Girls' flag football equipment rules by state
Most equipment rules in high school girls' flag football come from the NFHS Flag Football Rules, but states add their own — and a few go well beyond them. Georgia requires certified headgear. Pennsylvania has ruled NFL Flag-branded balls illegal. California's Southern Section, Illinois and Washington play with two flags where the NFHS now calls for three. If you are buying equipment, check your state first.
The national baseline (NFHS)
- Mouthguard: required. From 2026 it may not carry attachments that do not protect the teeth or mouth.
- Headwear: soft headwear only, not made of abrasive or hard material. No helmets are required.
- Flags: three, at least 1.5 by 14 inches, one on each hip and one on the tailbone, one solid color contrasting with the shorts, no logos. Flag style is a state adoption.
- Ball: tan, 12 to 14 ounces, usually called youth size. From 2028 the ball must carry the NFHS Authenticating Mark. States may name an official postseason ball.
- Gloves: must meet the NOCSAE standard or SFIA specification, with the mark visible.
- Jewelry: not allowed; religious medals and medical-alert tags must be taped.
- Coming next: arm sleeves must meet SFIA specifications from 2027, and white jerseys for visiting teams become mandatory in 2028 (per Tennessee's restatement of the rules).
Sources: NFHS points of emphasis 2026-27; TSSAA rules meeting, January 2026; ASAA rule updates, 2025.
Is headgear required in girls' flag football?
Only in Georgia. Every player on the field must wear soft-shell protective headgear or a protective headband that has a five-star rating from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, covers the forehead, temples and back of the head, and comes from a manufacturer carrying at least $5 million in product liability insurance. The GHSA names no brands. Elsewhere, soft headwear is allowed but not required; Oregon's 2024 rules of emphasis called helmets optional.
Do you have to wear a mouthguard?
Yes. The NFHS rules require a mouth protector, and the state documents we have read that mention it — Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee and Washington — all say the same.
How many flags, and what kind of belt?
The NFHS calls for three flags, but lets each state decide the style. That is why the answer still varies: three in Arizona, Georgia, Montana and New Jersey; three in the postseason in Tennessee and North Carolina; two in California's Southern Section, Illinois and Washington; and two moving to three in 2027 in Maryland and Hawaii.
Which cleats are allowed?
Molded rubber or plastic. Arizona and Mississippi ban metal cleats outright, and Georgia, Montana, Alaska and Washington limit cleat length to half an inch. Arizona also rules out baseball and softball cleats.
Which football is used?
A tan, youth-size ball of 12 to 14 ounces. Many states name an official postseason ball: the Wilson GST Speedskin Heir in Florida, Georgia and Illinois; Wilson models in Maryland and California's Southern Section; the Baden Perfection F7L-NFHS APEX in Pennsylvania; and a Baden Apex in Hawaii. From 2028 every ball must carry the NFHS Authenticating Mark — though a CIF Southern Section ball contract says the mark is not required for girls' flag football, so California's position is worth watching.
State by state
| State | Headgear | Mouthguard | Flags | Cleats | Ball | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | — | Required | Three (restating NFHS) | Up to ½ inch, nonabrasive rubber | — | ASAA girls flag football rules and 2026-27 NFHS rules presentation (2026-27) |
| Arizona | Soft shells, stocking caps and religious headwear only | Required | Three (one-piece belt) | Rubber only; no metal or baseball/softball cleats | Youth size, brown; Wilson leather GST in the playoffs | AIA Girls' Flag Football rulebook (updated May 2024; may be superseded) |
| California | — | — | Two, one on each hip (CIF Southern Section) | — | Wilson ball for all Southern Section playoffs | CIF Southern Section 2026-27 flag football playoffs memo (2026-27) |
| Colorado | — | — | Three; two-flag belts by mutual agreement in the regular season | — | — | CHSAA Flag Football Bulletin (2024; may be superseded) |
| Florida | — | — | — | — | Wilson GST Speedskin Heir (official FHSAA ball) | FHSAA flag football page (2025-26) |
| Georgia | Required: soft-shell headgear or headband rated 5 stars by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab | Required | Three | Up to ½ inch; no metal, ceramic or detachable cleats | Wilson GST Speedskin Heir Women's for semifinals and finals | GHSA Flag Football Rules Book 2026 and headgear requirement (2026) |
| Hawaii | — | — | Two in 2026; three required from 2027 | — | Baden Apex for the state tournament | HHSAA 2026 Girls Flag Football Information Packet (2026) |
| Illinois | — | — | Two pop flags, one on each hip | — | Wilson GST Speedskin Heir for the state series | IHSA adoptions for NFHS flag football rules (2025-26; may be superseded) |
| Maryland | — | — | Two in 2026; three required from 2027 | — | Wilson Women's GRT Heir or GST Speedskin Heir | MPSSAA state association adoptions 2026-27 (2026-27) |
| Mississippi | — | Required | Legal belt, contrasting color (number not stated) | Rubber or plastic only; no metal | — | MHSAA 2026 Flag Football Rules (2026) |
| Montana | Knit cap without a bill only | Required | Three | Up to ½ inch; no projecting metal | Wilson 1784 TDY for semifinals and final | MHSA Flag Football Rules Book 2026 (2026) |
| New Jersey | — | — | Three: one on each side, one at the back | — | — | NJSIAA girls flag football state adoptions memo (Oct 2025) |
| North Carolina | — | — | Three ("triple threat") in the postseason; both teams must match in the regular season | — | — | NCHSAA 2026-27 NFHS flag football rules adoption (2026-27) |
| Pennsylvania | — | — | — | — | Baden Perfection F7L-NFHS APEX leather for the postseason; NFL Flag-branded balls not legal | PIAA release on the official ball (Oct 2026) |
| Tennessee | Soft headwear only | Required | Three ("triple threat") in the postseason; required for all games from 2028 | — | Tan; NFHS Authenticating Mark from 2028 | TSSAA 2026-27 adoptions and rules meeting (2026-27) |
| Washington | Soft headwear only | Required | Two, one solid color | Up to ½ inch | Must meet NFHS guidelines; state final ball to be announced | WIAA exceptions to NFHS flag football rules (2026-27) |
"—" means the document we read does not address the item, not that the state has no rule; the NFHS baseline above applies unless the state says otherwise. States not listed are ones where we have not yet found an association document on equipment. Checked 1 November 2026.
Related
- The high school rules FAQ — players, field, scoring, rushing, contact
- How the rules differ from state to state
- Which states have sanctioned girls' flag football