INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics has recommended that Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
The committee’s recommendation Wednesday gives all three divisions an opportunity to sponsor legislation that would move the fast-growing sport through NCAA governance structures.
A sport must have a minimum of 40 schools sponsoring the sport at the varsity level and meet minimum contest and participation requirements to be considered for championship status.
At least 65 NCAA schools are sponsoring women’s flag football at the club or varsity levels this year, with more slated to join in 2026. Flag football also has been added as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The NAIA launched women’s flag football in 2020. The NAIA is the governing body of sports at more than 200 mostly private schools and has sponsored championships in the sport since 2021.