Get notified by email when this case is updated.
Written by: E. George
Published May 18, 2025 @ 6:15 PM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A statewide push to increase athletic opportunities for young women is gaining momentum as more than 300 Georgia high schools prepare to offer girls flag football in the upcoming fall season. The expansion effort is backed by the Atlanta Falcons, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), and state legislators.
This initiative follows a recently passed resolution by the Georgia House of Representatives encouraging every high school in the state to adopt girls flag football programs. The resolution, known as House Resolution 347, marks the first legislative action in the country explicitly supporting the sport’s expansion for female student-athletes at the high school level.
The campaign to promote girls flag football in Georgia began in 2017, when the Falcons and the Blank Foundation partnered with Gwinnett County to pilot programs at 19 schools. The program’s early success laid the groundwork for a significant milestone in 2020, when GHSA officially recognized girls flag football as a sanctioned high school sport. Since then, participation has grown substantially, with over 7,000 girls competing across more than 270 schools in 2024.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, 45 additional high schools are slated to launch new programs, fueled in part by a wave of spring grants awarded by the Blank Foundation to 304 schools. These grants are intended to either establish new teams or enhance existing ones, ensuring that resources are available to maintain the sport’s upward trajectory.
The recent event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium celebrated these achievements and signaled the next phase of expansion. Current high school players gathered to mark the occasion, many expressing aspirations to continue their flag football careers at the collegiate level and even on the international stage. Interest in the sport is expected to increase further as it prepares to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Organizers behind the initiative continue to stress the broader benefits of girls flag football, citing its ability to foster physical fitness, teamwork, and leadership among young women. The Falcons and the Blank Foundation have made clear their commitment to making the sport available in every high school across Georgia, underscoring the importance of equitable access to athletic programs.
The passage of House Resolution 347 and the continued financial and logistical support from community and sports organizations signify a transformative moment for youth sports in Georgia, with girls flag football now positioned as one of the fastest-growing athletic opportunities in the state.
Get notified by email when this case is updated.