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Girls' Flag Football in California: Is It a Sanctioned High School Sport?

Yes. As of October 26, 2026, the CIF is one of 25 state associations that have voted to sanction girls' flag football; it voted in February 2023. Girls' flag football is a fall sport in the state of California.

The first season was 2023-24.

Sanctioned

Last checked .

California,stop by stop.

Now: SanctionedNext stop: State champion

  1. Start
  2. Pilot leaguePlayed in leagues outside the association
  3. Emerging sportSkipped
  4. ApprovedVoted in
  5. SanctionedBecame a sanctioned high school sportYou are here
  6. First state championThe CIF will crown its first championNext stop

California state flagCaliforniaat a glance.

Status
Sanctioned
Governing body
CIF
Approved
First season
2023-24
Season
Fall
NFL partner
Los Angeles Rams

Sources

Start a teamin California.

  1. 1Talk to your athletic directorThe CIF sanctions it, so your AD can add a girls' team the same way as any other sanctioned sport. Ask for the season dates, entry deadlines and classification.The full start-a-team guide
  2. 2Find a coach and build the rosterRun an interest meeting early. Add each athlete in the app once, with a position if you know it, and the roster carries into every game.Set up a roster
  3. 3Run the season with leagues and tournamentsSchedules, pools, standings and brackets sit in one place. Create a league for the season, or create a tournament for a weekend.Leagues and tournaments
  4. 4Stat every gameStatting is free, and a season with numbers behind it is one people can see. Our guide walks through statting a game from the first snap.Stats on BreakAway
  5. 5Let families follow liveEvery play lands in Game Center as it is logged, so parents and grandparents who miss the trip still see the game.Game Center for families

Run your seasonon BreakAway.

The home of flag.See it in action.

Collegenext.

In California, 98% of high school girls live within 100 miles of a college program; the farthest county is 143 miles away. 86% are that close to a scholarship program.

Nearest college programs

Program miles are from the state's population center. Miles as the crow flies from each county's Census center point to the nearest campus, weighted by the girls 15 to 17 who live there (US Census ACS, the age band closest to high school). College program: 388 confirmed varsity and club programs; unconfirmed clubs are left out, and 2 without a known campus location are skipped. Scholarship program: confirmed varsity programs at levels whose governing body allows athletic aid for the sport (D-I, D-II, NAIA), 126 today. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files: counties (internal point latitude and longitude); US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B01001 (Sex by Age): female, 15 to 17 years.

Questions,answered.

Is girls' flag football a varsity sport in California?
Yes. Schools field varsity teams. Those games are what college coaches scout on BreakAway, and the women's college flag football tracker lists the programs they recruit for.
Which rules do teams in California play by?
The CIF picks the rulebook for its schools. There is no single national rulebook, and rules vary by state.
Who runs high school sports in California?
The CIF. It sets the season, the brackets and the championship. The girls' flag football FAQ covers how sanctioning works across the country.
How do I find a team in California?
Ask your school's athletic director first, then check the CIF schedules and brackets for the schools that play. The start-a-team steps cover the rest. Near the state line, check Nevada's status too.