sport, and they are able to do it in a way that’s empowering to them,” Goodell said. “When you talk to these young players and you see what it does for them, to feel more confidence, the opportunity to play a game that was considered a ‘male sport,’ they are now out there competing, and that will be a big part of the Olympics in a few years.”

Meanwhile, the NFL also provided massive assistance when presenting the idea of flag football to the International Olympic Committee. The 2028 Los Angeles games will include the sport.

By that time, flag football may become a sanctioned NCAA scholarship sport. It’s all thanks to its Emerging Sports for Women program. That program aims to give more opportunities to women in sports and give schools more opportunities to sponsor teams.

Over the last three decades, six sports from the program have earned NCAA status. They include rowing, ice hockey, water polo, bowling, beach volleyball and most recently, wrestling, which will hold its first NCAA championship in 2026. Once approved, flag football would become the 92nd official NCAA sport.