KSHSAA board approves girls flag football as sanctioned sport
The Kansas State High School Activities Association Board of Directors voted Thursday to add girls' flag football as an official KSHSAA-sanctioned activity, starting in the 2026-27 school year. Kansas is now the 18th state to sanction the sport, which will be contested in the fall.
"This is a great day for KSHSAA as our leadership board took decisive action by approving the expansion of program offerings to include girls flag football," executive director Bill Faflick said in a statement. "We appreciate the leadership of the Board of Directors, who faithfully serve and reflect the desires of membership in these important decisions. The KSHSAA also appreciates the support of the Kansas City Chiefs and other stakeholders who helped bring girls flag football to Kansas."
Girls' flag football now joins more than two dozen sports and activities that KSHSAA member schools offer students. The sport existed at the club level since 2021, and 28 Kansas high schools piloted girls' flag football programs last year, averaging 24 athletes per roster.
As of press time, it is unknown if Manhattan High or other area schools planned to add the sport next school year.
High school teams may play six to 10 regular-season games, with the season concluding with a KSHSAA state tournament. Each middle school team is limited to a maximum of six games during one season.
The Greater Wichita Athletic League submitted the proposal, and Board of Directors members Sara Richardson and Chris Asmussen brought it forward.
Flag football has its own rulebook under the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Mark Lentz, KSHSAA assistant executive director, has served on the NFHS rules writing committee, and Jeremy Holaday, assistant executive director, will sit in Lentz's place after his retirement on July 1.
KSHSAA will communicate additional details regarding competitive classifications, state tournament format and implementation guidelines to member schools in the coming months.
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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 5:22 PM.