BALTIMORE — The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, the official governing body for interscholastic athletics for grades 9 to 12, on Friday, April 24 sanctioned girls flag football as its 26th state championship sport.
Following a unanimous vote by the MPSSAA Board of Control and approval of Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Carey Wright, the sport will transition from “emerging” status to a fully recognized varsity state championship effective for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The MPSSAA inaugural season will operate three separate state championship classification tournaments based on each school’s enrollment.
The season will begin on the first official fall sports practice date of Aug. 12 and culminate with the state championship games at M&T Bank Stadium by mid-November.
“This is a historic day for our student-athletes and the sport of girls flag football,” MPSSAA Executive Director Andy Warner said in a statement. “The growth of girls flag football demonstrates its inclusive reach to our female student-athletes, providing opportunities for teamwork and leadership in an equitable sporting environment. We are thrilled to see these young women compete for state titles and showcase their talents under the lights of our high school stadiums.”
This decision marks the culmination of a multi-year initiative in partnership with the Baltimore Ravens.
The journey began in January 2021, when the MPSSAA initiated discussion with the Ravens and collaboratively built a shared vision for a sustainable competitive framework.
The Ravens and Frederick County Public Schools combined to make the vision a reality with the pilot season in 2023 with 10 teams.
In four years, participation has grown to 66% of MPSSAA-member schools [132 schools] participating by 2026.
The MPSSAA Board of Control criteria requires at least 40% of the membership for state championship consideration, surpassing the regulatory threshold for consideration.
In a news release, the MPSSAA described the growth of girls flag football as “meteoric” and provided the following data:
• 2023-24: 10 participating schools
• 2024-25: 53 participating schools
• 2025-26: 91 participating schools
• 2026-2027 [projected]: 132 participating schools statewide
The rapid growth of girls flag football can be attributed to the partnerships developed by the Ravens and local school systems, with the Ravens to date having provided more than $1 million in total funding support to participating school systems.
In conjunction with Under Armour, the Ravens also have provided uniforms to each participating county since launching the initiative.
“This is a significant day for both the Baltimore Ravens and the entire state of Maryland,” Ravens President Sashi Brown said in a statement. “The momentum generated since the launch of our girls flag football pilot program in 2023 has led to this landmark sanctioning announcement.”
Brown acknowledged Ravens’ partners at the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association and Under Armour for their continued commitment to this shared vision.
“We set out to create meaningful and equitable opportunities for girls to participate in football across the state, and now we are seeing that vision realized. We know that today’s young female athletes will be prepared to become tomorrow’s leaders,” she said.
Friday night at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Ravens welcomed girls flag football student-athletes from school systems that participated in the first two years of the initiative — Frederick, Montgomery, Washington and Baltimore City — to be in attendance and continue the celebration of Maryland’s sanctioning of the sport.
The Washington Commanders joined in fiscal and administrative support of Montgomery and Prince George’s county public school systems during the 2025-26 academic year, furthering the initiative to the historic announcement.
Additional information will be released in the coming weeks related to high school girls flag football and its inaugural championship season on www.mpssaa.org.
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CHESTERTOWN — Washington College’s Athletics Department, in partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, will host a girls flag football skills clinic on Saturday, May 9 at Roy Kirby Jr. Stadium on the college campus.
The clinic will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and run through 11:30 a.m.
The clinic is open to all girls ages 12 to 18 who are enrolled in a public or private school in one of the nine Eastern Shore counties — Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester. Everyone is welcome, whether you are brand new to the game or looking to sharpen your skills.
There is no cost.
Participants will learn the fundamentals of flag football — including passing, catching, route running and defensive techniques — in a fun and supportive environment. They also will have the opportunity to meet and interact with mascots Poe the Raven and Gus the Goose.
Pre-registration is recommended but not required.
Participants should plan to arrive at Kibler Field before 8 a.m., to check in or to register. All participants must have a signed [by a parent or guardian] permission form in order to take part in the clinic.
To register, see https://advancement.washcoll.edu/register/?id=21d1d8e1-76ce-47f4-a312-8fafbf86ed8d.
Afterward, the college’s athletics department will host a free lunch for players. Families are welcome to join their athletes at lunch for a small fee.
For more information, contact Washington College Athletics by email at chardy2@washcoll.edu.
