BEREA, Ohio — Representatives from the OHSAA, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Ohio is the 17th state to sanction girls flag football as a varsity sport on Thursday.
What You Need To Know
The OHSAA has officially sanctioned girls high school flag football
Ohio is the 17th state to do so
The Cleveland Browns were heavily involved throughout this process
Those interested in starting a team at their school can fill out a questionnaire
A press release from the Cleveland Browns says the team “played a pivotal role” in this process.
Cleveland Browns Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said that when they first launched their Girls High School Flag Football League back in 2021, it was their goal to get to this moment.
“The decision to officially sanction girls flag football in Ohio is an important moment not just for the Browns, but for the entire state of Ohio and the game we love,” the Haslams said in the release. “We have seen firsthand how powerful the game of football can be in shaping confidence, leadership, and community, and we are proud that more young women will have the chance to experience that same growth.”
Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski said he’s been waiting for this day to come.
“Incredible day. It feels like a long time coming,” he said. “I say that because there’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to realize this. I’m so excited for the young girls that this is going to affect that they can play for a state championship.”
The Browns started an effort to gauge interest in the idea back in 2021, created a pilot league in spring of 2022 and started talking to the OHSAA about officially sanctioning the sport in 2023, learning what exactly that would entail.
 
One of the things they needed was a coaches association, so the Browns pitched the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association (OHSFCA) on high school girls flag football in the spring of 2024, according to the release.
A motion was made and passed to include the sport within the association. The Browns were also made part of the OHSFCA, according to the release, serving “as a liaison between the OHSFCA and the sport statewide.”
The pilot league grew and expanded into other areas of the state in 2024, the release states, and the Cincinnati Bengals also launched a pilot season for six schools in their city, which would later expand.
“With the demonstrated statewide growth, conversations continued with OHSAA about sanctioning, and their involvement in the program to understand the scope and scale grew,” the release reads. “As an official sanctioned sport, OHSAA will continue to use the blueprint laid out by the Browns from the previous five years and take steps to grow the game, providing athletes with the opportunity to play girls flag football at the varsity level.”
Representatives from the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the OHSAA celebrate with players as Ohio sponsors girls flag football as a varsity sport. (Spectrum News 1/Jack Berney)
Nobody was more excited than the players, including Willoughby South junior Ava Billson who has been playing flag football since before high school.
“I’m so excited for this opportunity,” she said. “I think it’s just really important that we’re taking it just as serious as other sports. Everyone understands how important it is to get girls involved.”
After pushing for years, flag football players like Billson will get the opportunity to play for an official state championship in the spring.
If you’re interested in starting a team at your school, you can fill out this questionnaire.