Girls Flag Football Starts Soon For High School Players In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Girls flag football will be available yet this fall in all Howard County Public School System high schools.

The announcement came Wednesday from county officials and the Baltimore Ravens. In 2023, the Ravens launched its high school girls flag football program in Frederick County with 10 teams. The Ravens have since expanded the program to 92 schools across seven counties in the state. The Ravens are helping to grow the game within public schools statewide. Ultimately, the Ravens aim to have statewide sanctioning play by fall 2026.

“The Ravens are excited to welcome Howard County to the girls flag football movement in Maryland. Beginning this year, through our partnership with Howard County Public Schools and the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks, student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete in this fast-growing sport,” said Sashi Brown, president of the Baltimore Ravens. “As programs continue to expand across the state, Howard County’s addition — with tremendous support from County Executive Calvin Ball — is another milestone in creating more opportunities for young women to play, grow and shine on the field. Together, we’re building a future where every girl who wants to play has the chance to suit up and be part of the game in Maryland. And we know young women who participate in athletics today become leaders of tomorrow.”

Last year, Ball’s administration met with the Ravens to discuss bringing girls flag football to Howard County. Meetings then began between HCPSS, the county and the Ravens to learn how the school system could implement the sport into its athletic offerings.

“Girls flag football is rapidly growing in popularity and we are excited to add it to our already outstanding athletics program for the 2026-2027 school year. It is wonderful to be part of an initiative to provide an inclusive way for female students to play football,” said HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes. “The Howard County Public School System is thrilled about the prospect of students not currently playing, or who have never played fall sports, to become more involved in athletics. HCPSS thanks Dr. Ball and our partners in Howard County Recreation and Parks, the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour for supporting this fantastic program.”

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with more than 20 million participants across 100 countries — with girls leading the charge. In the United States alone, about 474,000 young women between the ages of six and 17 played flag football last year. To date, 17 states (with the support of NFL teams) have officially sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport.

“Sports promote discipline, collaboration and critical thinking, all impactful skills that benefit our youth on and off the field,” Ball said at a news conference. “Through flag football, we are not only offering female athletes the opportunity to engage in a sport that emphasizes skill development over sheer physical strength, but we are also creating a supportive environment focused on teamwork, leadership, encouragement and confidence. As a girl dad, I could not be prouder of what the future holds for our scholar-athletes, and I thank the Baltimore Ravens for leading this movement in Maryland and recognizing the influential impact this sport can have on players’ lives.”

To prepare for the initial season this fall, the Ravens will hold free clinics for athletes and coaches starting in October. Howard County Recreation and Parks will kick off the flag football league in 2025. Then, in the fall of 2026, the girls flag football league will be run by the school system like other high school sports.

“Our department is proud to help launch girls’ flag football in Howard County with the Ravens and HCPSS. This program represents more than just a new sport offering,” said Howard County Recreation and Parks Director Nick Mooneyhan. “Girls flag football provides an opportunity for high school female athletes to build confidence, develop leadership skills and compete in a game that has historically been out of reach. By providing access to flag football, we are creating a more inclusive and equitable athletic landscape where girls can challenge themselves, support one another and inspire future generations.”

The 2025 Maryland High School Girls Flag Football Tournament in which current participating counties and their teams are playing will be held Nov. 7-8 at M&T Bank Stadium.

Additional information about the girls flag football program, including a form to be added to a contact list for receiving future notifications, can be found here.