Is girls' flag football a varsity sport in South Dakota?

Not yet. Teams play league seasons, which do not count as varsity. Every state's status is on the tracker, with its source.

How would South Dakota sanction girls' flag football?

The SDHSAA would have to vote it in. Most states get there in steps: league play, then an emerging-sport season, then the vote.

Which rules do teams in South Dakota play by?

Each league picks its own until an association steps in. There is no single national rulebook, and rules vary by state.

Who runs high school sports in South Dakota?

The SDHSAA. It decides whether girls' flag football becomes a sanctioned sport. The girls' flag football FAQ covers how sanctioning works across the country.

How do I find a team in South Dakota?

Start with the leagues. Your athletic director can ask to join one. The start-a-team steps cover the rest. Near the state line, check Nebraska's status too.

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

Not yet. As of October 26, 2026, the SDHSAA is not among the 25 state associations that have voted to sanction it. Girls play in fall leagues backed by the Minnesota Vikings.

Pilot or league play

Last checked October 26, 2026.

South Dakota,stop by stop.

Now: Pilot leagueNext stop: Emerging sport

Start
Pilot leaguePlayed in leagues outside the associationYou are here
Emerging sportThe SDHSAA would run it as an emerging sportNext stop
ApprovedWould be voted in
SanctionedWould become a sanctioned high school sport
First state championWould crown a first champion

South Dakotaat a glance.

Status: Pilot or league play
Governing body: SDHSAA
Season: Fall
Participation: Sioux Falls SD program starting Sept 2026 via South Dakota Junior Football
NFL partner: Minnesota Vikings

Sources

Dakota News Now, May 13, 2026

Start a teamin South Dakota.

1Start an interest listNames, grades and a parent contact. A list is what an athletic director can act on, and in the app it becomes the roster.Set up a roster
2Join a league, or start oneLeagues already run in South Dakota, and your AD can ask to join one. Nearby schools can also create a league or create a tournament of their own.Leagues and tournaments
3Petition the SDHSAASanctioning is the SDHSAA's vote. Schools and families asking for it, with teams already playing, is how that vote gets on the agenda.The full start-a-team guide
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
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

Momentum to point to

October 16, 2023: LA28 Olympics add flag football (Sports Illustrated)
February 13, 2025: NFHS rules book announced (NFHS)
January 16, 2026: NCAA emerging sport (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
June 17, 2026: NAIA championship sport from 2026-27 (NAIA)

Start the seasonbefore the vote.

Bring the schedule you have
Upload the spreadsheet already on your laptop. Check what we read, then add it in one click.
Import your schedule and teams
Standings and leaders on every phone
Each league gets a public page with its games, pools, playoffs and stat leaders.
Build pools and a bracket
Stat from the sideline
Tap the passer, the receiver and the flag pull, and the play is in the book.
Start statting a game
Share the game
Send the link to the group chat and the recap, box score and plays come with it.
Share the game to the group chat

The home of flag.See it in action.

Collegenext.

In South Dakota, 55% of high school girls live within 100 miles of a college program; the farthest county is 346 miles away. 2% 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 South Dakota?: Not yet. Teams play league seasons, which do not count as varsity. Every state's status is on the tracker, with its source.
How would South Dakota sanction girls' flag football?: The SDHSAA would have to vote it in. Most states get there in steps: league play, then an emerging-sport season, then the vote.
Which rules do teams in South Dakota play by?: Each league picks its own until an association steps in. There is no single national rulebook, and rules vary by state.
Who runs high school sports in South Dakota?: The SDHSAA. It decides whether girls' flag football becomes a sanctioned sport. The girls' flag football FAQ covers how sanctioning works across the country.
How do I find a team in South Dakota?: Start with the leagues. Your athletic director can ask to join one. The start-a-team steps cover the rest. Near the state line, check Nebraska's status too.