Girls flag football is set to become an officially recognized sport for high school girls in Colorado this fall, following a successful two-year pilot program. The decision was made after the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) voted 57-9 to add girls flag football as an officially sanctioned sport, making Colorado the 11th state in the country to do so. It will become the 18th CHSAA-sanctioned sport for girls in the state and the 33rd sport overall.
The pilot program was initially launched by three school districts in Colorado – Cherry Creek, Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools – in 2022. The initiative experienced significant growth in participation and popularity during the pilot seasons, leading to its official recognition as a sport.
Cherry Creek School District Director of Athletics and Activities Larry Bull expressed excitement about the decision, noting that the first year of the pilot program was a huge success. He highlighted how participation grew by 161 percent in the past year, with over 800 girls playing flag football at Cherry Creek High School alone.
The Denver Broncos and Denver Broncos Foundation played a significant role in funding and managing the pilot seasons of girls flag football. They provided coaching clinics and seasonal programming to promote participation and development within the sport. Broncos Owner Carrie Walton Penner called the official recognition of girls flag football a historic moment for Colorado and for girls in the state. She emphasized how it provides empowerment, inclusion, and teamwork, creating a powerful sense of belonging and community for young women leaders.
The CHSAA’s addition of girls flag football as an officially sanctioned sport marks another step towards promoting gender equality in sports at all levels. As more schools begin to offer this sport option, we can expect to see more young women participating and developing their skills on both sides of