New Jersey sanctions girls flag football as a high school sport

New Jersey fully sanctioned girls flag football as a high school sport on Monday, four years after launching a pilot program in the state.

The Garden State became the 21st to sanction the sport, with a 311-18 passing vote by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Its inaugural season will be during the 2026-2027 school year.

After years of growth in New Jersey, the athletes were ready to be official. In 2026, the fourth year of the state’s pilot program – a status that acts as a test run for the sport – 140 high schools fielded teams statewide. The official sanctioning means it will be recognized as a varsity sport, on par with all other athletic offerings.

Congratulations New Jersey, Girls Flag Football is officially a state-sanctioned sport

| #FlyEaglesFlypic.twitter.com/vkIvgyfFxx

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 4, 2026

NFL teams, including the New York Jets, the New York Giants, and the Philadelphia Eagles, have supported the sport's growing presence in the state and expressed excitement about Monday’s full sanctioning.

“I want to send a big congratulations to all the lady flag football players in New Jersey, for becoming the newest state to officially sanction girls flag football at the high school level,” said Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in a video posted to the Philadelphia Eagles’ X account Monday.

As flag football gets closer to making its Olympic debut in 2028, the sport is growing at high schools and colleges across the country. Beyond the 21 states that now offer girls flag as a sanctioned high school sport, an additional twenty are currently running pilot programs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Jersey sanctions girls flag football