CANTON — An Ohio High School Athletic Association girls flag football state tournament is on the way as the sport continues to grow in popularity.
With Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and Hall of Fame Village hosting the second annual NFL Flag Championships this weekend, OHSAA delivered the big news July 17.
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OHSAA said its board approved a sponsoring a girls flag football state tournament in the spring of 2026. OHSAA made the announcement July 17 during a press conference at the Hall of Fame Village Complex.
Girls flag football is not currently one of the OHSAA’s 28 sanctioned sports. But this announcement means that changes with the introduction of its own OHSAA state tournament.
Currently, 80 high schools in Ohio have teams, up from just 20 three years ago. That’s quickly caught the attention of administrators and coaches around the state.
In 2024, the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association added girls flag football to its membership and representation.
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And with flag football being included as a new sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, it’s popularity is expected to continue to rise.
“We have seen the growth of girls flag football in Ohio and across the country over the last several years and are excited that so many young ladies have taken up this sport,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said in a statement released earlier this week. “Our staff has been involved in many conversations about flag football and we look forward to being there this weekend in Canton. The Pro Football Hall of Fame does a great job hosting our football state championships in December and there’s no doubt they will do the same for this event.”
Ute and other OHSAA staff participated in the press conference, along with representatives from the NFL, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was among those on hand representing the team.
This is a developing story. Return later for reaction and more coverage of the press conference.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: OHSAA to hold Ohio girls flag football high school tournament in 2026
