Girls Flag Football in Maryland

Sanctioned Maryland recognizes girls' flag football as a varsity sport with a state championship.

Is girls' flag football a varsity sport in Maryland?

Yes. Girls' flag football is sanctioned by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), with a state championship. First sanctioned season: 2026-27. Checked against MPSSAA's own materials on 2026-09-15.

Does Maryland have girls' flag football?

Yes. High schools in Maryland play girls' flag football as a MPSSAA-sanctioned sport. The season is played in fall.

When is girls' flag football season in Maryland?

Fall; practice from 12 August, championships at M&T Bank Stadium by mid-November. From MPSSAA's own materials.

Can you play college flag football in Maryland?

Yes. We have checked 4 varsity women's flag football programs at colleges in Maryland: Harford Community College (NJCAA), Howard Community College (NJCAA), Mount St. Mary's University (NCAA D-I), University of Maryland Eastern Shore (NCAA D-I). Each is confirmed from its conference's, college's or governing body's own pages.

The details

Governing body	Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA)
First sanctioned season	2026-27
Season	Fall; practice from 12 August, championships at M&T Bank Stadium by mid-November
Participating schools	132
State championship	Yes, first held 2026

Checked on 2026-09-15 against MPSSAA's association release.

Board of Control voted unanimously on 24 April 2026, with approval from the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, moving the sport from "emerging" status to a fully recognised varsity championship sport effective 2026-27 — Maryland's 26th. Three championship classifications by enrollment. MPSSAA criteria require at least 40% of member schools for championship consideration; participation had reached 66% (132 schools) by 2026, up from a 10-team pilot in 2023.

College programmes in Maryland

Varsity women's flag football programmes based in Maryland, checked against conference or school sources:

Harford Community College — NJCAA
Howard Community College — NJCAA
Mount St. Mary's University — NCAA D-I, ECAC; Conference Carolinas
University of Maryland Eastern Shore — NCAA D-I, MEAC

See all checked college programmes.

How states sanction the sport

Our guide explains how Maryland's association handles new sports, alongside the rules other states use.

Where Maryland fits nationally

23 states and the District of Columbia have sanctioned girls' flag football as a high school sport, by our count, and Maryland is one of them. See the national tracker for every state, or why published counts differ.

Neighboring states

District of Columbia Sanctioned
Delaware Not sanctioned
Pennsylvania Sanctioned
Virginia Unconfirmed
West Virginia Not sanctioned

Equipment rules in Maryland

Flags	Two in 2026; three required from 2027
Ball	Wilson Women's GRT Heir or GST Speedskin Heir

From MPSSAA state association adoptions 2026-27 (2026-27). The NFHS rules apply where the state is silent — see equipment rules by state.

Funding for girls' flag football in Maryland

Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour: $10,000 to each participating team and $600,000 in total by July 2025, for 92 schools in seven Maryland districts; Under Armour provides custom uniforms. The Maryland championship is played at M&T Bank Stadium. Run through school districts; no open application found. (Ravens, 25 Jul 2025)
Washington Commanders: More than $1 million over two years from August 2025 for 127 programs: 25 in D.C., 51 in Virginia and 51 in Maryland (with the Ravens). Each program receives financial support, 25 Nike uniforms and an NFL flag kit. Run through school districts; no open application found. (Commanders, 4 Aug 2025)

National grants open to schools anywhere are in our directory of girls' flag football grants.