By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
On Thursday Kansas became the 18th state to sanction girls flag football as an official activity, with the Kansas State High School Activities Association board of directors voting 61-1 to add the sport for the 2026-27 school year.
“This is a great day for the KSHSAA as our leadership board took decisive action by approving the expansion of program offerings to include girls flag football,” executive director Bill Faflick said in a KSHSAA release. “We appreciate the leadership of the board of directors, who faithfully serve and reflect the desires of membership in these important decisions.
"The KSHSAA also appreciates the support of the Kansas City Chiefs and other stakeholders who helped bring girls flag football to Kansas.”
The sport has been offered at the club level since 2021 and 28 Kansas high schools fielded girls flag football programs last year, averaging 24 athletes per roster.
None of the 10 Shawnee County high schools fielded teams at the club level, but have expressed interest in launching the sport in the near future.
With flag football now an official KSHSAA sport, schools have a little more than four months to work the out the logistics for the new sport, including coaching staffs, schedules and when/where to play games if competition is held in the fall. That decision has yet to be announced.
High school teams may play six to 10 regular-season games, with the season concluding with a KSHSAA state tournament. Each middle school team is limited to a maximum of six games during the season.
The Greater Wichita Athletic League submitted the proposal that was approved Thursday.
